Men and Women Shocked by Billy Goat

1910

INDIANAPOLIS. — Mr. Billy Goat partook of a breakfast of hemp rope and started out for a little recreation from a shed in the rear of 916 Fowler street. It was a fortunate incident for several persons who met Mr. Goat that they had eaten their breakfasts before leaving home, thus avoiding the trouble of eating from the mantel or top of the kitchen cabinet. The animal was in a joyful mood, and liberty and fresh air made him tricky. The goat made no distinction as to sex. In his playfulness he enjoyed seeing a woman just as much as a man, and the result was that two women were badly frightened and shocked by having their bonnets shaken violently when they felt a sudden shock from the rear.

It was stated to the police that one man was shaken loose from his false teeth by the unexpected greeting of the goat, but the bicycleman who investigated failed to learn his name.

Clara Langsdale, 710 East Eleventh street, made the acquaintance of the goat, according to the police, and, although given a jolt by the animal, she maintained her footing and escaped injury.

In answer to an excited telephone call Bicyclemen Rodemacher and Rowe were sent to the place from the substation in East Seventeenth street. The goat by that time had moved over in Ashland avenue and persons in the avenue, including men, women and children, were giving the animal plenty of room. Rodemacher had never wrestled with goats before, but instinct warned him that the only manner in which to held a goat successfully was by his horns.

The bicycleman showed a bold front for the reason that he has to sit on a bicycle seat much of the time and he could not afford to take the chance of turning his back. Mr. Goat accepted the challenge of the bicycleman, and he started toward the men in a manner that caused them to glance with longing eyes at the lower branches of the nearest tree. They stood their ground, however, and Rodemacher met the animal with outstretched hands. He seized the goat's horns and perhaps saved himself from being butted over a church in the neighborhood. The bicycleman held on and during the struggle he called for Rowe.

"Just hold on, Roddie, until I get up this tree, and then let go," was Rowe's jest.

Rodemacher needed no advice, and he held on until Mr. Goat came to the conclusion that he was violating the law. A goat with better manners could not have been found after he seemed to realize that he was "pinched."