The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-14
CRUEL AND NOTORIOUS.
zoller's Horseback Leap From Ferry
The Horss Mired.

The Horss Mired,
From the 81. LOUIS Globe De otocrat.
At last Prof C. w. Zeller has accom-
plished the aim OF his life Astride of
magnificent iron-gray steed the professor,
at 1920 O'Clock yesterday morning, rode
from the deck of the little steamer Florence
Into the Mississippi river. The professor
failed to leap into fame and renown at the
same time for the jump was Il fizzle The
horse trainer is about as agile and graceful
In wafer as sea COW NO I'D be- in au ice
cream parlor, and his efforts yesterday to
keep out of reach of the horses hoofs and
at the same time hang on
to the birdie in order to keep from drowning
would have been pitIabie had It not been
that the man was in the water Of his own
voition. AS it was the crowd jeered and
hoote Il at the professor aud felt sorry for
the struggling horse. Ia fact, the men in
the 70 wboats, who were on hali In autici-
patton of an accident, struck out after the
unfortunate animal, aud would have for
gotten Zeller had he not let forth yell
wnich was the essence of despair, chagrin
and rage.
The steamer Florence left the Sid ey
street docI promptly at 10 o'clock. Prof
Zeller stood ON the lower deck with his
horse and was very nervous The animal
was also nervous 1t seemed to know that
it was on the boat for no good purpose
ZelleT's manager was also on thu lower
deck. The audience consisted Of about l5J
cTswtish catchers. river men and South
st. Louis boys. Each paid the ferry boat
owner 10 cents for the trip. No sports
were on boar !, or moneyed museum men.
The boat pulled across the river and into IA
large bayou between an islaud and the Illi-
nois shore. This bayou is fully 400 feet
wide, and Is deep, but the current is not SO
swift as the main stream. The jump was
made at point opposite w. J. Lamps
ice house. 'N -~ is-t.-
The horse was attired for the occasion in
rubber jacket, which covered his forelegs
and shoulders, aud a pair of rubber ear
muffs. just what the jacket was for was
not plain. The horse was bridlei and had
on its back folded blanket, which served
as saddle. The pr fessor, who weighs 220
p unds, wore an undershirJ, with pair of
faded blue trousers. The jump was not
made from the top deck, as advertised, but
from the main deck which was about 81 K
feet above the water. In front of the guard
rail opening was placed frame of branches
and leaves to prevent the horse from seeing
the water. Boards were at each end of the
opening 80 that the animal could not shy to
one side.
The beast was placed about fifteen feet
back and the professor mounted him with
VIC Oil VI a 1Holit Win II ring
masters whoop, he stuck his heels into the
horses sides, while a dozen men belaborei
the poor beast over the launches with
whips. Smarting with pain the horse rushed
forward. He stopped at the blind and
would not move. Zeller swore and led the
animal back. Again be was cruelty whip
ped; again he dashed to the blind openiag
and stopped.
The men whipped the animal unmerci-
fully, and at last tine poor beast thrust his
fore feet through the leaves and fell head
long into the river. The professor was
thrown from his chargers back but re-
tanned his hold on the bride. After strug-
Cling for few minutes the horse got his sea
legs, so to speak, aud struck out for the ILL
nois shore. The professor, however, couldn't
find his nautical limbs and tried to get
astride Of the animal When he saw he had
to swim he made great bluff at it. and at
last he yelled for help. Some Modoc Boat
Club oarsmen then took pity on him and
towed him to shore. The horse swan about
thirty yards and had just about reached the
illinois shore, when it turned and swan back
into the river.
Two or three times the unfortunate beast
seemed about to sink, but at last, after
swimming over 300 feet, it reached the
island. 1t plowed through the mud and
willows, vainly endeavoring to reach firm
ground. When it reached the center of the
lsIanu tne Deast was buried TO The neck In
mud and nearly exhausted. Men and boys
rowed to the island and tried to extricate
Zeller's dumb and unwilling agent. but
without success, and at late hour yester-
day afternoon the beast was still in the mud
with the chances for It's recovery very
slim.
After it was over, Zeller's manager, f. X.
Zeis, explained to the crowd that the noise
Of the boat frightened the horse. The horse
was badly abused, and many people on the
boat declared that the police should have
prevented Zeller from making the foolish
attempt.