Sitting on a dead horse

MAHOMAHO Posts: 95MI6 Agent
"Sitting on a dead horse"

(Now, ain't that a great name for a band, or at least a rock'n'roll classic.)

Dead_Horse.sff_WIMG101_20070104150529.jpg

"Who is that mysterious, elegant man? And why is he sitting on a dead horse? Such are some of the questions sparked by a black-and-white photograph taken in Sheboygan between 1876 and 1884 that has led to nationwide curiosity, speculation and jokes."

Full story at:

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070105/D8MF16081.html

---
jfm

Comments

  • Pierce_BrosnanPierce_Brosnan Posts: 329MI6 Agent
    That is interesting in a twisted way. :v
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,274MI6 Agent
    How do we know the horse is dead? He may be taking a nap.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    Ah...they could do anything with Photoshop back then. ;)
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    Why is the gentleman dressed to the nines, was there an opera in town?
    darenhat wrote:
    Ah...they could do anything with Photoshop back then. ;)
    :)) Indeed
  • Mewtwo3090Mewtwo3090 Posts: 72MI6 Agent
    Alex wrote:
    Why is the gentleman dressed to the nines, was there an opera in town?


    No. It looks like it was a really poor town to have an opera. It could be that he came from a different town. ;)
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,558Chief of Staff
    Alex wrote:
    Why is the gentleman dressed to the nines, was there an opera in town?

    Perhaps that's the correct attire for sitting on a dead horse ?

    It certainly is where I come from :))
    YNWA 97
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,990Quartermasters
    edited January 2007
    Here in the Midwest, we're a bit more casual when we sit on dead horses. Just the other day, there was guy sitting on a dead horse just a couple of doors down from where I work...

    He was a wearing a Dead Kennedys "Too Drunk to F***" T-Shirt and 'Spongebob Squarepants' pajama trousers. He was, however, smoking a pipe---which lent the event more dignity that it might have otherwise enjoyed.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,274MI6 Agent
    Maybe the horse died from passive smoking...
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    A little hoarse in the throat.
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,274MI6 Agent
    He couldn't get over those Benson & Hedges...
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    Almost got back in the saddle though.
  • MAHOMAHO Posts: 95MI6 Agent
    Quite honestly, Iäm not 100% sure the horse is dead, even though everyone seems to take it for granted.

    Here's an image of a resting horse:

    199109_011dia03.jpg

    Although I doubt he would have allowed anyone to sit on him.

    ---
    jfm
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    I found this information from the Sheboygan archives. It would seem to explain the contents of the photograph...

    The Sheboygan Orator
    July 12, 1885

    Era of Terror Ends in Dramatic Confrontation

    A midmorning altercation yesterday ended in the apprehension of the infamous ‘Three-Shoed Charlie’, the horse that had been known to terrorize the peaceful residents of Sheboygan for the past few years. The altercation took place outside of the International Hotel and Saloon and involved a matter of honor between Three-shoed Charlie and Ethelbert T. Dysander, gentleman, socialite, and man about town.

    Three-Shoed Charlie had first made public notice after being convicted as the ‘inside horse’ in the famous Oshkosh Stage robbery of ‘79. The architects of the dastardly crime, Dixon ‘Leadpants’ Brody and Vernon ‘Warts’ McFarland were both convicted and hung at the gallows, however Three-Shoed Charlie escaped the noose after a daring daylight stable-break.

    Three-Shoed Charlie’s whereabouts were unknown until 1881, when he suddenly surfaced sporadically near the suburb of Sheboygan. Three-Shoed Charlie’s appearances were periods of great disturbance to Sheboygan residents, replete with naying, bucking, the smashing of windows, and often times relieving himself in the town well. Authorities, unable to apprehend the elusive convict, remained vigilant yet ineffective at stopping his reign of terror. Birdie Latchett, the town barber, remembers: “It would be a dark day when we’d spy Three-Shoed Charlie trotting into town. The streets would clear faster than in a sudden summer thunderstorm! There he’d be, whippin’ that tail, his firece darks eyes rolling in his head, braying something firece. Sometimes he show up in the worst of states. Unbrushed, and muddy, wearing nothing more than a saddle blanket sometimes! He’d charge by, leaving a whiskey-rife gust in his wake! Terrible, it was!”

    All of that changed, however, the Saturday morning of July 11, when Ethelbert T. Dysander, gentleman, socialite, and man about town, arrived with the intentions of enjoying a matinee performance of “My American Cousin” at the nearby Calliope Theatre. Mr. Dysander, having arrived early, involved himself in a game of cards with Three-Shoed Charlie at the International to pass the time. Mr. Dysander confronted Three-Shoed Charlie when he spied the horse surreptitiously slipping an ace of clubs from under his saddle. Witnesses in the saloon claim that it was at this point, Ethelbert T. Dysander, gentleman, socialite, and man about town, threw back his chair, stood erect and pointed a white glove hand toward Three-Shoed Charlie and shouted the accusation “We’ll have none of that, you!”

    Satisfaction was demanded, and the dispute was carried into the street. Since Three-Shoed Charlie, being a horse, was not able to use a firearm, a round of fisticuffs was proposed in lieu of a duel with pistols. Directly, a sparring bout began between Dysander and Three-Shoed Charlie. Witnesses on the scene claim that for several minutes, the two engaged in clever dancing, dodging and weaving before any physical contact was made. For a brief moment, things looked grim for Dysander, when Three-Shoed Charlie was able to knock Dysander’s top hat from off his head and onto the ground. However, with one deft jab, Dysander landed a haymaker on Three-Shoed Charlie’s muzzle and the horse collapsed to the street.

    Authorites apprehended Three-Shoed Charlie and he was sentenced to a life of community service (as glue). Ethelbert Dysander’s hat was properly brushed and he arrived at the matinee with two minutes to spare.

    The shoes that gave Three-Shoed Charlie his name, as well as a cigarette holder that supposedly belonged to Ethelbert T. Dysander, gentleman, socialite, and man about town, are on display at the Sheboygan Historical Society.

    dysander.jpg
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