The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-07-11
Atrocious Cruelty.

The Boston Post, of Friday, has the following
detailed account of an atrocious performance, OF
which the kilograms have made brief mention:
About two weeks ago Mr.. Edward Bracket,
of this city, made a wager of one thousand dol
lars that his horse Lyon would trot from this
city to Portland in one day-that u.s. between the
hours of sunrise and sunset. The animal is a
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 arranged, it has ex-
cited good deal of speculation among horsemen
in this city and vicinity, and considerable money
has been wagered on the result, those well &C
Quainted with the endurance of the animal being
perfectly willing to invest their stamps in his
favor. The horse was to GO to harness, and it
was expressly stipulated that he should travel the
old stage road to the Forest City, the distance
being computed at about one hundred and sixteen
miles. The attempt to drive horse this dis
lance in single day over a rough road is we
oeheve, unprecedented, although several noted
matches against time are fresh in our memory
Two more horses in this country have accom-
plished tie feat of trotting twenty miles in one
hour, and few years since, a man undertook to
drive horse one hundred miles in ten hours, on
one of the Long Island racing courses The ami
NAL went some ninety eight or ninty-nine miles
well inside of time, but fell dead on the track
with the feat so nearly accomplished. Mr.. Brack-
ett's horse had some minutes more than fifteen
hours to do the one hundred and sixteen miles,
and previous to starting the odds were that the
feat would be accomplished. Lyon was put in
training ten days ago. and up to the race easily
did his exercise of sixty miles per DAY.
Extra arrangement was made that the race
might 60 off entirely smooth and fair. To pro-
vide against missing the road man was sent
ahead in light gig, which was ready for his use
if he should break his own, the pilot making fire.
quent changes of horses on the road Other par
ties also accompanied the horses to see fair play
for the money they had staked. 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.. Briggs
wellknown turtle, holding the ribbons over
him. The point of departure was the Fitchburg
Railroad Depot on Causeway street, at which
place were 'congregated quite q number of inter-
ested parties to see the start, including one man
who held an almanac in his hand to make a sure
thing as to the time the sun rose The horse
reached Newburyport, one-thrd of the distance,
in four hours in good condition, although we
understand that for the first few miles he secured
considerably. A stop of fifteen minutes was
made at Newburyport and Portsmouth was
reached at a quarter before eleven Here the
animal was taken out, embarrassed, rubbed down
and fed At ten minutes past twelve Mr.. Briggs
again took his seat in the sulkey and start was
made, the horse, to all appearances, in excellent
couultlOH. oacO was feacneQ at 4.0U IN the al
ternoon, and rest of fifteen minutes taken.
.'As the hour approached when the horse was
expected to arrive in Portland considerable in
terest was manifested, and quite a crowd of peo-
pie gathered IN front of the Preble House. the
point at which the race was to terminate. As
time passed on, it began to be considered donbt-
full if the horse would pull through, and at seven
O'Clock it was reported that the horse had given
out, which, in a short time, was corroborated by
persons who went out on the road the horse, in
coming over the Scarboro turnpike, had dropped
to the ground, and died shortly after"