The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
MIsCREANT UNKNOWN.
Ten Horses Owned by the Arctic
Oil Company Died Since
Sunday.
POISON GIVEN IN WATER
Supposed TO Be the Work of the Fiend
Who Mutilated the Horse on
Jessie Street.

Twenty-Five horses belonging to the
Arctic Oil Works have been poisoned in
their stalls within the past few days, and
ten of them have died since Sunday. The
others are still suffering, and some of
thensmay die. Three veterinary surgeons
are in attendance, but they are entirely
mystitied as 10 the character of the poison
ing.
The officers of the Arctic Oil Company
declare themselves to be wholly in the
dark as to how the poisoning was done.
If some one has done the thing with in
tent they say they cannot guess who that
some one is or what the pEovocation.
The police have been informed and yes
terday visited the works and made an
investigation, but they could get no clew,
There has been considerable gossip in
the neighborhood of the works, since the
horses began dying, that 4 young man re-
Gently employed about the stable, but who
got into trouble with his bosses and was
discharged few days age, is under suspi-
cion. That, however, is denied by the
officials of the company. One OF them said
last night:
I'VE have had no trouble with any OF
our employees that know of, but do not
care to say all think about this matter
Just now. 1t might be premature"
Following so close upon the atrocious
mutilation of a horse in the stable OF
Thomas Harkins, 43 Jessie street, the
police are inclined to believe that some
monster who finds fiendish pleasure in in
fiicting pain upon the horse has developed
in the City.
This seems the more probable from the
fact that the Jessie-street outrage is still a
mystery so far as the perpetrator is con-
cerned. In neither case has any motive
for wreaking vengeance upon the owners
OF the animals been made apparent.
DR.. MasOero, who Is the chief surgeon in
attendance at the stable of the oil works,
is OF the opinion that the poison has been
administered to the horses in the water
He intimates, although he does not di.
rectly declare, his belief that the horses
have been deliberately poisoned.
This. is another of those strange hap
penings that 1 met with once or twice be-
fore IN my experience said DR.. Masoero
last evening. "The mutilation of the
horse in Jessie street is something beyond
my understanding.
with all my experience It makes me
shudder to witness the sufferings of these
horses. I am inclined TO believe that the
poison was given them in the water. ]
cannot say just what the poison is. The
symptoms were somewhat peculiar, Twas
first called to attend these horses early
Sunday morning. There was then thought
20 ha hrf+ nna horca off l..
suffering great pain The roof of hi.
mouth and his lips were quite white. He
died on Monday, but by that time six OF
seven others had taken sick, exhibiting
the same symptoms. They died in quick
succession. Three died yesterday. Two
Others died to-day. 1 am afraid another
will follow, but hope that the others viii
recover, as 1 find them somewhat better
tonight.
"Three horses belonging to Captain
Griffiths, secretary of the company, were
in the stable on Sunday and were taker
sick with the others. They were two
handsome carriage horses and saddle
horse. They were removed to the cap
tain's private stable on Rincon Hill
They are better and will recover.
"No, there need be no fear of an epi
demic OF disease among horses," contin
ued the doctor. 'There is no mistakins
this as being case of poisoning. Wher
I saw the serious nature of the case ] in
sisted upon the company calling in som,
other veterinary surgeons, as / did no
wish to bear the responsibility alone. DR.
Archibald and DR.. Robbins were sum
moned, and we have consulted over tn,
case. / also sent portions of the stomach
and intestines TO a chemist for ANALYSIS
but can get no report upon it for a weel
yet. There are nine horses in the stabl,
snow, all suffering more or less. One anc
aperhaps more may die"
The Arctic Oil Works are located O,
,1llinois street in the Potrero At nigh
the buildings are tightly locked up, anC
1T would require some ingenuity to ge
into the yards ana much more to get int
the stable after dark.
The watchman at the place responded
last night to an energetic hammering upor
the gate, and II answer to questioning
said:
"The stable is very carefully guarded by
a special watchman all the time, and i
would be next to impossible for any one
to get at the horses without detection il
he night In the day, however, it is quite
different, as the stable is open and EN-
ployes have access to 1t. Since the horse:
began to die the force OF watchmen ha:
been increased until there are now five
The loss is considerable-the horses thai
have already died could not be replaced
for less than $4,000. I do not know OF an,
men having been discharged lately O.
there being any trouble with them.'
Mantle Parlor Officers
Eiautio ParIor No IOS n G n W ,~-..r