The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-20
PRIZE FIGHTER AND THE ZEBRA
Remarkable Effort to Shoe the Latter
in Chicago Zoo.

Billy Stiff, Chicago prize ngnters
entered new sort of arena the other
day, and came out with first money. He
didn't wear the padded gloves and the
tights that he dons in his ordinary ring
set-tos, but wore pair of spiked shoes,
old trousers and a sweater. 1t was
hard earned victory after a thousand
round sgo''
Billys antagonist was the zebra at the
Lincoln Park 200" It wasn't a knock
out contest, for the fighters task was
only to subjugate the animal SO that it
would allow the fitting of iron shoes to
its dainty feet.
1t was a hard struggle, and one that
would have baffled the endurance of "a
man or ordinary physique, but Stiff is in
training, and he got grip on the zebras
neck, evaded the flying hoofs, and wore
the animal out by sheer superiority of
will and strength.
then fitted the shoes, and the feat per-
formed by the two is declared to be
unique in the history of the farrier's art.
The claim is made that the Lincoln Park
zebra is the first of it's kind to ever wear
shoes. The blacksmith is particularly tu-
bllant over the feat, because Supefinten-
dent Paul Redleske and Animal Trainer
McCurren both said it was impossible to
perform it.
Charles Stiff makes speciality of shoe
ing vicious animals. The zebra at the
park is partially broken to harness, for
it is the intention of the park people to
hitch him to pony cart this summer and
have him draw children about the park
highways Thus he will be able to earn
his keep as did the camels during the
last season. The gaudy little animal was
so sensitive and had SO often exhibited
superfine celerity in his manner of hand
ling his heels that Redleske and MeCur-
rem shook their heads when the matter
of protecting his hoofs came up.
Stiff, however, thought he cour turn
the trick and obtained commission TO
go ahead Then he called upon his broth
er and Henry Bowman, his assistants,
and, locking up the shop, repaired TO the
zebra quarters
Mr.. McCurren introduced the callers to
the zebra, and then took safe seat on
the fence. The zebra seemed suspicious
and backed away with a snort. He was
caught in a corner and the 'Kankee bri-
de- often used to subjugate lively horses,
was applied.
Then the pugilist began his task, and
found at once that the work was as stren-
uous as any he had ever tackled in the
roped arena. He put his arms around Mr.;
Zebra's neck and shoulders. The animal
reared, and Stiff brought him back to
earth. The zebra tried to bite and Stiff
put another hitch in the rope tffat en-
circled the animals nose. The zebra tried
left hook at Stift's eye, and wen to the
grass under the subtle influence OF
clever counter and lead to the jaw.
At the end of a half-heur, honors were
even, for the zbra was willy and strong.
Then the virtue of long training asserted
itself, and the animal began to blow. He
wasn't conquered yet, though, and it took
another hour and half to subdue him. :,
At last the zebra stood still exhausted
from the long struggle and made up his
mind to be good. Then the blacksmith
and his assistant slipped up and tackled
on the dainty half-circles; previously fash
toned from the imprints of the animals 3
hoofs.