Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-16

This letter, it will be noticed, was written
nearly eight years ago. To show the estima-
ton in which Black Hawk and his progeny
we're then held by Mr.. Thurston, twill not
be out of place to introduce another extract
from the same letter as follows :-gai -
al bought Black Hawk when he was four
years old; for six years used him as my
family horse, and think him, without excep-
ton, the finest horse ever knew have
owned many horses for the last Twenty-Five
years,-yarying from ten to thirty-6ve at a
time,-and have also been in the habit of
purchasing the finest could find for sale
but if the choicest qualities of the best horses
ever owned we're combined, | do not think
they would produce an animal to surpass
Black Hawk. In the first place, he is the
best roadster ever drew rein over. | have
frequently driven him fifty miles in half day,
and once drove him sixty-three miles in seven
hours and fifteen minutes. He did it with
perfect ease, and indeed | never saw him APP
pear fatigued. At the time | owned him, |
believe he could have trotted one hundred
miles in ten hours, or sixteen miles in one
hour, or one mile in two minutes and forty
seconds. In the second place, he has the best
disposition Of any horse ever knew, and is
perfectly safe for lady to ride or drive.
Thirdly, he will draw as kindly as any team
horse. His stock is unequalled There is in
this part Of the country some too q twelve
Of his get, five or six years old. These can
trot mile in from two minutes 6fty-ive Sec
onds to two minutes thirty-6ve seconds, and
they sell at prices raging from $500 to $1,000.
They are finely proportional, good sized, nice
gated, hardy, compact animals"
We next introduce an extract from letter
written by John Bellows, Of Lancaster, N. H.,
(owner Of the horse Sherman Morgan,) to
David Hill, Bridgeport, Vt. 1t comprises an
interesting description of the sire of Black
Hawk. 1t is dated March Oath, 184S -
I'm answer to your inquiries relative to
the origin of your famous horse Black Hawk,
| state that he was foalded at Durham, N.
H., the property of Wingate (Ezekiel) Twom-
bly,, now of Greenland, N. H. Sne was
good-sized, fast trotting, black mare, resem-
bling, in appearance, the Messenger stock of
horse. His sire. old Sherman Morgan, was
truly prodigy among horses. He was four
teen and half hands high his greatest
weight while owned by me, 925 lbs; of chest
nut color; well strung in cord, muscular; in
action exhibiting wonderful strength, and
agility; though apparently mettlesome, yet
easy of CONTROL sagacious and patient in
trouble, and Of matchless endurance. He had
lively countenance, with an amiabeuess of
expression, captivating, in effect, beyond any
horse l have ever seen. He was foalded at
Lyndon, VT, in 1911, the property of James
Sherman, Esq, and died at my stable in JAN
uary, 1885. But for this animal, Morgan
horses would never have had the celebrity
they enjoy. His dam was bought by Mr..
Sherman of DR.. Fisk, of Providence, r. l.,
and was said to have been imported She
was Of good size, aed find appearance of a
chestnut color; elegant in action, and speedy
trotter. His sherman Morgan's) sire was
the Goss Tor JUSTIN Morgan, brought to Ran
dolph, VT, by Col. Morgan"
The mistake of M. Bellows in regard to
the christian name of Mr. Twomby, was cor
rected by him in other letters, as will be seen.
1t was, however, .inverdienty copied in one or
two printed notices of Black Hawk. The
above extract might be regarded as amply
sufficient, so far as the testimony of Mr.. Bel
lows is required, but to show that his state
ments have been entirely consistent on this
point, whatever may have been intimated to
the contrary,-we give in full letter of his
to another person, written more than two
years after the above -
LANCASTER, N. H., Aug. Nth, 1850.
"DEAR SR:-Being absent on the arrival
of your letter.. | now reply to your inquiry
relative to the justly celebrated horse Black
Hawk formerly owned by Benjamin Thurs.
ton, of Lowell, Mass, and raised by E. Twom.
bly,, late of Greenland, N. II. Said horse is
without doubt, son of odd Sherman Nor.
gan,'-whatever may be said on the contrary
by persons prejudiced against the horse or his
owner, or from enviable hostility to the nesti
BILE breed ofMoRGANs. / state and can prone
that the horse called and known as Old Sher
man Morgan, covered the mare which pro
duced Black Hawk, about eleven months pre-
vlous to his being foaled, and do not believe
any other horse covered her the season he wal
begotten and when Black Hawk was min,
days old, Morgan Cock-of.the-Rock' covered
the dam, and she produced foal' the mex
! year by said horse. received SIS for ser
vices of Old Sherman, for services rendered
: in 1882. as appears by my books of thos'
0 years."
: distinguished animals, like distinguished
f men, have their calumniators, and the story
r to which you alludc is false, and originated
from malignant hostility, rather than good
e will to the breeders of horses.
6 "Very respectfully,
S john Bellows"
The story which Mr.. Bellows thus pronoun
9 ces false" was that which represents Pad
] dy" as the sire of Black Hawk.
o Mr.. Thurston, in connection with another
person, bought Black Hawk of A. R. Mathes
I This gave rise to the erroneous idea which
found its way into print, that Mr.. Mathes