The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-01
OREGoN's NEW CANNERY.
Inc Butchering Of Horses for Food
Now in Progress.

Now in Progress.
Portland Oregonian.
The first train load OF horses was ex-
pected here on Sunday. and the slaug hter-
ing was TO have begun on Monday. but.
owinS TO trouble experienced in getting
the horses to swim the Columbia % UNA
tilla, Where they We a TO take The train,
a days delay was caused, and the con-
demned animals did not arrive at the
stockyards till Monday. They were driven
over TO Linnton that evening and placed
In the corrals, where they were seen yes
terday. They were a rough-and tumble
lot, of all ages and colors, cayuses and
half-breedS. alike handy with their teeth
or heels, and biting or kicking each other
ON the slightest provocation, while wait
Ing for the foreman of the slaughter room
to call out next" and then TO trot up
the inclined plane TO a close pen, where
butcher and sledge hammer were wait
ing TO send them to the elyslan horse
plains, perhaps to be ridden by the shades
of departed Indians in the happy hunting
ground, where no sleet ever covers the
grass in winter to starve the poor range
pony.
number OF persons went down yes
terday to look over the establishment,
and see how horses are killed as a COM
merciai proposition. Among them were
several persons from Eastern Oregon.
more or less interested in the horse ques-
ton; a gentleman from New York, who
had made a fortune IN the butchering
business; q gentleman from New Mexico.
and others.
The buildings are roony and fitted up
with every necessary and convenient ap-
pliance for the business to be carried on.
They stand in the old orchard on the
bank of the river, and near by. IN a
field of growing oats, are the corrals.
from which an inclined roadway leads 20
the slaughter room IN the upper story.
On the ground floor are large wooden
tanks for steanning the fat out OF the
meat a number OF smaller tanks Of gall
vanized iron, two large vertical digestors
or retorts, a press for pressing the oil out
of the meat, a kiln heated by steam for
drying the bones, bone cracker. much
resembling rock crusher, dis
integrator or machine for grinding the
refuse into a fertilizer; also the boiler
and engine. etc.
Near the abattoir were several horses,
which, as one Of the butchers said, broke
their fool necks jumping down an en-
bankment. trying TO get away" and be
fore the slaughtering could commence
these must be got out OF the way. This
was very expeditiouAy accomplished.
The legs were cut off at the Knees, the
flowing" main and tail removed. slit
made the whole length OF the skin, and
the head skinned and part Of the neck.
Then a rope was made fast 70 his loose
skin. so that II could not slip, and
chain put around the neck and fastened
20 the trunk OF an apple tree. steady
going pair OF old horses was hitched TO
the rope. and, when the driver said 'git
IN" they .'got" and in ten seconds the
skin was of A few cuts and slashes
and the carcasses were in the steam tank
being converted into fertilizer.
II must be understood that the horse 10
ry-&rr
hipponotaunus etc. ali OF whose hides
grow fast 20 the flesh. and cannot be re-
moved IN the same manner as the hides
OF oxen or sheep.
when all was in order. the work Of
siaughtering was commenced This IL not
pleasant 20 watch, nor nice 70 describe
Very few OF the readers OF the crego-
MAN probably would care 10 look on and
Gee a horse killed. The performance Is
chou. the same "a ~ killing steer. The
horses are trottei up the inclined roa1-
way from the corrals. and each enclosed
IN n pen Then the eEecUticnsr hts tnHtfl
Z, me forehead with a sledEe-nammsr
a,9 thew fail ssnseiess, 1ust az any ami
r,al does The doors Of the pen are hfte1.
,ha carcasses drawn out or the Soor. and
ex,stlitfous.y dressed and hung up.
trenches fn the soor and chutes CONVEX
the onaI out OF sight. and IN snort
,g,,s a number OF carcasses are suspend
81 hy TIE gauore&s lfolH Av" bet~1S
ohove The pile % ho0fs Fl one corner. a
nile OF horse tails IN another. and TIE
Ienrth and sIInness OF the legs on the
rarcas sas are all that would Indicate 10
an inexperienced person that anythsng
Unusual had been going on. The flesh Of
the horse IS darker than that or good
beef There "a very little kidney TAT ana
the saf brought out is OF a yellow color.
Tbe butchers had no objection 70
=,a,vf7fersn~ horses: 70 was ell IN the lin.
~ business with them They noticed. With
the eve OF experts. the difference be-
tween the anatomy Of the horses and ths
animals thsy had been used 70 slaughter--
the resemblance Of the liver 10 that o.
hog, the lack q numerous stofnaels'