On May 15th in 1642, in response to escalating prices of “Horse Oats,” an equestrian breeder named John Wilkins organized the first “oats-out” where horse owners didn’t buy oats for their horses for the day. Consequently the price of oats dropped more than 2 cents per feed-bag ($87 in today’s money).
The oat resellers rebelled against this “insurrection” and added powdered cyanide to the oats that would have been sold that day, resulting in the death of 34% of all horses and pack animals within the village in the following three days.
Mr. Wilkins, learned a valuable lesson that day: Just because you read it on the Internet, doesn’t mean it’s true.
Urban Legend: Don’t buy gas on May 15th
Related Article: A better way to “Boycott gas stations on May 15th”
