The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-11-20
A CURIOUS BATTLE.
A Desperate Fight Between Two Vicious
StallfOns of Good Blood.

Daily Miners Journal.I
One of the most curious battles on
record occurred near Fredensburg re-
Gently between couple of stations.
The following particulars of the affair
we're received from gentleman who
witnessed part of the fight: About two
weeks ago Philadelphia gentleman
named Robert Dunlap sent a five-year-
old Golddust stallion called Gold King
to the farm of Aaron Maskell, intending
to let the animal remain there until next
season. 1t appears that Mr.. Maskell is
boarding several other horses, and among
the number is three-year-old stallion
called Schuylkill Chief. Soon after being
brought to the farm, Mr.. Maskell, who,
by the way, is an experienced horsemen,
discovered that Gold King possessed an
exceedingly vicious disposition. He at
tackled one of the grooms last week and
bit him severely in the shoulder, and at
times the horse became so furious that it
was not safe to enter his stall.
The Chief, however, is said to have
an amiable disposition, and can be ham
died safely by boy. The other morn
ing both animals were brought into the
yard for water and exercise. Mr.. Mas
kell led Gold King, and farm hand
named Krietzer had the Chief in hand.
The first named animal had on bride
with very severe bit, but the other
horse was simply controlled by halter
While at the watering trough Gold King
began behaving badly, and when the
other horse approached his rage knew no
bounds. The more Mr.. Haskell en-
deavored to control him the more furi-
h. Tho 9TH +hnr,
began to exhibit signs of anger, and
fearing that Krietzer could not hold
him with the halter, Maskell yelled to
take Chief back to the stable. An in
stant later the throatlatch on the bride
on Gold King broke, and he was free.
Uttering an indescribab!e cry of rage,
the iofuriated horse rushed on the
Chief. Krietzer became frightened, and,
dropping the halter, sought place of
safety over an adjoining fence. Rearing
on their hind feet, the horses came to-
gether with terrible force, and the shock
made them both recoil on their launches.
| Hostilities were resumed almost in
stantly, and then followed such striking
and biting and kicking as was never done
before by equines.
The cries of the infuriated animals
could be heard mile off, and as the COM
batants became weaker their rage seemed
to increase. Maskell and Krietzer saw
that it was utterly useless to attempt to
separate the animals without assistance,
so the latter was dispatched for help to
neighboring farms. In less than half an
hour nearly fifty men and boys had as
sembled around the barn-yard, where
the horses still fought viciously. -Vari-
Gus means of separating them were pro-
posed, but as each plan was tried it
proved failure. In the meantime the
horses fought on without paying the
slightest attention to the excited spec
tators. At last some one suggested that
two lassos be made, and one thrown on
the neck of each horse. This was
thought to be good idea, and was acted
upon Immediately. After the lassos were
made no one knew how to throw them
from distance, and for some time no
one could be found brave enough to ap-
proach the vicious horses.
At last Maskell and a man named
Glover took the lassos and approached
the horses Glover succeeded in throw
ing his moose around Gold Kings neck
at the first attempt; but Maskell made
three casts before he got his lasso on
Chiefs head. A dozen ready hands then
grasped the ropes, and the horses were
drawn apart. They both struggled vio-
lently and uttered the most savage cries:
but the tightening of the ropes soon
choked them down, and they were hob
bled and taken into their respective
stables. Both animals were covered with
cuts and bruises, and Gold Kings fore
legs are SO badly injured that it is feared
he will never entirely recover. The
Chiefs injuries, although severe, are
not likely to cause permanent injury.
After being taken to their stalls both
animals continued to utter furious cries
for several hours. Strange to say, neither
of the animals have taken food or water
since. The combat does not seem to inn
prove Gold Kings disposition particle,
and refuses to allow any one to enter his
stall. A Reading veterinary surgeon
was sent for, and took charge of the
horses. AS soon as he is well enough,
Gold King will be sent back to Phila-
delphia.