New-York tribune., 1901-11-23
STOPPING HORSE TORTURE.
OFFICERS OF THE S. P. c. a. FIND
PLENTY OF CASES FOR AT
TENTION

The agents and officers OF the Society FOR the
Prevention OF Cruelty TO Animals particularly
active yesterday in the neighborhood OF Madison
Square Garden trying TO detect the drivers and
OF horses which burrs, torture strings and
other illegal devices had been attached in order 10
make the animals have a spirited and dashing ap-
pearance These officials in the last two days have
confscated least two dozen burrs. and have
them properly labelled in the offices of the society
Twenty-sxth-st. and Madison-ave-
Stylish looking equipages TO which were at
tached prancing horses were closely examined as
the turnouts stopped in front OF Madison Square
Garden to allow the occupants OF the vehicles 10
enter the Horse Show. Burrs were taken yester-
day from several horses which, according 10 the
drivers in charge, belonged TO people more or less
well known the social and business circles OF the
city. Charles II. Hankinson, the superintendent ot
the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty TO Ant
mails. said. however. that he was convinced that
many fictitious names had been given, and that
consequently the list in his possession might not
be authentic to the real owners or drivers Of
the animals.
In speaking OF the present crusade Mr Hankin-
said yesterday afternoon:
I'VE have removed about twenty five burrs from
horses mouths during the last two days and will
continue the work until this unnecessary and
cruel practice has been stamped IN this city
It is merely done for show and deceive the gen
eral public the real value mettle Of the
animals. One OF the cruel devices capt
urea IN 'front.' or the GarGGn ABOUT CLOCK this
afternoon, and promptly relieved the animal from
pain far possible, The device was even more
cruel and cowardly than the burr" said Mr.. Hank
inson, ne showed a piece OF ordinary shoestring
about foot in length. This piece OF string had
been fastened side Of the bit and then
wrapped around the tongue OF the horse. looked
Ike the work OF cowardly groom. who was either
afraid that his horse would run away with him or
too lazy TO hold the reins and keep his horse
under control. The horse a pitiful object
when him, and when the implement Of
torture had been removed the poor animal shook
his head from side TO side and then looked at the
officer with almost human intelligence as II he
wished to thank him for the relief The tongue
had been swollen twice the size OF a fist
and the circulation had been irnpeded since
the piece OF string had been attached the bit.
L had another peculiar this morning which
illustrates what extremes people will go in
order to have what looks like stylish turnout
Two handsome bays were driven up and stopped
near the Garden in Twenty ysixth-st.. and the way
the horses pranced about convinced me that some
| thing was wrong. An examination showed that
the animals had been checked SO high that they
| owner who was driving and told him to uncheck
| because the horses would run away: told him
that we would take chances on that. and removed
dropped their heads and then threw them into the
air like a man who suddenly throws his head well
| The horses were as meek as could be. and turned
to the point of stylishness and apparent spirit
| I'VE have had no occasion to interfere with the
! animals exhibition at the show since the early
part Of the week On the opening day we found
several OF the show horses checked up entirely
| high, and we at once saw the grooms and advised
them to discontinue checking the horses so high.
| They obeyed the suggestion and we have had no
occasion to interfere since then.
| According the officials of the society the GIN
gerng of horses, so prevalent year ago. has been
| largely discontinued. Burrs have been discovered
| to which sharp pointed spikes have been attached.
| but the average burr is quite blood thirsty
an implement of torture. The burrs made Of
| leather. and about four inches in diameter
| They attached to the side Of the bit, and the
stiff bristles. about quarter OF inch in length.
are pressed against the sides of the animal S
mouth. The horse will toss and hold his head as
| high possible in order get away from tie
pricking of the burrs. The burning of horse is a
rnisdemeanor and punishable by a fine of $500 or a
| years imprisonment, or BOTH in the discretion of
| the court
| A fine team Of bays driven up in front of the
! Garden late yesterday afternoon and of the
| animals found to be so under the collar
| that the driver compelled unharness the
| horses and take them back to their stable Fully
| two hundred people gathered about and the ex-
pressons of sympathy for the suffering animal
| were general. The collar did not fit the horse and
several inches OF hide had been rubbed off The
turnout was a stylish one and the occupants were
| well dressed.