St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-08
HORSES THAT GO MAD.
A Case in Illinois Where an AMI
NAL Went Crazy.

In the Stetpes of Russia, where wolves
abound, and where the horses lead
wild life and have to shift for them
selves, it is said that young colt will
sometimes be made so furious 10y the
persecution of his enemies that he will
rush wildly among a drove of wolves
and bite and strike until he has slaught-
cred large number of them. These
horses are exceptionally fierce, rendered
so. it is supposed, largely py the ex-
IRENE variations of the climate. Atone
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 number OF stories about
the fury of horses Oh the battlefield,
and occasionally they seem to 90 mad
One instance of this was an Arabian.
horse at Balaklava, which rushed at an
English soldier who happened to be
drawing water, seized him i'll his mouth
and threw him down, and then, kneel-
ing upon him, tore at his breast and
actually bit off his hand. Before this
terror could be subdued he bit off an
other soldiers finger and seriously in
Jured the veterinary surgeon of the
regiment. There was no battle III
progress Oh the occasion, but it is high
ly probable that a military life and.
attendant excitement had driven the
horse crazy. a-
There was case similar to the above
in Illinois some years ago. AS related
in the Washington Star, Mr.. Hannah,
Of Peoria, suddenly found his horse,
usually very gentle one. acting in a
very strange manner. lie would lay
hold" said the gentleman who gave the
account. with his teeth Of everything
that came within his reach and shake it
as terrier would rat. While the
gentleman was watching, the horse
reached into pig pen, and, seiZing hold
of one OF its inmates, threw it up 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
mangling the body in the most frightful
manner. The horse then took second
pig, served it in similar manner, and
then tossed calf into the air as easily
as a cat would mouse. The owner i'm
mediately sent for popular farrier,
but when he arrived the horse was more
quiet, whereupon the farrier ventured
into the Enclosure and called the horse
to him. The animal came up apparently
very docile, but the moment lie was
within reach he seized the man vlo-
lently by the shoulders, threw him fore
IDLY with his face OF the ground: then,
setting his teeth iii his back, endeayored
to crush and gnaw him, the animals
eyes meanwhile becoming CLASSY with
rage" The owner rescued the farrier,
but the horse had to be shot. 1t was
clearly a case of insanity.
Do horses really care for human be-
ings? 1t is probable that no two horse
men will answer in the same way.
Some maintain that they are affection
ate and love their masters, and others
are equally certain that they only care
for one another. Philip Gilbert Ham
erton. who processes to have made
scientific investigation on this point,
declares that horses have no sympathy
for people and that they do not love
their masters, but there are plenty of
intelligent people of experience who
assert to the contrary. However this
may be, there is no doubt about their
strong attachment to each other, and
their intelligence in assisting one an
other is illustrated by one of the most
remarkable horse stories Oh record. 1t
must be told i'll 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,
were always together, proceeded to Lake
Miunetonka on a fishing excursion.
Taking them from the carriage he tied
them some rods apart. near the lake
shore, and left them to feed. Repairing
TO Shanty near by the gentleman threw
himself upon the floor with the inten-
ton OF doing away the time which
would elapse before the return of the
fishing party engaged on the lake. But
short time passed before the sound of
a horses feet aroused his attention, and
a moment after one OF the horses ap-
peared at the Shanty door.
The animal put his head in. gave
loud neigh, and then in a slow gaIlop,
but evidently under great excitement,
returned toward the spot where he and
his companions few moments before
had appeared safely fastened. Sur
priSed to find the horse loose and struck
with his singular conduct, the gentle
man Immediately followed and found
the other lying in the water and en-
tangled by the halter and with great
difficulty keeping from being drowned.
While efforts were being made to olsen
gage the unfortunate horse his noble
and Intelligent benefactor stood by,
nanifesting the utmost solicitude and
sympathy, and when his mate was fairly
eXtricated from his perilous situation
and once more again safely upon solid
ground, the generous creature exhibited
the most unequivocal signs of satisfac-
ton and JOY"