The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-19
Taken Over to Europe for War SerT-
Ice, Animals Are Soft and
No. Used to
Work.
CHANCE FOR A STORY
"BIack Beauty" Might be Written
Over Again, With the War ~
For a Back
ground.

Z
Press Staff Correspondent
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
EASTERN FRANCE, Aug. 12.-(By
mali. )-American horses find the war
pretty tough work While few seem
to catch on in short time, the great
majority of them require weeks and
even months OF hardening before they
render good service. They are TOO
soft" officers say.
Everywhere out here as well as
elsewhere along the line, one sees
hundreds of American horses, horses
with whom one might talk OF Cincin-
natl. Chicago, or st. Louis or Dallas
and strike I'D an acquaintance through
having mutual friends. When they
hear English spoken about them they
pick up their ears and turn their
heads to see what it is all about, at
the same time wearing an expression
on their faces as though they would
like to join the conversation.
BLACK Beauty" might be written
all over again with the war for
background. The experience OF an
American war-horse. in Europe, and
what he thinks of it all would make
interesting reading.
Shortly after midnight last night
was awakened by talking in the street
under my window. My room at the
Hotel OF the Hardy Cock had windows
giving ON one Of the narrow streets
Of verdun and though had gone to
sleep to the accompanying noises OF
passing transports, artillery and what
mot. all this conversation woke me up.
whoa, America whoa" deep bass
voice kept repeating, while sharp
clatter on stone pavements told me
that restless horse was the object
of the command
Going to the window looked down
into the moonlit street. No lights
ever show in this city on account Of
hostile aircraft saw a grizzled
cayalrymAn fumblfng at the trappings
on q medium-sized dark bay horse,
talking without let-up.
'You must stand STILL" he said,
addressing the hores as he would one
OF his family. IT'S kinder tough on
a fellow that isn't used to II, know,
but you'll get used to 1t after while
and 1t won't be SO hard"
The horse moved about, sidestep-
ping as II something were sticking
him In the flank.
whoa, America. whoa" the trooper
repeated. whats the matter with
you? I don't see anything. You
oughtn't to be SO doggone touclry We
amt picnicking exactly these days;
but then It amt ever a frolic In the
cavalry, old man. Hey. 1t must be
this knot that's bothering you, eh
Well just hold on and I'll fix that in
q second"
Talking away to his American steed
which he had nicknamed America, he
spent nearly ten minutes arranging
the straps SO the knot would not dig
into the horse's side. Then he mount
ed with:
Lets get along. old boss. We're
late now on our schedule. Gee-up."
But the horse stfn turned round ana
round and fretted.
What the hades is the matter
now" exclaimed the horseman. IT'S
It another knot? This makes the tenth
time I have got down to fiddle with
your saddle and things. The first
thing you know TIL have tefspank you
and make you behave. Only don't
like to hurt your feelings far from
friends like you are"
Down he got and went to work
again with the patience only strong
man sometimes can develop. Present
ly he seemed to locate the trouble
who the blazes mended this belly
band with brass wire?' he snorted.
"You poor old codger. No wonder
you danced and sidestepped and bit
back with this thing sticking into your
ribs. Why il it amt cut a hole in
your poor Skin. Mon Dteu. My good
old pal. If ia been you I'd raised hell.
I would. There. That's better, amt
it,"
"America" seemed to appreciate the
troopers endeavors for he NODDED his
head emphatically and was off before
the man touched his saddle
TITS always like that with the cav
airy" was the last thing heard the
rider say to his yankee mount as
they disappeared on their mission
down the narrow, shadowy street Of
verdun.