Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1881 — A Horse Which Didn’t “Cotch On.” [ARTICLE]

A Horse Which Didn’t “Cotch On.”

Detroit Free Press. Two or three days ago a colored man drove a horse and wagon up'to the passenger depot on Woodward avenue and ask how long before a train would pass. He was told that he had only eight minntes to wait, and he explained: “Dis yere boss am an animile dat I got hold of dis mawnin’; au’ I want to see how he willstan’ de railroad.” The equine had seen about twenty summers, and was as thin as sheet-iron, and there was a general laugh at the idea of his being afraid of anything. Nevertheless, as a Lake Shore train hoot d in the distance, the old horse lifted his head, pricked up his ears and evinced consideable animation. As the train came in sight he began to dance, and the driver held a stiff line and called out: “Whoa, Napoleon! Dat’s only deLakeßho’ railroad cornin’ in. Burly, sah; whjt’? de use o’ puttin’ on style?” .... . As the train thundered in the horses reared up and pawed the air, shook off a man who grabbed the bridle, and, wheeling around, he upset tbe wagon and ditched it and went up the Pontiac pike with the hind wheels jumping after. The owner was picked up in a dazed condition, more amazed than injured, and when one of the crowd remarked that the horse didn't stand the railroad very well the man replied: ‘.Well, I dunno. He ’peared to stan de railroad all right; out it was dat bullgine an’ de kivered kyars which he diden’t cotch on to. I ’spects from de way he acted dat he’s been run ober tree or fo’ times.” -