Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-08-29
tn. suasrlnes Of Poisoned Horses.

The suderlnGs Of Poisoned Horses.
Cleveland Leader.
The depravity into which some of the
members of the human family will
fall is shown by the dastardly deed
which was committed at the stables OF
the Payne avenue street car railway
company on Saturday morning last. Az
has already been stated, Of ninety
horses kept in the barn only
three escaped from the effects of the
deadly drugs which was mixed with
their feed The barn is q model of neat
ness, large and excellently ventilated.
The horses when in their stalls stand
facing each other, and q large hallway
runs between the entire length of the
building. The supposition is that the
miscreant who committed the deed en-
tered the hall, and as be passed along dis
tributed the croton oil in the managers.
This theory is strengthened by the fact
that some of the horses were more Sc
rlously affected than others, showing
that the drug was not evenly distributed.
The horses were all well on Friday
night, and Immediately after they were
fed Saturday morning were taken sick,
and in two hours the finest horse owned
by the company was dead. Two more
have died since, and Yesterday afternoon
another was about breathing its last. 1t
was magnificent black animal, and it's
sufferings were terrible to behold. It's
breath came in gasps, and the pain
which it was suffering was plainly de-
picted in its eyes. The mouth was bis
tered and completely raw, and the sur
geon in charge said there was no doubt
but that the stomach and intestines
were eaten through. The mouths of a
dozen more were examined, and the
same state of affairs found to exist. The
mouths and tongues resemble piece of
raw beef more than anything else. The
horses all have high fever, and are I'M
able to eat. Four or five were tied out
in yard in order to give them some
fresh air. A fine looking sorrel, which
had been used on the road for only q
few weeks, and which was perfectly
sound prior to being poisoned, was nc
ticed with all its feet placed close to.
gether, and it appeared to be suffering
great pain. An effort was made to move
The horse, aud after great persuasion it
was accordingly accomplished, but the
poor brute was 80 stiff that it could
hardly lift its feet, and it was with diff
fculty that it was kept from falling
over. A number more are in the same
condition, and even if they should re-
cover it is asserted that they can never
be used on this road again, as they will
be stiffened up and their constitutions
ruined. This road had some of the finest
stock in the city, and none of the horses
had been in the service long. The life
of a street Car horse is hard one at
best, but the superintendent of this road
says that his horses are as we'll cared
for as those in private stables, for it is
to the financial interest of the company
to take good care of their stock. DR..
Fair and his assistant are still in con-
slant attendance on the animals, and it
is thought that there will not be more
than one or two more deaths. A num-
Der will not be in shape to work for
weeks, and many will have to be dis
pensed with and their places filled with
new ones. The cause Of this inhuman
deed is supposed to be some trouble
which occurred at the barns last week.
An old employee of the company was set
upon and beaten by number of con-
ductors, land several arrests and discharg-
es followed. The barn boss had former
ly had the power to employ and dis
charge men, but this was taken away
from him, and he resigned. He then
a number of conductors that
they had been discharged, and they
went to the Office and handed in their
badges to Mr.. Robinson. He told them
that he had no intention of discharging
them and when he did think of 30 doing
he would inform them himself. Several
of the men returned to work, and bad
blood was engendered. 1t is thought
that the cowardly act of poisoning the
horses is traceable to this trouble.