The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-01-10
tanned BY ELECTRICITY.
Exciting Treatment Of COgnac, the Man.
eater-Spoiling Suit Of Clothes. ag
from tho Son Eropo;co T,ou1

The celebrated man-eating horse
Cognac was put under new treatment
yesterday by his new trainer, Prof.
Tapp. Two or three hundred spectators
assembled in the pavilion tent at the
rear of the Record Stables, on Market
Street, near Seventh, to see how an an
lmal possessing Cognac's peculiar lido
syncrasies would conduct himself under
the electrifying effects of galvanic bat
terry. The novelty of the experiment
and the fame of the subject upon which
it was to be tried, attracted several Ia
dies, who accompanied their husbands,
to witness the exhibition. The ring en-
closure is about seven feet high, and
the seats for spectators elevated still
above this, so that they are presumably
out of the reach of Cognac. Notwith-
standing this he came very near making
a square meal of . wholesome-loo
citizen who was unwarily leaning over
the temporary railing that surmounts
the ring enclosure. The horse was
running at his freedom in the ring, and
charged with wild fury upon every
person who approached the railing, al
though they were above his head. He
seized the gentleman in question by the
coat lappet, taking also his vest, shirt,
and undershirt in his teeth, and being
an immensely powerful animal, it was
with the greatest difficulty that the man
was kept from being dragged into the
ring and killed. As it was, the horse
got away with large piece of a broad
cloth coat and a hearty mouthful of
vest, shirt, and red-fannel undergar-
ment, and the mans breast was discol-
ored, as if he had received very heavy
blow. This was before the audience
had assembled or the Professor had
come in.
At 2 O'Clock the work of securing
Cognac began, and by little maneuv-
ering two ropes were made fast to the
headstall he wore. This was accom-
plished by the Professor and an assist
ant who stood on the outside of the en-
trance door, which was opened suffi-
GENTLY to admit mans arm, COgnac
keeping his nose thrust close to the
opening in the apparent hope of getting
a nip at somebody. One of the ropes
was passed up along the corridor and
made fast to an upright post. Then
the trainer entered the ring and secured
the other rope to the tent pole. Thus
Cognac found himself unable to follow
the bent of his inclination any further.
Prof. Tapp then gave history of the
animal. Cognac is notified gray
thoroughbred Normandy stallion, OF
symmetrical but powerful mold. At his
native home he was docile, and was
worked in the plough. He was import
ed to the United States two years ago,
being then 5 years old. He became the
property of man in Illinois. One day
his master put a halter on him, the style
of which he took as a mortal affront,
and he became refractory All attempts
to subdue him were in vain. He was so
terribly beaten about the head, that for
some weeks he was but little better than
a dead horse. He recovered, and has
ever since exhibited a deadly hostility
toward man, though perfectly harmless
to animals of his own species. The
Professor exhibited the halters and fast
enings with which the animal has been
secured and handled heretofore since he
has taken his bloodthirsty notions.
Tapp then retired from the ring, and
IN few moments returned armed as he |
expressed it. He had on an overcoat
and buckskin gloves. In the inside
pockets of the overcoat he had two
small electro galvanic batteries, one on !
each side. These were connected by
an insulated wire that passed behind his |
back. A wire run from each battery.
one being positive and the other mega
tive, passing down inside of the sleeve |
to his gloves and connected with a
small metallic plate covering the ball Of
the thumb. He had also a bride bit.
with long reins attached. The bit was
wound with coil of copper wire, which
extended along each strap to small
button. With little difficulty he got
the bit in the horses mouth, the bride
being put over his head by piecemeal. |
During this process Cognac fought with
his mouth and fore feet as best he could.
but he shows no disposition whatever
now to use his hind feet in warfare.
Prof. Tapp then took the reins, one in
each hand. He Kept the thumb of his
left hand constantly on the button Of
that STRAP. His righ thumb he held
over the other button, but not in con-
tact with it, except when he wanted to
give the horse a dose of lightning.
When all was ready he dropped his
right thumb on the positive button, CIV
ing at first but light charge. Cognac
started as if he had been struck by a
bullet. As the shocks were increased
in stength the animal plunged
and reared as much as his strong fasten-
ings would permit. At length the side
rope was loosened, and he had the full
circuit of the ring. Tapp let on the
electric fluid, and Cognac reared high
in the air, endeavoring to plunge at his