The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-04
GOOD HORSE STORIES.
Various Incidents, Amusing and
Otherwise, of Mans Brute
Friend and Servant
An Ohio Animal With a MOustache
More PretentiOus Than
q Dudes.
Mourning for Fire HOrse-Going Alone
to be Shod-Tales of Other
Horses

to be Shod-Tales of Other
Horses.
A horse with mustache is something of
novelty, and such a curiosity attracted
quite a crowd on Front street this after
noon, says the Worcester Times. The ami
NAL is Jet black, and from his upper lip
grows bunch of hair of light color and
as thick as the hair on his body, but meas
ing over two inches in length and as stiff as
bristks. This hair parts in the middle and
curls to tho side as does the mustache on
the lip of man, showing that it has been
quite as carefully trained. The animal is
the property of Thomas Jones, Of Paxon,
and is 16 years old.
A Reading, Pa. dispatch says that DOL
lle," the Oldest horse in the Reading fire
department, was buried to-day on De
Turks farm. in Exeter township. She was
beautiful animal, white IN color, and had
reached the age of Is years. For sixteen
years she has been in continuous service as
one of the engine horses of the Friend
ship Fire company. At special meeting
of the company it was resolved to drape
the mares picture, and s. j. Rish,
VIM. Deeter and George Dease were ap-
pointed a committee to superintend the
funeral. The handsome white tail of the
animal will be placed in the hands Of tax
idermist, and her shoes nickle-piated. after
which they will be placed in glass case as
q memento.
There is horse in the First ward that is
al ~ nit no ho
animal is nothing but a eady-goinR car
rage horse, and, though he was known to
be remarkably apt in christening gates and
opening feed-bins, the full degree of his tai
emit was not disclosed until the recent storm,
SAYS the GAINESVILLE Gazette. Finding that
his shoes were too smooth for comfort dur.
ing slippery trip, he pushed the barn door
open and started on steady trot for the
blacksmith's. Once in the shop he stood
back and waited his turn as decorously as
though "going- a-shoppinR" on his own
hook was an everyday occurrence. Finally
one of the men brought out his tools and
began tapping on the four-footed custom
er's shoes as though putting on a new set.
approval, and when the hammering was
finished trotted out and made his way home,
perfectly contented.
A recent number of the Wellsboro Agita-
tor says: Last Sunday morning Gen. h. G.
Cox's old war horse, "Gen. Banks" died
frlm complication of disorders. "Banks''
was thoroughbred Virginia horse, and he
was remarkably large and handsome. It
was on the morning of the Goth of March,
1865. that Gen. Cox, then colonel of the
Goth regiment, was called out of his tent in
front of Petersburg, Va, and found the
horse tied to post, all ready to mount,
with fine saddle, bride and holsters. The
whole equipment was gift . Of the regiment
been purchased from another officer who
had ridden him since the war opened. Cant.
H. 4. Wood. in his presentation speech, said
that LOCO brave men, ready to do and dare
1T the lannon's mouth, had united III a
token of appreciation for their commanding
uinces. His closing words were: al
low me, colonel, to present to
YOU this beautiful steed oaparisoned for
the field. May he bear you nobly in the
fight and bring you forth unscathed and
victorious, that when smiling peace returns
to bless the land you may return to the
spected by grateful people," Gen. Cox
responded feelingly in accepting the pres
ent from his .boys.'' Soon afterwards the
rebels began Smelling the camp. We doubt
if there ia another horse living in the
United States with record equal to that of
old war horse has been buried on Gen.
Cox's premises, in this borough.
People often say that horses can not
think-well, maybe they can't" writes the
author Of Life with the Trotters." who
then tells two anecdotes which contradict
what "people say"
Rarus, the wonderful trotter, bought by
Mr.. Bonner for $36, 900, was not inclined to
be affectionate. He had made the fur fly
from two dogs, but when Scotch terrier
pup was placed in the stable the two be-
came strong friends. The admiration and
love that they showed for each other was
almost human.
The dog. one day. being left in the stall
while the horse was at the blacksmith
shop, made havoc of everything there, trv.
easy, and acted as bad as the dog, SO that
from that time the two we're kept together
When Rarus was exercised or trotted, Jim
my, the dog, watched him with as much in
tersst as his owner did. On returning t.
the stable, the horse would bend his heac
to receive on his mouth the dogs kiss.
When Rarus was led out of the stable tc
be shown to the public, Jimmy, jumping or
the hostler's shoulder, would leap ON thu
horses back, and there stand, his head
high in the air. his tail out stiff, barking
furiously.
Jimmy went with Rarus to Mr.. bonner, in
whose city stable there was a bull terrier,
monarch of all he surveyed" One day
Jimmy attacked the bull terrier, and his
yelps soon indicated that he had been rash.
Rarus, hearing the cry of distress, rushed
from his stall and, had he not been re.
strained, would have made short work OF
his friends foe.
Bay, another trotter, was bred on a farm
where an old gray horse ran with him il
the field. Such was the strong attachment
between the two that when Bay was sent te
a trainers he refused to eat, and thrasheG
around wildly in his stall. On returning
him to the farm and to the old gray horse
he became as quiet as lamb. From tina
time the two chums were never separated
even on the track.
A local wood dealer met with rather re-
markable experience recently, and is tryinl