Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-12

cold Gray and Mr.. Bergh's Officers on
Duty-Many Illustrations of Mans In
humanity to Helpless Brutes.
There is an old gray horse in the
stable of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals that, from years
of service. has become so accustomed
to the work required of him as to per-
form it without much urging. He has
in his younger days gone by the names
of Prince" ''Jip,' and Charlie"
but now he is referred to simply as the
.1Old Gray 1t is said of him that
when he turns out with the ambulance
to bring to the Office a disabled orsick
horse, be seems to appreciate the fact
that one of his suffering kind is to re-
ceive kindly care and aid, for he travels
along in his very best time. and will of
his own volition bring the vehicle to a
standstill close to the unfortunate
steed. This is his routine work, but
he does special service. as well, three
OF four mornings of each week.
The vast majority of the population
of the metropolis is asleep when, at
half-past 3 Il. ~, the stable gate of the
society's building is thrown open, and
''Old Gray" harnessed to the rcd four
wheeled business wagon. with the ot1i-
cial seal on the side. darts into the
street. superintendent Charles Han
kinson holds the rcins, and accom-
panying him are three of his officers.
They are or their early morning tour
of the great city to ferret out and stop
the cruclties of man to animals of every
kind. '.Old Gray knows the route,
and. striking one Of the great East Side
avenues. turns his head nothward and
speeds along in the direction of the
Harlem Bridge. As the wagon ncars
the car-stables it is stopped. A car
comes rurnbling on with a half-awaKe
driver and a limping team of old
plugs"
Stop" cries the Superintendent to
Che driver.
"What for:?" is the sleepy reply.
'.Ihosc horses are lame. You'll
have to turn Them out and take them
back to the car stables"
''Wcll boss" says the driver, who,
from being often lame and sick him
self and vet compelled to work. has
a systematic feeling for thepoorhorses,
1--WE been lookin' out for YOU and, to
tell the truth, I'm glad I've met you.
I didn't want to go out with them.
III take them back.
AS he does so. "Old Gray starts OFF
again up the avenue. Two blocks
above a trucEman is overtaken driving
a crippled horse.
You'll have to take that horse
home" cries the Superintendent.
mo, l WON'T" is the surly answer.
''Oh, yes: you Will" in a decided
way.
Who are you?n angrily.
''Mr. Bcrgh's officer"
"Well. all right; I'll do as you say,
but J. didn't know at first as it was any
of your business to interfere with
mine"
The il%l-natured fellow is hardly out
of sight when another of the same
sort is encountered. He is whacking
his misunderstanding horse over the
head with savage carnestncss. Scarce
ly before he knows of their presence
the Society's officers have wrested the
whip from h's uplifted hand, and be-
fore they part from him they give him
emphatic warning not to repeat his act
of cruelty. The saloons are by this
time opening. and the %bartcnders are
out on the sidewalks sweeping broken
glass into the streets. ''Old Gray" is
refined iii in front Of the foremost of
the offenders. The man has Just COM
pleteu his sweeping.
do You know that there is u lot of
broken glass III that rubbish?' asks the
Superintendent.
II guess 500 iniiffcrcntly.
"Yon'n have to pick tho glass out of
the street and throw il elsewhere
CHOW do YOU knowI wjll?' doubling
his fists.
Because if You don't you'll be ar
xcstcu.'
The bartender would much rather
fight than undertake the task, but he
looks frs; at the official seal and then
at the four officers, and finally. with
many muttcringS does us he is hidden.
All the other offenders are treated in
tho same determined manner Some
OF them understand the meaning of the
law; the majority do not know what to
make of it at all. The Superintendent
has driven awaj from the last of these
indignant dispensers Of liquor when his
attention is attracted to a ping ugiy''
who is strollirg along the street with
q dog with almost as little claims to
good looks as himself. An unfortunate
cat crosses their path. Sick 'cm,"
cries the plug ugly. The dog dashes
after tabby. Ills master is in tile height
of his enjoyment over the imminent
risk that tho cat rurs of being over
taken and ili-treated. when some one