Year: 1861

could he do it? hear you ask. Simple
enough, yon will find it when you hear the
modus operandi: lie would go to the well
and if the bucket was not down in the we'll
he would push it of its resting place on the
curb with his nose, then after it had filed he
would seize hold on the rope with his teeth
and walk backwards until he found that the
bucket had reached the curb. Now what do
you suppose he will do next? All simple
enough when you hear it! lie puts down
first one Of his fore feet, then the other on
the rope, as it lies on the ground, and thus
walks up to the well, lifts the bucket to its
place on the curb, and helps himself, like
smart horse, as he was This is said to be
solemn fact, and is not impossible. Now,
as we arc little " on it, will consider it
my "put in" and tell one of the same stamp,
that knop to be true, rs also, do many others
living near Wcstlbcrty, Muscatinc Co., Iowa.
The Hon. Freeman Algcr, who formerly rep
resented the above named county in the Iowa
legislature, owned horse that was in habit
of going to the barn-yard pump and pump
ing water for himself whenever he was thirs-
ty. This he done by putting his neck under
the handle OF the pump and raising it, then
reaching his head over it and suddenly fore
ing it down. lie never learned to pump the
trough full before drinking, but stopped to
drink at every dash Of the handle, still he was
no " fool of horse ~


There is story of a Washoe horse that is
not so bad This horse was owned by man
who was in the habit Of getting drunk very
frequently, and on one occasion one of his
friends found him lying dead drunk between
this place and Carson City, having fallen
from his saddle This was on rather lone
ly cut off or near trail through the hills and
the gentleman was a good deal surprised at
the action Of the well-known, steady, old
horse Of his drunken friend, and watched
his proceeding with amazement for some time
before coming up to the spot. The horse
would run forward and suddenly springing
into the air come down stiff.legged, then t'lrn
instantly and retreat to short distance, when
he would whirl and again charge forward
This maneuver was several times repeated be-
fore the gentleman arrived on the spot and
greatly puzzled him but his surprise was
great on coming up to the spot to find his
friend lying asleep by the roadside and with
in, - c,nt nf al l.


which his faithful horse had cut to pieces and
killed by striking it with his feet. lie found
the horse so enraged and excited that he had
some difficulty in inducing him to dcsist from
striking at the snake; he was completely cov-
cred with foam and trembled violently for
near an hour after the fight was ended. From
the appearance of the ground in the vicinity
tie gentleman supposed that the fight to have
been going on for an hour before he arrived
in sight. This brave horse is described as
presenting a most savage appearance as he
charged upon the snake with cars pricked
forward, eyes starting out and darting fire,
nostrils distended, and open mouth, drop.
ping foam; still his action showed great
dread of his enemy, and proved that his love
for his master must have been great to cause
him to attack the deadly reptile against his
natural instincts of fear and antipathy for
the serpent. The horse was Of Spanish breed
common to Lower California.


| will give yon few items of California
news up to the 9th ult. A duel was fought
with rifles on the 26th inst in Marin County,
CAL, by Charles w. Piercy, member of the
late Legislature, and Showal,er, another mem
ber of the assembly. Two shots were ex.
changed and Picrcy fell at the second fire,
his adyersary's bullet having pierced his
brain. The principals when they came upon
the ground were cool and apparently uncon.
cerned. Picrcy's seconds were II. p. Wat.
kins, senator from Yuba, and Samuel Smith,
Indian War Bond Commissioner, and DR..
Briefly, his surgeon. Showaltcr's seconds
were Thomas Hays. Of San Francisco, and
Thomas Laspeyrc, asscmblymcn form San
Joquir, and his surgeons Drs. Hammond and
Bruner. The rifles used carry forty balls ia
the pound. Showalter won the choice Of po.
sition and the word. After taking their po.
sitions Col. Hayes asked "Gentlemcn arc
you ready" ?" both answered " ready" The
word was given "fire Gone, two, three, STOP
At the word two both rifles exploded almos,
simultaneously, but neither party was hit
/ though Showalter felt the wind Of Piercy's
bullet on his cheek. Showalter gave the or
der to reload as being the challenged party
he was bound to do. Again they took theil
i positions and again the word was given a.
before. AT the word two, !" both fred near
ly together Piercy. gave start, threw hi
head back, and fell heavily to the ground


the ball from his adversary's gun had strucl
him in the mouth and passed out through


his head. After falling he. raised his hca.
slightly, looked around and in three minute


was dead" The papers add that Showalte


was sensibly affected" on witnessing th
fatal result Of his shot, requested his surgeon