Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-07-07
A Horse to Trot from Boston to
Portland in One Day,

About two weeks ago Mr.. Edward
Brackctt, Of this city, made wager Of
$1,000 hat his horse 'Iyon" would trot
from this city to Portland in ons day
that is, between the hours of suhtiso and
sunset. The animal is black gelding.
large and thin in flesh. weighs some ten
hundred, stands sixteen hands high, is
little over ten years of age and was
raised in Maine. Since the race was ar
ranged it has excited q good deal Of
speculation among horse men in this city
and vicinity, and considerable money has
been wascrcd on the result, those we'll
acquainted with the endurance of the
animal being perfectly willing to invest
their stamps in his favor. The horse was
to 20 to harness and it Was expressly
stipulated that he should travel tho old
sta.e road to the Forest City. the dis,
tancc being computed to be about one
hundred and sixteen miles. The attempt
to drive horse this distance in single
day over a rough roam is, We believe. un.
preceden,ed although several noted
matches against time are fresh in our
memory Two or more horses in this
country have accomplished the feat Of
tr citing twenty miles in ono hour. and
few years since man undertook to drive
u horse one hundred miles in ten hours on
one Of the Long Island racing COURSES
The animal went seme ninety-eight OF
ninety-ninc miles we'll inside Of time but
fell dead on the track with the feat SO
nearly accomplished. Mr. Brackets
horse had some minutes more than fifteen
hours to do tho ll6 miles, and previous
to starting the odds were that the feat
would be accomplished. "Lyon" was
pu, in training ten days ago, and up to
the day of the race easily did his exer,
else of sixty miles per day.
Every arrangement was made that the
race mi ght go off entirely smooth and
fair. TO provide against missing the
road a man was sent ahead in light gig.
which Was ready for his use if he should
break his own, the pilot making frequaRt
changes of horses on the road
Other parties also accompanied the
horses. to see fair play for the money
they had stakcd. The tolls on the bridges
were also paid in advance that there
might be no unnecessary delay on that
score.
At half-past four o'clock Wednesday
morning the horse was started on his
journey, Mr.. Frank Briggs, well.known
turtle holding the ribbons over him.
The point Of departure was the Fitch
burg Railroad depot on Causeway street,
at which place were congregated quite .
number of interested parties to see tho
start, including one man who held an
almanac in his hand to make sure thing
as to the time the sun rose. The horse
reached Newburyport, one-third of the
distance, in four hours, in good condition,
although We understood that for the first
few miles be secured considerably. A
stop OF iitceu minutes was made at New.
bun vport, and Portsmouth was reached at
a quarter before eleven. Here the AMI,
mai was taken out, Embarrassed, rubbed
down and fed. At ten miRutcs past
twelve Mr. Briggs again took his seat IN
the sulky and start was made, the horse.
to all appearances, in excellent condition.
Saco was reached at 80 Z. NJ, and .
rest OF fifteen minutes taken.
As the hour approached when the
horse was expected to arrive in Port'
land, considerable interest was manifest.
: cd and quito crowd Of people gathered
in front of the Prcble House, the point
at which the race was to terminate, A.
time passed on it began to bc considered
doub lul if the horse would pull through,
and at seven o'clock it was reported that
the horse had given out, which, in short
time, was corroborated by persons who
went out on the road that tho horse 10
coming over the Scarboro' turnpike had
dropped to the ground and died shortly
after ~
There was several reports in the city
i, Yesterday in regard to the causes OF
failure, the most general seeming to be
, that the animal was not properly fed on
: the journey. At any rate we hope II
will be long time before similar feat
: is attempted Bastan Post.
al Noyor non1ann your neirhb0r uns