Posted on 01/05/2007 6:52:48 AM PST by SpringheelJack
WAUSAU, Wis. - 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.
"It is just a funny picture," Prescher said. "He is sitting on there with a top hat like he had somewhere special to go and his horse just croaked in the middle of the road."
No one knows who the gentleman is, exactly what year the picture was taken or the circumstances surrounding it, said Beth Dipple, director of the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, which has had the picture in its collection for at least 20 years.
Some of the ideas for what the picture depicts include the thoughtful — it was staged for a political campaign perhaps related to sanitation issues — to the bizarre — the horse is being helped to relieve "excess flatulence."
A Web site sponsored a contest for readers to write the best caption for the photo and about 100 were submitted, including: "Lay still old girl, FEMA's on the way."
Dipple said about all that's known about the picture is it was taken at South Eighth Street and Indiana Avenue between 1876 and 1884 — based on the bridge over the Sheboygan River in the background and the lack of railroad tracks that were installed in 1884.
The city had laws on the books that required people to stay with their dead horses until they were picked up and disposed of, Dipple said.
"Who knows why somebody would take a picture of it?" she said. "People had weird senses of humor then just like they do now."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
This photo is a fake! Where is Tourist Guy or Katrina Guy?
Guess you really do know when you hit the end of the road.
Is that a gallows in the backgroud?
Congressional RINO's give up House and Senate after repeatedly whipping dead horse.....news at 11.
Waiting for the tow truck from the AHA?
Here in Iowa, there's still a law on the books prohibiting people from having dead horses that are "dripping and seeping" from being on their property after a certain amount of time. I guess the neighbors objected.
Since Wisconsin abolished the death penalty in 1858 I think its safe to assume its not a gallows.
Maybe the horse had a Ford transmission.
"A gentleman will fit in anywhere."
That's the explanation, but it doesn't explain why that became law.
Yes, but they hardly ever smile in these pics. It IS an odd picture. I'm sure PETA and the rest of the left will have a huge complaint about it.
Sort of an art ping.
all I know is that once you have been in the same space with a dead horse, you never forget the smell. In fact, it takes a couple of days before you can get the smell out of your hair and skin and clothes. I arrived at the stables where we had our daughter's horse boarded and an old old horse had died during the night. Oh my gosh. One small old horse dead for at most 8 hours and my eyes were watering and I almost threw up... in a large open air stables.
The city probably wanted to make sure there was someone to bill for the cleanup.
At that exact moment, AAA's eventual founder is struck with an idea that won't be realized for another 30 years.
I know who Katrina Guy is, but who is Tourist Guy?
As far as the horse...maybe he stumbled and got hurt bad and the dude had to shoot him. It just looks like he is waiting for help.
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