The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
"PULDEKA ORPHAN"
Horse Show officials HOaxed by a
Cheap Street-Car Animal.
New York World.

New York World.
'Puldeka Orphan" brushed and combed
from ears to fetlock, proudly strobe on to
the tanbark at the horse show last night
in company of twenty-five equally we'll
groomed thoroughbreds competing for blue
ribbon honors in the saddle class. A glance
at the catalogue showed the following
entry: "Puldeka Orphan, by Metropolitan,
dam Electricity" Had the judges read
slowly they might have noticed that Pulde-
ka Orphan is in rhythm very like pulled
a car often" and have learned that ranker
counterfeit never figured In horse trade
than Puldeka Orphan, reincarnation of
car horse and relic Of the Metropolitan
Street-railway Company before electricity
took the place of horse motive power.
Brian G.. Hughes, practical joker, had
foisted Puldeka Orphan on the horse show
managers, fooled a credulous public and
scored another joke. But his horse won no
prize.
So completely had Mr.. Hughes carried
out his plans that after the exhibition last
night the judges were still unaware of the
trick perpetrated them. He succeeded
liz placing as his entry in competition for
prize against the highest class horses In
the country steed which formerly romped
in front OF a Fitty-ninth-street cross-town
car from East tc North river.
he horse e's Show oo have looked on PuideSa
Orphan and have been none the wiser.
The old car horse was stalled In NO. 603.
Mr.. Hughes spared no expense in decorat-
ing her stable. 1t was covered on each
side with red velvet. ChrySanthemums,
roses and lilac were decked about the
walls. All evening two groomS In full l1v-
cry stood at either side OF the STALL
None of the true-blue thoroughbreds
ceived half the attention and outer show
that graced the quarters of the car horse.
Puldeka was ridden for inspection by Miss
Clara Hughes, Mr.. Hughess eighteen
year-old daughter, who recently graduated
from convent, where she was valedic-
torian. She has inherited her fathers love
Of e joke.
The story of Puldeka Orphan dates back
to last September, when Mr.. Hughes
bought her for sll.50 and sent her to his
country place at Brighton. There, with
proper feeding, the animal showed marked
Improvement and Mr.. Hughes decided to
bring her up TO the horse show standard.
Il had her properly fed" Mr.. Hughes
said last night, land consulted veterin-
airy surgeon as TO the best way of develop
tonic ton pill consisting of strychnia. dialyzed
iron and arsenious acid. This pill Puldeka
took regularly. and the way she took on
sickness and flesh was marvellous: l hired
groom especially for her and told him If
he could get Puldeka in such shape as to
win prize half of the money should be
his.
AFTER the mare loOkec preseh,doie Il Hdu
my daughter ride her and get her accus-
toned 10 the saddle. found ii difficult to
break Puldeka from starting whenever
bell rang and at first ii was almost impos-
sible to get her to go ahead any other way.
THE judges and veterinary surgeons
made their preliminary examination yes
terday and decided Puldeka was a fit steed
TO compete with the other high-class
horses. This is in itself a great victory.
Think of it, An old skate of a car horse
officially judged 10 be an animal of class
high enough to compete at the National
Horse Show"
Mr. Hughes once successfully exhibited
at the cat show a Bowery cat, described
with a bogus pedigree, which took first
prize He has perpetrated various other
Jokes which have received much publicity.