Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-01
GENTLE DOBB|N
DOES HIS STUNT
PLAYS THE FIERY STEED FOR
A BRIEF HOUR
Humane officers Call on Police to
Stop Brutal Performance of
Bronco Busters at
Fiesta Park

Gentle old family nags were goaded
into momentary activity and spirit and
gave an exhibition of sportiveness quite
foreign to the usual habits Of senility
yesterday afternoon at Fiesta park.
The affair was advertised as an eX-
hibition of horsemanship and 1t was, of
nature. The iceman does the same
equestrian feats when he tools his
frothing steeds to the daily round of
toll. The grocer's boy, sitting half
asleep on the seat of the old delivery
wagon, takes much the same risk as
the intrepid busters who took part in
the contest.
Several horses were made to take part
in the exhibition of horsemanship, )"
and most of them appeared to be bored
to death, not even waking up enough
to balk the participants in the contest.
The exhibition resembled in many
ways the bull-less bull fights that were
held at Santa Monica some months ago.
If the horses that were the unhappy
victims of the financiers who engineered
the affair yesterday could be placed in
the arena for deadly combat with the
spectators at Santa Monica, good sport
of a steeplechase variety could be eX-
pected.
Blinkers on Old DobbIns
The opening number Of the program
was someone's family pet, who was let
into the arena blindfolded in order to
make it perfectly certain that he would
not become frightened and run off home
to the children.
Finally a puncher was found daring
enough to mount the ancient steed. and
after that was accomplished everything
went beautifully. The venerable nag
hobbled slowly around the arena, few
times, \ and his vanquishment was
deemed to be complete and he was
allowed to retire to the stable and oats.
The second showed a trifie more
spirit and seemed to be difficult for the
rider to mount. The old horse cavorted
in a clumsy and futile manner and
finally he too was led to the security
of the barn.
During these contests, intended to fire
the blood of the audience with admira-
tion for the skill and daring of the
riders and the fire and mettle of the
horses, an eXasperating silence was
kept by the members of the assembly.
Spectators Grow Facetious
Occasionally some irreverent soul in
the rear of the grandstand would ex-
press his opinion of the qualities
evinced by the participants in the
equine spectacle in some such language
as the following:
Back to the old farm" Glitch UP the
rlow," Here comes old Dobbin."
One merry wag cried in loud fall
setto:
"Oh, Mary, bring the basket; here
comes the grocery man." But Mary did
not appear.
The members of the crowd seemed
anxious to mingle in the scene of action,
and in spite of the efforts of the police
present, they added to the difficulties
which the horsemen had to face in sub
during the wild and struggling products
of the farmyard.
One of the features OF the perform
ance was the actions Of a rawboned
horse near the end of the program. The
rider In an endeavor to make him
frisky and fierce by prodding him with
long, shiny spurs finally spurred the
ancient beast to anger, and to show his
resentment he turned back somer-
sault upon the greensward, with his
rider for the mat.
The struggle to force the poor jaded
beasts TO unwonted activity by means
OF spurs and blows finally seemed to
be oppressive to e. D. McSweeny. an
official of the Los Angeles Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Is,
and he ordered the police in attendance
TO terminate the affair. There was
some delay, as the crowd did not take
kindly to the sudden stoppage of its
fun, and for some little time there
seemed to be riot in the incipient
stages.
Mr.. thinner Makes Statement
The burden of the crowds dlspleasure
fell on Mr.. McSweeny, and he narrowly
escaped being mobbed. AS it was he
received some severe man handling
and was plucked from the hands of the
sensation seeking mob by the police.
Oticer N. w. thinner, head of the s.
T. Q. A. In this city, said last night that
his reason for ordering the exhibition
stopped was the unnecessary cruelty
and barbarity displayed by the per.
formers He said that quiet horses
were beaten and spurred in order tc
make them buck, and various tactics
were applied to make tame horses an.
pear wild.
1t is the opinion Of Mr.. thinner that
the police did not come to the aid OF
the S. p. G. A. and failed to do thei,
duty in not protecting Mr.. McSweeny
officer OF the society.
Mr.. thinner also claims that he will
further investigate the matter ant
bring complaint against an officer who
Instead oftrying to keep the mob quiel
participated in the exhibition. He alsC
stated that heretofore the local polio,
had always lent him helping hand
and the occurrence today was unusual
e~&--
| lndAllNArAd TAlAnrnnna