The San Francisco call., 1896-01-25
Three More Animals Are Liable
to Drop off Within the Next
Few Hours.
SUFFERING UNTOLD ToRTUREs.
The Dumb Creatures Founder and
Writhe on a Bed of Straw in
Terrible Agony.

The inhuman brutes who poisoned tn
horses of the Arctic Oil Company are still
at large and the oil company people are in
the dark regarding the identity of the
fiends.
Captain ]. n. Knowles, manager of the
company, was interviewed at his office, so
California street, yesterday, and expressed
himself in strong terms when referring to
the manner of punishment that should be
dealt out 20 the men who have inflicted
such torture on the dumb animals.
"The agony of the horses" said he,
'cannot be described. 1t was simply awful
to see them struggling and writhing on
the thick carpet of hay that had been laid
on the stable floor for them. AS soon as
the symptoms of poisoning began to ap-
pear the poor beasts showed by the ex-
preston of their eyes and the contortions
of their mouths that they were suffering
the greatest pain.
"The stablemfn did everything possib lie
to ease them, but nothing seemed to have
the desired effect. They snorted and
kicked around in their stalls and became
frenzied. 1t was then that a space was
cleared in the center of the stable and
great quantities OF hay spread out for them
TO lie on.
Just what kind of poison it was I do
not know, nor do the doctors. We will
have to wait for the analysis. 1t will take
week to get an analysis but in the mean
time we are doing all in our power to save
the other poisoned animals.
1.-THE only remedy that seemed TO have
anything like calming effect was sweet
oil, and it has been administered in large
quantities to every horse that appeared to
be affected. There are two more animals
that are likely to die before night, and
perhaps three. This will make thirteen in
all, and it may not even end there.
There is a large trough inside the
stable from which the horses are watered,
ana the first lot that drank there are the
ones that have died. They showed signs
of illness very short time after drinking
and the stablemen, suSpecting that the
poison was in the water, cleaned out the
trough. The horses that drank next were
not so sick, but still they showed some evil
dence OF having consumed poison.
NO we have not yet found any signs oi
the party or parties who had hand in the
business, and nothing has occurred at the
works that would lead us 10 bel ieve
that any one would do such a brutal thing
for the purpose of revenge. We are work
ing on the case with the hope of finding
some clew to the culprits, but nothing SO
far points to any body we can call to mind.
1t is very strange to me, and l cannot
understand it ct all. So far as the guard
ing OF the stable is concerned, it has every
protection, and in the last few days we
have increased our vigilance.
Secretary GrIffith's horses happened to
be in the bunch that took the water after
the trough had been cleaned out, ana If
is probable that they will get well, as they
were but slightly affected
What will be your loss from a financial
EtandPoint?" was asked of Captain
Knowles.
Something in the neighborhood OF
$2600, but would not have had this thing
happen for 10,000. Such horribly brutal
methods of revenge, if that was the basis
of the crime, should be Immediately sup
pressed with strong measures, and 1 can
think of nothing that is too bad for the
men at the bottom of it.
All of our horses were heavy, valuable
animals, weighing from 1900 to 14OO
pounds. While they will be easy to re-
place 1t ls distressing TO see them suffer
and die of because some brutes wanted to
crafty an appetite for revenge"
All day yesterday the stables of the
Arctic Oil Company were carefully
guarded and no one was allowed to enter
any part of the works Those of the sick
horses that required attention were under
the care of the veterinary surgeons, and
remedies were being applied with the
same regularity and care as though the
uOlSeS "eIe uuIudh beings. 1ne company
is sparing no expense to give the tortured
creatures relief, and if the other horses die
it will not be from lack of attention.
DIR. Archibald and DR.. Robbins are still
associated in the cases with DR.. Masoero.
Seven or eight of the cases are pretty well
in hand, and it is thought possible to
bring them through all right
In the meantime it will go pretty hard
with the men who were instrumental in
tae wholesale poisoning if by any hook OF
crook they are discovered.