The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-10-15
A FRIEND IN NEED.
BY ROE L. HENDRIcK.

When mature horse "goes ugly"
there is so little hope of reformation
that experienced horsemenS make few
or no attempts to bring the animal
back to normal state of mind and
temper. Indeed. it is probable that
a creature so afflicted is insane. and
all the more dangerous for that rea-
son. If of little value, the animal
usually falls before a rife bullet; but
an expensive horse is killed only as
a last resort, being confined in the
meantime like raging lion. AS a
matter of fact, of the two the lion is
far more amenable TO discipline.
The difficulty is to tell when a real
Iy ugly horse will display all his vic
fousness. He may appear mild-or.
at least, not savage-for weeks at
time, and then. without warming.
rush at the first living object within
reach. displaying the ferocity of a
carnivorous animal
Prince Charley, a Clydesdale be-
longing to the Parker Stock Farm.
cost $4,000 when imported. He was
nervous and high spirited, but had
been broken to harness, and for three
years was driven about the adjacent
country. attached to sulky or dog
cart, as freely as any other horse on
the place. He was not even "skit-
:ish;" and although he showed some
excitement when driven close to an
automobile or locomotive, he made no
attempt to run away.
Then he began to grow morose,
sometimes striking or biting at stran-
gers who ventured near him. One
lay he was turned for exercise into
the paddock. when he instantly
rushed upon and killed two prize
Southdown sheep that were feeding
In one corner. The poor animals
we're bitten and trampled to death in
few seconds, the horse squealing
and leaping in a rage as ungovern-
able as 1t was unprovoked.
Four men were needed to get him
back into a box stall, and they had
TO beat him severely to save their
lives. From that moment no one
could approach him with the slight
est assurance of safety.
When he was in a paroxysm of
him, so stall of exceptional strength
had to be built. About his exercise
yard ten foot fence was erected, the
exterior gate being a panel of solid
planks, held in place by a steel bar.
or latch, half-inch thick.
All this, however, did not protect
the stock farm employees, who had to
be constantly on their guard when
near the horse. The usual moment
OF -carelessness came, and David Ba
kers one of the helpers, was terribly
bitten and bruised. He was dragged
out alive, but not till Prince Charlie
had been temporarily disabled by a
blow from an iron bar.
A few days later the county agent
or the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals visited the farm.
accompanied by the district attorney.
He told Mr.. Parker fatty that the an
imal must not be. beaten again in
such a manner; and advised that.
since he was vicious and dangerous,
the thing TO do was to kill him at
once in some humane manner.
To this proposition the proprietor
demurred. kill him!" he exclaimed
why, that horse is worth $4,000,
I'll pay all damages, of course: and
I'll see that he isn't abused. We
never lay finger on him, except to
save life. See here, gentlemen; Just
notice the precautions taken to pre-
vent him from escaping and doing
any harm outside"
The two officials were shown all
over the place. and were treated very
courteously by Mr.. Parker, who had
a persuasive tongue. They left only
half convinced. however; and before
going away, the district attorney said !.
impressiyely:
Il appreciate your position, Mr..
Parker, and sympathize with you up
to certain point. That horse cost
You $4,000; you think him worth even
more to-day, and you hate to lose SO
much>money. BUTT may prove far
more expensive to keep than to kill
him. Besides the damages of which
you speak. sh9 Akuha kin person,
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