Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-17
n HORSE DISTURBED.
His RIedIiations Interrupted By the Explosion
of Lead or Fireworks.

EtW ON ltCFdlu+i
A wagon.load Of fireworks stood In front
Of No. II Park Place at IL O'Clock yestcr-
day morning. In the shafts was n dark
brown horse. II was quiet and laZy-look-
iHg animal, and languidly wbisked Tue flies
from his sleek coat. As cool breeze
played with his m0ne a peaceful. dreamy
look came INTO the big brown eyes, the
restless cars sank into repOse, aud even the
glossy legs expressed happy conteutncnt.
The sun shone brightly.
a wicked boOlblack approached with a
crafty smile and lighted q cigar. The hois'
calmly chewcd his bit and the sun KEEP on
shining. ..,is,as,-..:
There was Kissing sound, followed OYh
noise as OF corkS popping. The b5o'ba"k
bid behind q tclegraph.pole and huggc1
himself. The popping was succee led by q
loud bang. The horse looked around and
noticed that the fireworks were going OF.
A smile, as o. contempt. appeared upon the
equine mouth. The animal liyei al q fire
works factory and was accustomed -
breakfast upon tender little tnrpndOe'.
Louder grew the noise and thicker the
smoke rs the fire spread. The wagon b.
gan 20 trcmblc and n crowd collected. 4
fit OF laughter seemed to convulsc the sleek
lluilhS vi tut UlOhI llViN'Y dNiii AtlE htit
gracefully swung TO and fro in a careless
fashion. Even when the dctOnaiOns were
mingled in a continuous rattle as OF artil-
lcry the equine veteran simply settled i1tp
a more easy position, as ii TO enjoy the Joke
rs much as possible.
SURPRISE FOR THE HORSE.
Suddenly the fire reached the fancy fire.
works. Pinwheels wnizzed and hummed,
dartirg hither aud th,her. Roman candles
Toured voilcys Of cOlorcd lights odt OF the
wagon, and floWer-pots famed into the air.
A biz pinWheel leapcd out OF the vehicle
and fastened itself 10 the horses tail. In
an instant all peace had vanished from the
animals mlnd. With a wild snort he
lcaped into The arr. The front feet paved
wildly, the tail stood erect, the ear, were
cooked, the back curved, and the dil-
phragm inflated. lis body first rs unci
the form OF the letter :, and then Of u J
turned upside down.
4 magnificent burst Of silver aud gold
ram fell upon the shining hide, and the
horse dashed into the street amid the yell'
OF the spectators. He danced and cavOTted
about ike the sttcd OF a St.-PltricE' = day
marshal. Blue and red and pclccck-gree1
splendOr rose from the rOling mass in tn
wagon. hut the 4orse had no eye for the
exquisite beauty OF the scene. His hind
legs cut pjgeon-wing over the dashboard.
and tears started from his eyes ~ fame
ScOrchod the feti0cks. Rockets tore through
the air, and emerald fountains played
softly through the smoke. Crackers snap
ped, grass hOupcrs hoped. and torpedOes
banged. The boxes IN the wagon begau
10 burn, and the flame took hold OF
the wagon Itself. Stiil the horse dil not
appear 10 he happy. He gailOped down
Park Place and turnedInto Church street,
followed by hundreds OF people. Two
men seized the bride and tried to unfair
ness the animal from the shafts. The task
was a difficult one, for the horse seemed
intent upon executing the second figure in
the highland ding.
FIRENEN 70 THE RESCUE.
At this time the fireworks were al going
of toeetL n. Ii only needed Gilm>rc's
Band and darkness 10 make the picture
complete. The horse was uuhitchcd az last.
and when once free 1t looked around re-
proachiully IT the wagon, which was IN
blaze. A fre-cnCinc dasned up aud
stream Of charged water was turned on tha
flames from patent cXtinguishers ~ the
tiremen. In few minutes the hre was PIT
out and the urchins in the street made
grand gilsh for the fireworks which had
not exploded. After The wreck was nearly
all cleared away the horse was led home.
As he LETT the TIiEs the animal heav'd
big sigh and Wagged his ears pensively.
soon aftcrward IN Innoccnt-ioOklng boot.
black appeared in Church street. lie Wa
smoking the stump al cigar. and gIzrd
curiously at the hlgckened heap on the cob.
blc-stGncs-
"PiI bet a dollar that there was powder
burnir' round here" ne said to one Of ilr
french. ~ can smell fireworks a mile oil.
| wonder how il happcncd:"