Flagstaff History: 10,000 city residents went missing

100 years ago

1926: Telegrams sped thick and fast from the Atlantic to the Pacific last week, and the president of the largest express company in the United States was sought in interview by the president of the largest animal aid society in the world in behalf of “Chubbie,” the big black horse that for years has been a familiar sight in Flagstaff drawing the American Express Co.’s local wagon. As a result, arrangements were negotiated for his honorable retirement. Last Wednesday he boarded an especially fitted express car sent for his passage from Los Angeles. He left in state for New York City, whence he will be received by a large red house on wheels in which he will ride direct to Millwood, New Jersey, and his reward at the most delightful rest farm for animals in the world. Everybody knows “Chubbie” and legion are the friends he made during the past 15 years when through rain and shine he drew the local express van. Many are the tales of his faithfulness—never was the snow too deep nor the blizzard too cutting for him to plod ahead of the bobsled. Nor were the hours too long nor the loads too heavy at holiday times. Though there had never been a complaint, high officials of the company a year ago decided that a swifter animal should supersede him. Thus began the long but successful crusade to secure for “Chubbie” a happy and comfortable sunset setting for his long life of cheerful usefulness. (His) new home, maintained by wealthy lovers of animals, is a 65-acre farm 30 miles north of New York City.