The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-11-13

AN EQUINE BATTLE.-A terrific battle be
tween two stations named respectively Gold
King, belonging to a gentleman IN Phlladel-
mia, and Schuy!k Kill Chief, occurred on the
farm of Aaron Maskell, near Friedensberg,
Pa. on the 2Sth ult. Soon after being
brought to the farm, Mr.. Maskell, who. by
the way, is an experienced horseman. dis
covered that Gold King possessed an exceed
ing vicious disposition. He attacked one of
the grooms last week and bit him severely In
the shoulder, and at times the horse became
stall. The Chief, however, is said to have
an amicable disposition and can be handled
s.fely by a boy. On Tuesday morning both
animals were brought out into the yard for
water and exercise. Mr.. Maskell led GoM
King, and a farm hand named Krietzer had
the Chief in hand. The first named animal
had on a bride with q very severe bit, but
the other horse was simply controlled b. a
halter. While at the watering trough Gold
king began behaving badly, and when the
other horse approached his rage knew 20
bounds. The more Mr.. Maskell endeavored
to control him the more furious he became.
The other horse then began to exhibit signs
of anger, and fearing that Krietzer could
rot hold him with the halter Maskell yelled
TO take the Chief back to the stable. An
llSldlt ldlCl VIC tuiOdJ-lttCH OH iIC UiIiiC
on Gold King broke and he was free. Ut
tering an Undesirable cry of rage, the in
fIriated horse rushed on the Chief. Kriet.
ger became frightened, and, dropping the
halter, sought a place of safety over an adj
Joining fence. Rearing on their hind feet,
the horses came together with terrific force,
and the shock made both recoil on their
launches. Hostilities were resumed almost
instantly, and then followed such striking
and biting and kicking as was never done
before by equines. The cries Of the infuri-
ated animals could be heard a mile off, and
as the combetants became weaker their rage
seemed to increase. Maskell and krietzer
saw that it was utterly useless to attempt to
the latter was despatched for help to neigh
boring farms. In less than half an hour
nearly fifty men and boys had assembled
around the b%arn-yard, where the horses still
fought viciously. Various means of separa
ting them were proposed, but as each plan
was tried it proved a failure. In the mean
time the horses fought OH without paying
the slightest attention to the excited spccti-
tors. At last some one suggested that two
lassos be made and one thrown on the neck
Of each horse. This was thought to be a
good idea, and 1t was acted upon immedi-
ately. After the lassos were made no ore
knew now 10 throw lnem from q Instance.
and for some time no one could be found
brave enough to approach the vicious hose !.
At last Maskell and a man named Glover
took the lassos and approached the horses.
Glover succeeded in throwing his moose
around Gold Kings neck at the first attempt;
but Maskell made three casts before he got
his lasso on Chiefs head. \ dozen ready
hands then grasped the ropes, and the
horses were drawn apart. They both strug-
gled violently and uttered the most savage
cries; but the tightening of the ropes soon
choked them down, and they were hobbled
and taken into their respective stables.
Both animals were covered with cuts and
bruises, and Gold Kings f~orelegs are so bad
ly injured that it is feared he will never en-
tirely recover. The Chief injuries. al
though severe, are not likely to cause per-
manent injury. After being taken to their
stalls both animals continued to utter furious
cries for several hours. Strange to say nei
Their of the animals has taken food or water
since.