STRANGE FREAK OF A HORSE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 805, 21 September 1877, Page 3

STRANGE FREAK OF A HORSE.

The fo lowing strange incident has been reported by an eye'witness of the occurrence One of the strangest freaks of a young colt, through which both rider and horse narrowly escaped a watery grave, occurred at Nirranda lately. The owner of a farm Who combines colt breaking with other pursuits, handled a powerful dapple grey colt, which being what horsey men term “ a plum,” it was thought advisable to take him to the beach in order to escape the danger attendant on backing so unruly a brute in a stockyard. On all occasions When i colt i» to be mounted, people gather in crowds to eae the sport, as they term it, and on the present occasion there were a good many eye-witneesea. tothe ineident about to be related. 'Aftc'r having gone

through tho ordinary preparation of lounging and other 'preliminaries, the Wan was saddled and mounted, buto 1 the'astonishment of every ono present ho bolted with lightning speed for tho ,80* which ho gained in a few seconds, and was soon among tho breakers. Throe successive times was his rider washed from his scat; but with true pluck which characterises the qolojiial horse-, mau, he stuck to tho pigakixj ini* most determined raaMior, and it„miw became a matter of life and death, as the colt was soon beyond the breakers swimming vigorously on the large swells that wore rolling inwards and nothing could be seen bat the head and shoulders of the rider as they.niounted the rolling billows. He continued' this course for about half a mile, in spite of all the efforts used to got him to steer for tho beach. The colt then seemed to bo thoroughly exhausted, for he floated, without auy apparent desire to go in any direction, for about ten minutes; then with a sudden plunge, he made for tho beach in as determined a manner as helaftiit, and in a very short time horse and rider landed amid the cheers of friends who hiifl been awaiting with breathless expectation a melancholy result, Warrnambool Standard. “When a great man,dies,’ 1 , says Quilp, “ the first thing done is to' r'esoHe to build a monument to bis memory, and the second is—Mot to ; bnUddt.V;io t W. .: “Susan,” said the readable of a boardingschool, *‘ you say ’• yrih'r young mistress wishes to absent herself fjfim tho class-room this afternoon ; is the reason for her staying away very urgent 1" “ :: Yea, mum; it is’er gent.” ■ - i * •' -j V: A deceased surgeon adopted an ingenious plan for' collecting his MS; He had two bolls. When he rang one,’ the servant know tho fee was paid, and bow'cfl the : visitor out; when he rang the'othor, servant said, “ I think, sir, you have forgotten to give Mr his toe.” and did.hot ojjed tlre dbor until the''fee was paid. i - ■