The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-01-05
A MOVING IF NOT TOUCH
ING TALE.
a Transaction in Mustang Flesh
Not Recorded at the Stock
Exchange.
From the Sacramento Record.


A large crowd gathered yesterday
in Fourth street, in front of the
Court House, attracted by the NOV
ing through the streets of one of the
old buildings from John Taylor's
lot. The building was about fifty
feet long, had been mounted on four
wooden truck wheels with pair of
wagon wheels in front, to which a
team of six stout mules were hitch
ed. After many tugs the old house
started, the driver yelling and the
mud flying all over the sidewalk.
After an hours time they had drag
ged the building about $50 feet.
Within a few feet of the crossing
from the Recorders Office to Evans
store, they stuck fast, owing to q
slight rise in the street made by the
crossing. The driver shouted him
self hoarse, the six big mules fioun-
dered about in the mud, but not an
inch could they nudge the old build
ing. The crowd increased, and bets
were made that they would never
start it again.
A teamstcr from the redwoods,
with four mustangs, had stopped to
watch the performance, smooth
faced, athletic young fellow. lie
said nothing until, reused, perhaps,
by splash of mud. he walked to
the front, wiping his face on his
sleeve, and said: Il amt got but
$3, but I'll bet every d--n cent of il
that my four mustangs will start
that rookery ont of there" There
was a derisive laugh from the crowd,
and half q dozen takers. s'Put up
the money!" said the teamster. I'll
/ had more or knew where to borrow
any, I'd sec the last one, of you.
The bet was taken, Jerry Farmer
held stakes, the six mules were tax
en- off, and the four mustangs hitch
ed on. Meanwhile the interest ol
the crowd increased, and bets were
freely made with big odds against
the teamster.
When ready to start the excite
ment was at high pitch. The lit
tie mustangs bent to their work, bui
the house did not move. He start
ed them again; no go. Nothing
daunted, the teamster, in answer to
the crowd, who were chatting hin
from all quarters, said: IF jim
Shaw was here I'd get the money
and bet fifty dollars that | could
start it. / amt got 'cm warmed uE
yet "rll bet you fifty dollars
against one of your horses" said {
we'll known livery man, "that yot
can't pull it five feet "It's .
whaelx.' said the teanster; ''put VI
the COIN The money was handed
to Jerry Farmer, the stakeholder.
Another tug. The little mustangs
seemed to bumb themselves but il
was no go. ''Pll bet you anothel
fifty agin that mares mate you can
do il" said the livery man eagerly
"Done," said the teamster; s,Fl
bet the last hoof of 'em on it, anC
you may swi ng me to one of then
oaks in the plaza if they can't do i. ;
By this time the excitement wa,
running high among the lookers-on
aud side bets were numerous. On,
offered to bet 500 he could not dc
it, and the teamster got a friend tt
take the bet for him. Those WhC
had watched the teamster closely
now noticed a change in his manner
smile on his countenance. ii,
walked up to each horse successive
ly, tapped him on the rump with ths
but end of his black-snake, and saiC
to each: ''Stand up there now il
your harness.
For the first time he mounted the
near wheel. seized a single rein
turned his team off 'shaw,'' swung
them back ''gee," cracked his whip
gave yell, and, as they straighten
ed, the unweildly load rose over the
obstruction like an old hulk over /
swell at sea, greeted by q burst O
applause from the bY-standers. The
mustangs pulled for about twenty
five feet and he stopped them
"You see. boys,' said the team
ster, as he got down, rm with then
all the time and know just what they
can do, and'' - with child-likt
smile-..just went to make 'em ds
it, As he dropped the stakes into
his overalls pocket, he said: '-Ic
give $50 out Of that ar stake if jim
Shaw had been here TO see thai
team pull. derry. I'm dry let q
over 10 Buck williamson and take
a drink"