The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-29
's Put Up The Coin"
A TRANSACTION WITH MUSTANGS IN SANTA
ROSA.
From Tho Sacramento Union

From Tho Sacramento UnionJ
A largo crowd gathered yesterday OF
Fourth street. I'm front OF the court
house. attracted by tho moving through
the streets OF one Of tho buildings from
John Taylor's lot. The building was
about fifty feet long, had been mounted
on four wooden truck wheels. with 3
pair OF wagon wheels in front, to which
u tcam OF six stout mules were
hitched. After many tugs the old house
started, the driver yelling, the mud fly
ing all over the sidewalk, scattering the
crowd and bcspattering the Goddess ol
After an hours time they succeeded iu
dragging the building about one hun.
drcd and fifty feet. Within q few feet
OF the crossing from the recorders
office to Eave's store, thoy stuck fast
owing to u slight rise in tho street
made by the crossing, the driver
shouted himself hoarse. tho six
big mules tiouudered about i'm the
mud. but not an inch would they bulge
the old building Tho crowd increased,
and bets were made that they would
never start it again. A tcamster from
the rod-weetls, with four mustangs,
had stopped to watch the performances
smooth faced, athletic young fellow.
He said nothing, until reused perhaps
by spIashing OF mud, he walked
to the front, wiping his face on his
sleeve, and said ~ amt got but
three dollars, but I'll bet every cent
OF it that my four mustangs will start
derisive laugh from the crowd, and a
half a dozen takers. 'Put 1p the
money" said the teamster. IF T had
more, or knew where to borrow any,
I'd sec the last one Of YOU" The bot
was taken, Jerry Farmer held stakes,
the six mules were taken off and four
mustangs hitched on. Meantime the
interest Of the crowd Increased, and
bets were made with big odds against
the teamstcr. When ready to start
the excitement was ut q high pitch.
The little mustangs bent to their work,
but the house did not move. He
started them again. no go. Nothing
daunted the teamster, In answer to the
crowd, who were chatting him from all
quarters, he said:
eff Jim Shaw was here I'd get the
money and bet fifty dollars that could
start. / amt got 'em warmed yet
"I'll bet you fifty dollars against one OF
your horses" said o well known livery
man, that you can't pull 1t five feet.
up the coin." The money was handed
to Jerry Farmer, the stakeholder. An
other tug the little mustangs seemed tc
hump themselves, but no so. 'I'll bet
you another fifty against that mares
mate you can't DO It," said the livery,
sser sn eaFfTSs Test tSs last sIa doi tes q
on 1t, and you may swing me to one
Of them oaks in the plaza IL they
don't do it," BY this time the excite
ment was running high by the lockers.
on, and the bets were numerous. One
offered 10 bet q hundred dollars that be
could do it, and the teamster got a friend
to take the bet for him. Those who
watched the teamster closely now no
ticed change in his manners, a curious
smile In his countenance. He walked
up to each horse successfully, tapped
him on the rump with the butt end OF
his blacksnake, and said to each
"Stand up there now in your harness. y
For the first time he. mount
gle rein, turned his team off shaw. u
swung them back "gee," cracked his
whip, gave yell, and, as they straight
ened, the unwieldly load rose over the
obstruction like an old hull over a swell
at sea, greeted by a burst OF applause
from the by-standers. The mustangs
pulled for about twenty-five feet, and
be. stopped them. You see, boys,
said the teamster, as be got down,
" I'm 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
in his overhalls' pocket be said: I'd
give $50 out Of that ar stake IL Jim Shaw
had been here to see that team pull"