Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category

28
Oct

Just Purchased Auto; Runs Into Valuable Horse

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: Oct. 28, 1912

Just Purchased Auto; Runs Into Valuable Horse

Running his newly purchased auto for the first time, B.F. Kortz of the Prusia Hardware company ran into a valuable horse belonging to E. Gannon this morning on First avenue north. The shoulder of the animal was broken and it was necessary to have him shot. The horse was in the street in front of the new Wahkonsa school house where he is used in hoisting the material to the top of the building. It is asserted that the animal at one time was a very valuable one and that he had captured a number of prizes at different fairs.

19
Oct

They Fished in Vain

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Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Oct. 19, 1893

They Fished in Vain

Bert Heath and Frank Barker Lost Their Horse, Never got a Bite and Hoofed it Home.

A good joke on Bert Heath and Frank Barker is going the rounds. It seems that these gentlemen got an idea into their heads that they knew something about fishing, so yesterday they got their tackel (sic) and bait together and started up the Des Moines river about six miles for a fish, and after arriving at the point there they thought they could do a good line of business, they unloaded their wagon and unhitched their horse and Mr. Barker took the animal up the river a short distance from where they had first stopped and tied him in the timber, and then went back to join Mr. Heath in a general crusade against the little minnows which they worried, until darkness had overtaken them, without any apparent success.

By this time they had wandered up the river about two miles from where they had tied their horse. Mr. Barker then suggested that they go back and get the horse and return home. There was no opposition to Mr. Barker’s suggestion, as they were not overloaded with fish to such an extent but what they could carry all they had caught, so back they went, hunting for the horse and they hunted long and they hunted late, but their search was fruitless, as it was too dark to even discover a white elephant.

Finally about 12 o’clock they gave the search up and decided to tramp it back home, a distance of six miles, and when they reached town they took an alley for home, footsore and weary. Mr. Heath could have been seen making tracks early this morning for the scene of their lost one, and returned after a two hours search with the poor old gray horse that was tied up to a tree all night.

6
Aug

The Lions Take a Fast Ride

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 6, 1904

The Lions Take a Fast Ride

Horses Run With Cage Holding King of Beasts

Big Vehicle Gets Start of Team and Driver And Dashes Down Hill Leading to Round Prairie

A runaway with a cage of lions is an exciting thing at best and when the danger of a steep hill is added to the event, the affair takes on a form that involves considerable danger.

This is the very thing that occurred this morning as the pageant of the Norris & Rowe show left their grounds on Round Prairie to the Third street viaduct, the big vehicle proved too much for the brake and the horses were unable to hold it back. When the predicament dawned on the driver, he let the horses run down hill until they struck the level of the viaduct, where the big wagon was slowly brought under control. It dashed clear across the viaduct, however, before the driver could regain control.

The rapid rate of travel and the bouncing he got, proved a matter of considerable concern to his highness, the king of beasts, who was the single occupant of the cage, and he dashed against the bars of his prison in a manner that threatened it with destruction.  He had quieted down fairly well, however, by the time the procession reached Central Avenue, and was only walking back and forth in a manner that denoted the rapid ride had gotten on his nerves. The parade got back to the show grounds without further accident.

(Editor’s note: This article was published on a Saturday. At the time, The Fort Dodge Messenger published Monday through Saturday. There is another article, published on Aug. 8, 1904, which details an incident later the same day as the parade, when the lion escaped during the circus performance and severely injured a horse belonging to Charles Dayton.)

5
Aug

Deadly Disease Attacks Cattle

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 5 1904

Deadly Disease Attacks Cattle

Cows Near Lehigh are Victims of Strange Disease Which Kills

Five Herds Already Attacked

Farmers in Vicinity of Lehigh and Homer are Badly Frightened Over Appearance of Apparently Incombatible (sic) Disease Which Proves Fatal

The cattle in the vicinity of Lehigh and east about Homer have been attacked by a most peculiar disease that is baffling the veterinaries of the vicinity, and causing considerable loss to the farmers, who are much alarmed over the situation and fear a general spread of the disease. Five different farmers about Lehigh and Homer have lost cattle with the disease already.

The Malady Proves Fatal

The malady in nearly every instance had proven fatal and the people of the vicinity have no idea of the treatment of it. The first symptom, where milch cows are attacked is generally the caking of the bag. A little later the afflicted animal begins to stiffen in the hips and back, and staggers as she walks. Death almost always follows these symptoms closely.

Veterinaries Puzzled

Veterinaries have been called from Fort Dodge, but so far they have been able to give no satisfactory explanation of the disease. Whether it is some variety os smut or some new weed the animals are getting this season that acts on them are now known, but it is more probable they are the victims of some new disease.

Precautions Taken to Prevent Spreading

Every precaution is being taken by the farmers in whose herds the disease has appeared to prevent its spread. Among the several farmers who have lost cattle from the malady so far are F.L. Spencer, living three miles north of Lehigh and Ashberry Johnson, whose home is located near Homer in the eastern edge of Hamilton county. (Editor’s note: Homer was located within Webster County.)

County Has Been Free From Disease

The county has been unusually free form diseases of all kinds so far this season, as far as farm animals have been concerned until within the past month. Within the past four weeks, however, a number of maladies have made their appearance both among horses and cattle.

3
Aug

Strange Disease Attacks Calves

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 3, 1904

Strange Disease Attacks Calves

Makes Its Appearance at Willow Edge Farm with Fatal Effects.

Ten Die in Herd of Seventeen

Disease Showed Itself Only a Few Days Ag — All Possible is Being Done for the Afflicted Animals and Every Precaution is Taken

A peculiar disease has broken out among the calves at the L.S. Coffin farm and is sweeping the animals off with terrible rapidity. Out of a herd of seventeen calves confined by themselves, ten are already reported dead and the most of the others are sick.

The disease made its appearance only a few days ago, but soon showed the serious nature int he  havoc it wrought among the calves it had attacked. The disease is an intestinal affection (Note: should be affliction?), and the animal attacked does not last long after the malady makes itself known. The veterinaries of the city who have been called on the case, have not as yet decided on the nature of it, but every precaution is being taken to keep it from spreading to other herds on the farm.

24
Oct

Pigeon Raising as Ft. Dodge Industry

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: Oct. 24, 1903

Pigeon Raising as Ft. Dodge Industry

B.C. Keim Begins with 500 Birds to Raise Pigeons to Satisfy the Epicure.

Business a Profitable One

P.D. Keim, Owner of Number of Carrier Pigeons, Also Interested.

B.C. Keim, living at 1413 Second avenue north has made a new business venture in Fort Dodge. That business referred to is the raising of pigeons for the market. Mr. Keim has been in this line of work but a very short time and has already about 500 birds, old ones, and expects to have at least 500 more at once, or as soon as he can purchase them. He makes his purchases thruout the country, buying them anywhere and paying a good price for them.

His pens are at his home, and they have a capacity of over 1,600 pigeons, all of the birds being confined to these pens. The principal object of course, in raising these birds is to dispose of them on the market, where they are dressed and are considered a great delicacy by the epicures in the city. They are sold when about four weeks old, and are at this time plump and tender. The young birds, or squabs, bring anywhere from $2.00 to $3.00 (about $49.29 to $73.93 today) per dozen on the market, and the demand for them is always good.

Mr. Keim’s father, P.D. Keim, is also interested in raising pigeons, but he has none but the fancy kind, known as “homers.” These birds are too valuable to be sold on the market, as they are the kind known as the “carrier” pigeon those formerly used for carrying messages, during time of war and before the telephone or telegraph was invented. They may be taken any distance form the home where they were raised, and if loosed will return to that place, no matter what the distance, seeming to know by instinct what direction to fly, and will go at once and direct to that place, without once swerving from the true and direct course.

Mr. Keim has large pens fitted up for these birds, leaving them plenty of room in which to fly but not allow them outside of the pens, as the chances are that if he did they would return to their former home. He expects to soon have some young ones, and these may be allowed their liberty as they will always return to him. He now has a half dozen pairs of the fancy birds and expects before a great while to have enough of these kind from the birds that he now has to put them on the market as the “Homer” squab is much more tender and plump than the ordinary bird, and consequently brings a higher price while it would be to (sic) expensive to buy the “Homer” birds at from $1.00 to $2.00 ($24.64 to $49.29) a pair they can, if the breeding is fast, be raised at no greater cost than the ordinary pigeon, and after the first outlay, the cost is no more.

9
Jun

Carriage Horse Runs From Fright

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 9, 1905

Carriage Horse Runs From Fright

Bad Stroke of Luck for W.E. Parsons But it Might Be Worse.

Run Into By Another Horse

The Collision was The Cause of Mr. Parson’s Horse Running Away – Buggy Was Somewhat Damaged and Horse was Slightly Hurt.

W.E. Parsons had a narrow escape yesterday afternoon. He and Mrs. Parsons were out in the woods on north Fifteenth street, plucking flowers for the hotel. Mrs. Parsons was engaged in picking the flowers when two boys came downt he street as fast as there (sic) horse could draw them. Mr. Parsons was keeping the flies off his horse and was standing just past the turn of the lane that goes from Fifteenth street to Fourteenth street. Instead of turning out to escape Mr. Parson’s buggy the boys went directly for ti and hitting one (of) the rear wheels, upset the buggy. The horse which is a high spirited one, became frightened and started to run and, Mr. Parsons being on the ground was unable to stop the horse, so let go of the bit. Away went the horse, tipping the buggy over three times, then the buggy righted itself and the horse ran in the middle of the road home. The loss was slight, being to one of the lamps, the footrest, a whip, and the injury to the foreleg of the horse caused by the casting of a shoe, and a light wrench to one of the rear wheels. Luckily the buggy, which was a high Stanhope, was unoccupied at the time of the accident or Mr. and Mrs. Parsons would very likely have been seriously injured.

19
May

Another Snake Story Comes From Lehigh

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 19, 1903

Another Snake Story Comes From Lehigh

But the Snake is Petrified – Fine Made Recently in Beem’s Clay Works

The remains of a petrified snake of unusual proportions and in a remarkable state of preservation, were discovered in Beem’s Clay works in Lehigh a few days ago.

A section near the head of what was probably a prehistoric reptile was taken out. It was about two feet in length and fully three inches in diameter. Later on, a section of the tail, of about the same length, was discovered. The men worked all day in trying to get out the middle section, which would render the speciment (sic) complete, but their efforts were unavailing.

Had the entire specimen been recovered, it is probable that his snakeship would have been sent to some museum in the state, as it was a remarkable specimen.

18
May

Mangled By Stallion’s Bite

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(Editor’s note: graphic content)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 18, 1903

Mangled By Stallion’s Bite

Hnnry (sic) Vauble, a Webster City Farmer, Terribly Injured

Entire Cheek is Bitten Out

Entered Barn to Look After Sick Horse and Got Into Stallion’s Stall by Mistake

Webster City, May 19 – Henry Vauble, aell to do farmer living seven miles north of this city, had his whole cheek bitten out by a vicious stallion here this morning. He is now at Mercy hospital, suffering great pain from his injury.

Mr. Vauble has had a horse undergoing treatment at one of the Webster City livery barns for some days past, and this morning came in to see how the animal was getting along. By a mistake he got into the stallion’s stall which was next to that of his horse. The animal turned and with one vicious snap tore away the man’s whole left cheek.

Vauble staggered back, the blood flowing from the wound in streams. The employes (sic) of the barn promptly came to his aid and he is being given every attention.

9
May

Roy Parker Bitten by Hunting Dog

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 9, 1905

Roy Parker Bitten by Hunting Dog

Was Cared For by Physician and No Bad Results are Feared

Roy Parker was severely bitten by a dog belonging to George Kehm (on) Eighth Avenue north and Eighth street last evening as he was walking past the Kehm residence. The wound inflicted by the animal’s teeth was so severe that it required the attention of a physician. It is thought, however that there will be no serious results from the bit, as the dog is known to be in a healthy condition.

The police were notified of the affair and the animal was to have been killed, but on the promise of the owners to keep him muzzled, they allowed it to live. The dog is a valuable one, being a thoroughbred hunter, and Mr. Kehm did not wish to lose him.

At the time he was bitten Parker was walking in the north end of the city and was approached by the animal from behind almost without warning the dog snapping him in the fleshy part of the calf. He will be lame for some time to come from the effect of the attack.