History
September 10th, 1945 finds a strapping (but tender) young rooster pecking through the dust of Fruita, Colorado.
The unsuspecting bird had never looked so delicious as he did that, now
famous, day. Clara Olsen was planning on featuring the plump chicken in
the evening meal. Husband Lloyd Olsen was sent out, on a very routine
mission, to prepare the designated fryer for the pan. Nothing about this
task turned out to be routine. Lloyd knew his mother-in-law would be
dining with them and would savor the neck. He positioned his ax
precisely, estimating just the right tolerances, to leave a generous
neck bone. "It was as important to suck-up to your mother-in-law in the
40's as it is today." A skillful blow was executed and the chicken
staggered around like most freshly terminated poultry.Then the determined bird shook off the traumatic event and never looked back. Mike (it is unclear when the famous rooster took on the name) returned to his job of being a chicken. He pecked for food and preened his feathers just like the rest of his barnyard buddies.
When Olsen found Mike the next morning,
sleeping with his "head" under his wing, he decided that if Mike had
that much will to live, he would figure out a way to feed and water him.
With an eyedropper Mike was given grain and water. It was becoming
obvious that Mike was special. A week into Mike's new life Olsen packed
him up and took him 250 miles to the University of Utah in Salt Lake
City . The skeptical scientists were eager to answer all the questions
regarding Mike's amazing ability to survive with no head. It was
determined that ax blade had missed the jugular vein and a clot had
prevented Mike from bleeding to death. Although most of his head was in a
jar, most of his brain stem and one ear was left on his body. Since
most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem Mike
was able to remain quite healthy.
In the 18 MONTHS that Mike lived as "The Headless Wonder Chicken"
he grew from a mere 2 1/2 lbs. to nearly 8 lbs. In an interview, Olsen
said Mike was a "robust chicken - a fine specimen of a chicken except
for not having a head." Miracle Mike took on a manager, and with the
Olsens in tow, set out on a national tour. Curious sideshow patrons in
New York , Atlantic City , Los Angeles , and San Diego lined up to pay
25 cents to see Mike. The "Wonder Chicken" was valued at $10,000 and
insured for the same. His fame and fortune would earn him recognition in
Life and Time Magazines. It goes without saying there was a Guinness
World Record in all this. While returning from one of these road trips
the Olsens stopped at a motel in the Arizona desert. In the middle of
the night Mike began to choke. Unable to find the eyedropper used to
clear Mike's open esophagus Miracle Mike passed on.
Now, Mike's spirit is celebrated every year at the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival the third weekend in May.
History Gallery
Gross, but interesting!
ReplyDeleteSorry Gorges, I really didn't mean to gross anyone out - I just thought it was kind of different and well, funny. I guess Mr. Olsen should have used a sharper axe. :0)
ReplyDelete