The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-28
PROFESSOR MKEOWN's EXHIBITION.
He Delights Large Crowd with His Power in
Subdning Several Vicious Horses

Prof. John McKeown. the horse-tamer, began
a weeks exhibition at the Virginia-avenue Rink
last night. There was good crowd, quite
number of ladies being present, and the affair
was success so far as affording wild, exhilarat-
ing amusement was concerned. The rink floor
was covered with sawdust fragment of
brass band was present, and six fiery, untamed
steeds were battered and roped up securely in
one end of the rink to await the Professors
pleasure.
When he was ready to begin Professor Mckee
own advanced to the center of the ring and gave
the audience short talk on how to select good
horse. The Professor is very stout, heavy-set
man about thirty-dve years of age, and was
dressed in the regulation cowboy costume.
After a shor. speech. with sweeping wave of
the hand he ordered the first recalcitrant ami
NAL to be brought int the Enclosure. In few
moments two colored attendants led bay geld
ing forward, belonging to D. A. Fennell the
Hveryman, amid cheers from the crowd and
music from the band The animal was
men call a ''halter-puller," having, besides
the disagreeable habit OF kickin everything
that came IN reach. Professor McKeown put
surcingle him, rope through il, fast
ened each end of the rope to the horses front
feet, and proceeded to throw the beast often
tricks. It wasn't long till this animal got tired
of that sort of proceedings, and manifested
desire to make an unconditional surrender He
was therefore led from the ring. amid cries of
RATS" from the small boys and music by the
band.
The next horse. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS bay
owned by VIM. Long, who keeps stable on Wa
bash street, was brought out This animal Was.
the attendant informed the reporter, what
the profession called a IMAM killer'-plunging
at any one who might enter his stall. biting
kicking and striking in most violent and vi
cious manner. He proved TO be game subje ct
for the Professor AS soon as the proper straps
and ropes were adjusted he was started around
the ring. He had not gone very far, however,
when he showed an inclination to remove the
roof of the rink with his heels. When re-
strained in this direction he began rearing
and piunging In a way that made the crowd
hunt the top seats. The Professor aud his at
tendspt went round and round the ring, making
the saw dust fly and atfordine the spectators
endless amount of amusement. When the
beast had carried this way for time.
Professor McKeown informed the crowd that he
would now proceed to teach tnat animal what
was meant by the word Whoa" He thereupon
adjusted few straps and again tapped the
horse with whip to start him. The animal
made q lunce howard the colored attendant and
started on another wild career around the rink.
With a vigorous pull of his straps the Professor
landed the animal on his back in the midst of
clouds of dust. The horse, thrown again and
again, continued to plunge and kick at ter
Spanish bull fight Finally the
unruly beast rolled over and gave up the fight,
while detachment from tho band, consisting OF
a small man With a big bass drum, a negro with
two tremendous COW bells and a boy armed with
tin pans advanced upon the PROSTATE animal
and proceeded to beat a tattoo and dance jig
around him. The bass drum laid upon his
was struck resounding whack, the bells jingled
in his teeth and the pans pounded together right
under mis- nose An umbrella was opened and
shut before bis eyes. in fact every indignity was
offered the horse that could be
thought of and not bis Of resistance
the animals ear had to be poured full of water
before he'd pay any attention whatever TO what
was going on around him. He was led out of
the ring while the band discoursed Peek
A. boo. and the crowd stood mp and cheered.
Bring that gray" shouted Professor Nc
Keown in a commanding tone, and the crowd
pushed back as 0 wild Oregon that had never