The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-14
HORSES GONE MAD.
Some Curious Observations on Mania,
as Observed in Stable and Paddock
From the Ne,o York Recorder.

| Some Curious Observations on Mania,
| as Observed in Stable and Paddock
From the Neso York Recorder.
| In the steppes of Russia, where wolves
abound. and where the horses lead a wild
life and have to shift for themselves, it Is
said that young colt will sometimes be
made SO furious by the persecution of his
enemies that he will rush wildly among a
drove OF wolves and bite and strike until
he has slaughtered a large number of
them. These horses are exceptionally fierce,
rendered SO, it is supposed, largely by the
extreme variations In the climate. At one
time of the year they suffer from the in
tense heat OF a tropical sun, and at another
they live among raging snow storms and
extreme cold.
There are a number of stories about the
fury Of horses on the battle field, and ocoa-
sionally they seemed to go mad. One in-
stance of this was an Arabian horse at Bat
aklava, which rushed at an English soldier
who happened TO be drawing water, seized
him in his mouth and threw him down, and
then, kneel1ng down, tore at his breast and
actually bit off his hand. Before this ter
ror could be subdued he bit off another SOL
dier's finger, and seriously injured the vet
Urinary surgeon Of the regiment. There was
no battle in progress on the occasion, but it
is highly probable that military life and
the attendant excitement had driven the
horse crazy
There was case similar to the above in
illinois some years ago, A Mr.. Hannan of
Peoria suddenly found his horse, usually a
very gentle one, acting In very strange
manner. "He would lay hold" said the gen.
tleman who gave the account, with his
teeth OF everything that came within his
reach and shake it as terrier would a rat.
While the gentleman was watching, the
horse reached into plgpeu, and, Se1Zing
| hold or one of its inmates, threw 1t I'D into
the air. This strange feat he repeated two
or three times then setting his teeth in the
| body of the pig he crushed it to the earth,
| gnawing and msngling the body in the
most frightful manner. The horse then
took a second pig. served in q similar man.
ner, and then tossed calf into the air as
easily as a cat would mouse. The owner
| Immediately sent for popular farrier, but
when he arrived the horse was more quiet,
| whereupon the farrier ventured into the
| inclosure and called the horse to him. The
animal came up, apparently very docile
but the moment be came within reach he
| seized the man violently by the shoulders,
| threw him forcibly with his face on the
| ground; then, setting his teeth in his back,
| enGeavored to crush and gnaw him, the
| animals eyes meanwhile becoming CLASSY
| with rage" The owner rescued the farrier,
| but the morse had to be shot. 1t was clearly
a case OF insanity.
Do horses really care for human beings7
| 1t is probable that no two horsemen will
answer in the same way. Some maintain
that they are affectionate and love their
masters, and others are equally certain that
| they only care for one another. Philip
| Gilbert, Hamerton, who processes to have
made a scientific investigation on this point
declares that horses have no sympathy for
people and that they do not love their mas
| tiers, but there are plenty OF intelligent peo-
| pie of experience who assert to the con-
| trary. However this may be, there Is no
doubt about their strong attachment to
| each other, and their intelligence in assist
ing one another is illustrated by one of the
most remarkable horse stories on record.
| It must be told in the language Of the mar
rator:
! "A gentleman possessed of a span of
| sprightly little horses, which. whether in
the stable, in the field or in harness,
we're always together, proceeded to Lake
| M1nnetonka on n5hIng excursion. TAX
ing them from the carriage, he tied them
some rods apart, near the lake shore, and
left them to feed. Repairing to a shanty
near by. the gentleman threw himself upon
the floor with the intention of doing away
the time which would elapse before the re-
turn of the fishing party engaged on the
lake. But short time passed before the
sound OF horses feet aroused his attention,
and a moment after one of the horses APP
peared at the shanty door. The animal
put his head in, gave a loud neigh, and
then, in slow gallop, but evidently under
great excitement. returned toward the spot
where he and his companion a few mo-
ments before had appeared safely fastened.
Surprised to find the horse loose, and struck
with his singular conduct, the gentleman
Immediately followed and found the other
lying IN the water, entangled by the halter,
and with great difficulty keeping from be-
ing drowned. While efforts were being
made to dlsengage the unfortunate horse,
his noble and Intelligent benefactor stood
by, msnifesting the utmost soiicitude and
sympathy, and when his mate was fairly
I extricated from his perilous situation, and
once more again safely upon solid ground
the generous creature exhibited the mos
unequivocal signs of satisfaction and joy