The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-01-06
NO Al.
DRAWING A HOUSE.
THE EXPLOITS OF MUSTANG TEAM IN SAN
ia ROSA, ~

| Ia ROSA. *"
| A large crowd gathered YESTERDAY. s8yNs the
Sacramento Record, on Fourth Greet III from
OF the courthouse, attracted BY the moving
through the streets OF one of IT, old buildings
| from John Taylor's lot. Tie building was
about fifty feet long, had been mounted on four
wooden truck wheels with a pair Of wagon
wheels in front, to which team OF six stout
mules were hitched. After many tugs the old
house started, the driver yelling and che mud
| lying all over the sidewalk, scattering the
crowd and bespattering the Goddess OF Liberty
on the dome OF the courthouse. After an.
hours time they succeeded in dragging the.
building about $50 feet. Within a few feet Of
the crossing from the Recorders office 10 EVANS
store they stuck fast, owing to slight rise i'm
the street made by the crossing. The driver
shouted himself hoarse, the six biz mules tjonn-
dered about in the mud, but not An inch would
| they bulge the old building. The crowd in
creased and bets were made that they would
| never start it again. A teainstcr from the red
| woods, with four mustangs. had stopped to
watch the performance, a smooth faced, ath-
letic young fellow. He said NOTHING until.
reused perhaps by splash of mud, he walked
to the front wping his face on his sleeve. and
said
Il amt got but three dollars, but I'll bet ev.
cry cent OF It that my ioAs mustangs will staff
that rookery out of tiere.''
There was derisive laugh from the crowd
s.Put up the money" said the teamster. $50
had more knew where to borrow any, I'd
see the last one of yon.'
The bet was taken. Jerry Farmer held stakes,
the six mules were taken off and the four mus
tangs htched on. Meanwhile the interest Of
the crowd increased, and bets were freely made
with big odds against the teanlster When
ready to start the excitement was at high
PITCH The little mustangs bent to their work.
but the house did not move he started them
again; no CO. Nothing da,lnted, the tealnster.
in answer to the crowd, who were chatting him
from all quarters, said
IF Jim Shaw was here I'd get the money
and bet fifty dollars that could start it. !
amt got 'em warmed up YETI
''I'll bet you fifty dollars against one OF your
horses, said a well-known livery man, s'that
you can't pull it five feet.''
Its a wllack, . said the teamster, S'put up
the conn.,
The money was handed to Jerry Farmer, the
stake holder. Another tug, the little mustangs
seemed to hump themselves, but it WAS no go,
s'l'll bet you another fifty aain that mares
mate you can't do it, said the livery man eao
gerly.
..Done,n said the teamster, Ell bet the last
,hoof of 'em on it. and you may swing me to
one Of them oaks i'll the plaza if they can't do
it,
By this time the excitement was running
high among the lockers on. and side bets wers
numerous. One offered to bet a hundred dOs-
lars he could not do it, and the tealnster got q.
friend to take the bet for him. Those who has
watched the teamster closely now noticed
change in his manner, a curious smile on hid
countenance. He walked up to each horse
successfully, tapped him on the rump with the
but end OF his black-snake, and said to each
s.stand up the.e now, in your harness. For
the first time he mounted the near Wheel seiz-
ed a siEgle rein, turned his team OFF ..h.w.''
swung theM back gee cracked his whip,
wieldly load rose over the obstruction like an
old hulk over a swell at sea, greeted by burst
Of applause from the bystanders. The mus
tangs' pulled for about % feet and he stopped
them.
~You see, boys, said the teamster as he got
down, .'Pm with them all the time and know
just what they can do, and''-with a child like
smile-',just when to make 'em do it,
As he dropped the stakes i'll his overalls'
pocket he said :
''I'd give fifty dollars out of that ar stake II.
Jim Shaw had been there to see that team pull.f
Jerry, I'm dry lets go over to Buck William
sons and take drink"
When he returned to his mustangs to START
out of town he threw up his hat and ex--.
claimed
'sWheop-la, I've teamed in Walla Walla, Ne
rada and Arkinsaw, and with my slab-sided
plugs kin out-pull any six mules in Sononll
county, se
AS he mounted his wheeler he sung out to
the crowd, ~ snaked that oil tumble down
out of the mud and have got the coin to show
it. Hooray for Arkinsaw! Whar's them,
mules? Git erp, Pete,'' cracked his whip,
turned the corner aud passed out of sight.