Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-07-10
gallg Gmpire.
The Death Of The Horse Lyor

hO hGdhh W ahC hhOHBO AyOhs
An interesting communication from Mr..
Edward Bracketl the owner, and statement
from Mr.. Frank Briggs, the driver Of the
horse Lyon that died while being driven from
this city to Portland, last Wednesday, on a
wager, appeared in the Sunday Herald For
the benefit Of those who failed to get copy
of our Sunday issue, we will state that both
these men suspect foul play, and in conse.
quence, the stomach of the horse has been
preserved, and the contents are to be analyz-
ed. For a horse OF his size and endurance, it
was believed by the owner aud his friends to
be no extraordinary ieat to go the distance
between sun and sun. His weight was $50
pounds sixteen and one fourth hands high,
with natural gait Of twelve miles an hour.
Mr. Bracket, in his statement, says:
No trouble or sign of fatigue was shown by
the horse until within five miles of his dest-
nation, when he suddenly stopped, and in
less than ten minutes he was dead At the
time he left Saco bets we're offered by outside
parties of $500 to $50 that he would accom-
plish his task but the offers went without
takers. After starting from Saco | was offered
by parties interested, $1,000 not to let my
horse so.into Portland, or, to sum the matt er
up in few words, ITO throw the race" the
parties being well aware Of my ability to win.
Furthermore, have in my possession a opy
of O telegram, directed TO one of these pa rites
in Portland by another, which reads as fol.
lows: He will get there; stop him if posi-.
ble;" with name Of the sender in full By
accident the original telegram came in 10 my
possession, and | ask the public to Judge
what such message indicates. There was
not any cruelty shown nor was the hot SO
overdriven, az the driver was obliged to hold
him baGh ior fear of TOO much exertitn of the
free whl of the horse
NJ Briggs, the driver, says:
fhe horse Lyon was taken by me from Mr.
Bracket, eight days previous TO the race, be.
ing then in good coalition. His training was
as usual he being driven from ten to thirty
miles per day, and at the time of starting no
horse was ever in better condition Starting
from Boston al 4:30 A. M we reached Salem
at $50, making sixteen miles in two hours,
and thence to Portsmouth, where we arrived
about eleven o'clock, the crowd beng so
great at Portsmouth that it was with difficulty
we reached the stable, which rather lretted
the horse, but after clearing the stable of the
crowd, by the police, the horse took his feed
we'll, and eat all that gave him, and was in
tip top condition, with no appearance OF fatigue
After one hour and twenty minutes rest, we
started foI Saco, the horse driving as free as
on starting from Boston, arriving there at
about fifteen minutes of Eve o clock, the horse
looking fresh and as we'll as before leaving
Portsmouth, and taking his oatmeal Cruel
with good relish After half hours rest
we started for Portland in good condition,
with no signs of fatigue
The condition of the horse was such that
waRers we're offered by outside parties OF
$500 to $50 that we should win the race
easily. Leaving Saco, we logged along at our
ease for some ten miles, when suddenly
noticed the horse faltered. urged him on,
but he not responding, Immediately stopped
and embarrassed him, and he died in a few
minutes after In my Judgment the cause Of
his death was other than fatigue or hard
driving. The horse was not urged, but kept
back the whole distance, and in my opinion
was we'll able to perform the race.