Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-06-24

Having been asked very many times how
] came 10 think of inventing my Safety Shalt
Hitch / viii answer the question by relating
the history Of ii:
was visiting one evening ut a neghbor's
about four miles from my home at Retreat
One of the boys helped me to hitch up TO go
home [ had recently bought my cutter Of
Rev. A. d. Moore, who brought il from the
state of Maine. whence he had been transfer
red to west Wisconsin conference. The slap
les on shafts were as suitable for connecting
the hod-back straps to as are those usually
used, but somehow the hold-back the boy
hitched became disconnected while going down
a hill partly bare and partly icy. The cutter
ran against the horses heels and the heels re-
turned the compliment very violently and
away we went towards home very rapidly. |
soon saw that the more ] used the lines the
more cutter and heels came in contact, so !
thought, "Wen, guess | can ride as fast as
you can run, If you don't tip me out"
There was a steep hill to 80 up about 60
rods ahead. | thought the only show had to
get control would be on that HILL and planned
fol- IL. At foot of hill gently used the lines,
Increasing my force gradually until we stopped
near the top. | stepped out and took hold of
the bride bit, talking soothingly to my pet
horse that had been broken to drive single by
that expert horseman, Rev. A. ID. Moore, my
pastor. On taking hold OF the bit, ! discov-
cred that my horses hind legs were on oppo-
site sides of the of Tor right hand side shaft
and tug While the horse was jumping and
kicking to get free from the tange, | dared
not let so of the bride for fear of being run
over by the cutter and left there In the road
longer than would Toe comfortable or prudent
to lie on the snow II alive. | could not get -
the whippletree 10 unhitch. Having hold OF
bride on nigh side, each jump gave us haw
or turn to the left and we went round and
round in a circle across the road again and
again till the last tug and hold-baCk were
broken and we were free from the cutter with
oct my being hurt but, with nearly three
years war experience, think would as soon
chances IN
risk another such runaway sracas as that.
Just A. We got loose, ! saw the light of
Charley Wakeheld's lantern between his house
and barn. ! called, and he hurried TO my as
Sistanve. We gathered up the pieces and found
they were too numerous to try to hitch up
with them. Then | borrowed Charlev's har-
ness and also his old horse, as / thought
his harness was too old and unsafe to venture
to use on my excited horse
On the way home | began thinking there
ought TO toe a safer way TO hitch to shafts, and
the next day while repairing my harness con-
stantlY tried to study out some change. 1t
seemed so important that my mini conferred
day and night on that subject, till Vae night
half asleep, a solution came. For fear the
idea would vanish like a dream, sprang from
n!Y bed and wrote up description. The fol
lowing day began making a model Of it il
my farm repair shop. My kit of tools
being too limited. ! employed blacksmith TO
make 1t under my constant direction Next
day connected IL to my harness and delivered
cream TO the Retreat creamery.
few days later drove TO ViroQua. where
1t attracted considerable attention from the
stable men ana others to whom il was shown.
At tdat time. sent a Caycat and fee to the Com
missioner of Patents. At that time also, ].
w Thayer, my nephew, proposed Joining with
me as IN equal partner ia the patent light en-
terprise. We agreed on terms. Continuously
after, till we had SO nearly perfected the de-
vice that We wanted TO see II introduced to the
public, We gave it constant attention. We
tested it thoroughly. The tests proving its
merits as follows:
FlRST-The horse is hitched up in less time
than it takes TO pat shafts in loops the old way
as when one side is ready to hitch both atc.
SO YOU don't have to move either horse or bug
Ky to place second shaft, as is done the old way
SECOND Either tug hitched unites two
complete circuits of harneSS-ouc for draft eN-
tending from Whippletree via tug.Q Quick Hitch
buckle, to hame or breast collar and around to
other end of whippletree the Lod- back circuit
extending from shaft to shaft via Sjde-straps
and breeding. The combined circuits being
securely attached 10 shafts and crossbar, in
three places, makes it utterly impossible, with
either side hitched, for carriage 20 get auy
closer to or any farther from The horse max
ing such runaways rs | have described irnpoS-
sible. II also secures perfect cooperation of
all parts of the harness and prevents most OF
the Jerking of he vehicle SO noticeable on down
grades and especially en- rough roads Il also
gives the horse much more perfect control OF
carriage both for guiding and holding back.
THIRD If one hitch is made each side III
CAN'T BE WRONG.
FOURTH-The trace or tug may br made
of any material desired. Ii is arranged To g.
main on shaft, but can readily be detached il
necessary.
FIFTH-The buckle, working automatcal