Some Curious Occurrences
A Horse Going to Sea. – At the sea-side and at low water it is no uncommon sight for a horse to be undergoing certain evolutions at the bidding of his trainer. One of these scenes was witnessed at each recession of the tide for several mornings during the month of April in front of Warrior square, and except for a rather novel circumstance which on one occasion sprang out of it the occurrence would, perhaps, not have attracted any particular attention. It appeared on a Monday morning (April 22nd) that Dobbin was performing his usual girations(sic) at the end of a string which was held by the trainer who had taken up his position in the centre of a circle that Dobbin was industriously tracking out, when, all of a sudden, the latter, either from giddiness, playfulness or wilfulness, exhibited a determination to put an end to his circus performances. Now came the tug of war. Dobbin pulled and trainer pulled, and Dobbin pulled again, when, lo! happy release! the horse snorted and snickered, and threw up its head in proud defiance as he scampered and cantered away to the sea. Then there arose a shout from the shore - “A horse, a horse, a horse in the water!” and sure enough there; for, Dobbin was taking a cooling bath to his heart’s content, and swimming, apparently, as far as possible out of the reach of his taskmaster. But the animal was not long permitted to enjoy his break, he being expeditiously brought back to land by some watermen, who had to put off in a boat for the purpose.
Another Water Freak. As if impatient of the restraint it had lately endured, the water so plentifully supplied to the western part of the borough by the Local Board, took an opportunity to “run riot” on Sunday the 26th of May, when all good people were at church. The said water having burst its iron-bound conduit, flowed copiously beneath the road near the Warriors’ Gate Inn, until overcoming all extraneous resistance, it belched forth a mighty torrent, carrying with it a quantity of earth, stones – and, in short – everything that offered an impediment to its progress. Its vagaries were at length put a stop to, and the road was temporarily repaired. On Monday the fractured pipe was replaced by a new one, and all was made “taut” again; but, meanwhile, a waggon got upon an unsafe part of the road, its wheels sank in up to the nave, and the driver, in mute astonishment, appeared ready to call upon Jupiter to help him out of his difficulty. “A friend in need is a friend indeed”, and so, doubtless, thought the waggoner, when Mr. Councillor Putland and some other good souls, with levers and other appliances, effected a deliverance of the team and sent man and horses on their way rejoicing.
“Pills and Powders” The first instalment of ammunition, consisting of 32 barrels of powder and a quantity of shot and shell arrived at St. Leonards on Saturday June 9th and was conveyed to the battery at 39 Tower, where gun drill was to be carried on.
