The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-22
jim W|CKS' LAST FIGHT.
The Vicious Stallion Killed
Yesterday in One Wild
Plunge.
A RIDERS NARROW ESCAPE.
Gleason to Sue the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals.

Jim Wicks is dead. Jim was only q
horse, but was possessed of decided ideas
regarding the rights and privileges of
horsedom, and always protested, and sue
cessfully, against any training or attempts
at subjugation. But he was conquered at
Central Park yesterday, death being the
subduer.
Professor o. R. Gleason, the horse
trainer, who, not long since, was breaking
animals at the Pavilion, has for some time
had bills up announcing an exhibition at
Central Park yesterday. The place was
well filled, fully 10000 people being
present.
The first animal to be brought out was
a brown horse, owned by Captain Harris
of the Bay District track, led into the in
closure by halter. 1t was said to have
runaway tendencies, kicked viciously, and
had never been driven without blinds.
The animal was peaceable enough until
harnessed, when it commenced an exhibit
ton of kicking, rearing and jumping that
kept the hands of Gleason and his as
sistants full of business.
The low smau-wheeled wagon used in
the training is something on the buck
board order made to Withstand shocks OF
all shapes and sizes, and when it was run
UP to the animal without hesitation he
kicked it away ten feet. Straps had been
attached to the horses fore legs and run
through rings affixed to the under part of
the surcingle, and when the jumping COM
menced pull on these brought him to his
knees. This was repeated whenever the
kicking and bucking commenced, resulting
at last IN his remaining quiet even when
the wagon cushion was swung before his
eyes and flags were waved and base drum
was beaten about his ears. Bring on No.
." said the professor; upon which remark
the horse concluded to try it again, and
played a lively tattoo on the wagon, and
hoped around in a manner that made the
crowd yell with approval. The professor
tried his hand again, when Secretary. Hol:
brook of the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals stepped up and stopped
the performance with this horse.
This was not relished by the audience,
which showed its disapproval by bowls
ana cries to eject the secretary. Protests
by Gleason to the audience and to Mr..
Holbrook were of no avail, SC. No. L was
sent away and No. 2 brought out.
This horse was fine chestnut animal
with silver name and tail, and was an
nounced as possessing traits similar to the
first. He exercised himself after the
fashion OF his decessor-thumped the
wagon repeatedly and thoroughly and had
a try at Gleason's head, missing it by only
few inches He was decidedly spirited
and eyed the professor sideways in a most
disguised manner. However, he was SUBJ
dued in due time, and after having varied
noises raised around him in the way of
drums, tin cans, firecrackers and various
flags, he was pronounced all right. This
seemed to suit the crowd and several en-
thusiastic and cxcitable spectators felt
called upon to denote their appreciation in
ND arl-
Following this came an exhibition of
fancy vaquero riding and lasso-throwing
that almost resulted IN a tragedy. Vaquero
Nickerson was riding spirited animal,
when the saddlegirth broke and he fell to
the ground. The horse struck the man
and injured him severely, but he showed
much pluck and came staggering back into
the ring very soon and insisted upon try
ing it again, but was not permitted,
Vaquero Mitchell finishing for him.
The trick riding and lasso-throwing was
good and evoked applause, most of The
participants being from Rutchertown.
The event of the afternoon was reached
when Jim Wicks, the animal from San
Jose, was brought in. He was a magnifi-
cent specimen, being of Nutwood stock,
his father having a mark of 2:13Z. No
one had ever been able to drive him, and
he had so bad a reputation as to be called
the 'man-eater." His owner declined to
let him come here to be trained unless he
was purchased. He was bought by Pro-
lessor Gleason for $500, and if subdued
would have been worth fully $1,000.
He was led in by two men, one on each
side. He was muZZled. A strap was at
tached to his off foreleg and passed over his
back and he was borne to the earth by lift
ing that leg and pressing him over. The
whip was then cracked about his ears until
he lay still. He was then handled for Bit
ing by pressing his mouth in some peculiar
way and straps were attached to his fore
legs and bit and bride fitted. He moved
off peaceably enough but when the whip
was cracked he reared up and fell over on
his head. After some kicking and the fix
ing of pad on his head to prevent injury,
he again reared and fell over backward,
and was so severely injured that he was
shot by an official of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at Glea-
sons request.
The stopping of the first portion of the
exhibition by Secretary Holbrook was re-
sented by Mr.. Gleason, who has declared
his intention of suing the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for $50
600 damages to-day. He says: "Surely
it cannot be rightfully claimed that | have
ever showed cruelty to any animal. OF
what use is horse that cannot be driven.
Some method must be adopted to bring
him to terms. l think the interference de-
cidedly uncalled for and intend to protest
IN the courts"
1t seemed to be the opinion of most of
the horsemen present that Mr.. Gleason's
methods were humane and above criticism
and that the death of Jim Wicks was en-
tlrely an accident.