New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-09
A Transaction With MustanGs in santa
Rosa.

A large crowd gathered yesterday on
Fourth street, in front of the courthouse,
attracted by the moving through the streets
of one of the old buildings from John Tay.
lor's lot. The building was about fifty feet
long, had been mounted on four wooden
truck wheels with pair Of wagon wheels
ia !rvnc, tu which team of six stout mules
were hitched. Alter many tugs the old
house started, the driver yelling, and the
mud flying 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 few feet OF the crossing from
the recorders office to Evans store they
stuck fast, owing to slight rise in the
street made by the crossing. The driver
shouted himself hoarse, the six big mules
doundered about in the mud, but not an
inch would they bulge the old building.
The crowd increased, and bets were made
that they would never start it again. A
teamster from the rOd-weeds, with four
mustangs, had stopped to watch the per-
formance-a smooth faced, athletic young
fellow. He said nothing until, reused
walked to the front wiping his face
on his sleeve. and said: II amt got but three
dollars, but I'll bet every cent of it that my
four mustangs will start that rO0kery out of
there There was derisive laugh from
the crowd, and half dozen takers. Put
up the money" said the teamster. "If had
more or knew where to borrow any, I'd see
the last one of you" The bet was taken,
Jerry Farmer held stakes, the six mules
were taken off and the four mustangs hitched
on. Meanwhile the interest of the crowd in
creased, and bets were freely made with big
odds against the teamster 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 go. Nothing daunted, the team
ster, in answer to the crowd, who were
chatting MIN from all quarters, said: "If
Jim Shaw was here I'D get the money and
bet $50 that could start it. l amt got 'em
warmed up yet" .'I'll bet you $50 against
one of your horses" said a we'll known livery
man, "that you can't pull it five feet" ''It's
whack," saic the teamster; "put no the
coin" The money was handed to Jerry
Farmer, the stakeholder. Another tug; the
little mustangs seemed to hump themselves,
but it was no go. 'Ill bet you another fifty
agin that mares mate you can't do it" said
the livery man, eagerly. Dome" said the
teamster; "I'll bet the last hoof of 'em on
it, and you may swing me to one Of
it. BY this time the excitement was
running high among the lookers-on.
and the bets were numerous. One offered
to bet 500 he could not do it, and the
teamster got friend to take the bet for
him. Those who had watched the teamster
closely now noticed q change in his man
ner, a curious smile on 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." For the
first time he mounted the near wheel,
seized single rein, turned his team off
"haw," swung them back ''gee," cracked
his whip, gave q yell, and, - they straight
ened, the nnwieldy load rose over the
obstruction like an old hulk over . swell ut
sea, greeted by burst of applause from