Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-07-25
Agricultural.
Black Hawk.

There appears to be something in the soil
and cline of Vermont peculiarly favorably to
the development of superiority in both sheep
and horses. The MerInos of Spain and Saxo-
ny, naturalized and improved in Vermont,
cross the Atlantic TO be crowned vIctors at i'm
perial cattle shows. The Morgans, the Mes
sengers and the Black Hawks establish ma
tionaI reputation; but the Industrious antigua
Ran who attempts to follow up the blood
that tells ITO It's source, finds link wanting in
the chain Of evidence, soon as it crosses the
boundaries Of his State, or he reason to
fear it is drawing him in a direction quite too
plebian for his purposes.
From an essay on - The Horses Of Nav
England" by q. l.. Flint, published in the
Patent Office Report for 1851, we publish the
following description
The old Back Hawk foaled in Green
land, near Portsmouth, N. H., in the year
1888. At the age of four years he sold
as a roadster, for the sum Of $3.50. In 1872
he won a match of a thousand dollars, trotting
five miles over the Cambridge track in sixteen
minutes. In the year 1874 Mr.. Hill bought
and kept him AS stallion, at Bridport, W., till
the time Of Black Hawks death in 1856. Hi,
skeleton is preserved in the Office of the Sec
retary Of the State Board Of Agriculture, at the
State House in Boston.
Black Hawk was a trihe less than fifteen
hard DIS high, and weighed, when in condition
not far from ten hundred pounds. lie was
remarkably symmetrical and muscular animal
and graced with the most beautiful head, neck
and limbs, and when in action, whether in
harness out, of spirited, nervous and ele-
giant bearing, which could not fail to command
universal admiration wherever he appear ed
lie could easily trot his mile In two minutes
and forty seconds even without much training
and ne combined with great speed the perfec
,i0 If he pta
durauce sufficient to make him a complete mod
ell of a roadster and the type class. He pos
sessed the power of transmitting bis character
istic to his very numerous offspring in degre,
surpassed by NO other horse in the country. II
the carriage or under the saddle, in the Quie
of the country road or on the parade ground
under Whatever circumstances the descendant
of old Black Hawk appear-the eye accus
toned to observe the characteristics of tn.
horse, could hardly fail to detect the relation
ship. The Black Hawks command higl
price, and are much soug hit after as light car
rage and saddle horses.
As an evidence of their qualities, we'll a
the celebrity they have obtained in other part
of the country, it may be stated that at tn
fair at ST. Louis, 10 1859, five out of six @
the best stations exhibited in the class @
roadsters we're Black Hawks; and the prize G
one thousand dollars that year, and of fftee
awarded for the best stations in this class {
sons of the old Black Hawk. AT The variou
fa in New England-those held at Spring
field, at Boston, and elsewhere-the Blac
Hawks have been very largely Represented, an
have generally carried off full proportion {
the prises offered More than one hundre
horses of this stock were entered at the Spring
field, Mass, horse show In 1860, and nearI
half of all the successful competitors were Blac
Hawks. ~ so H- g. y
But what of Black Hawks pedi gree BAG
Of his birthplace in the little town of Greer
land, what is known of bis ancestors? Th
writer already quoted says that his dam was
half thoroughbred mare, raised in New BFuni
wick, very fast troster, and in every respec
superior animal But as to his sire, account
are very contradictory. At the time Mr.. Hi
purchased Black Hawk the reputation of th
Morgan was at its height Naturally, therefor
he desired to establish blood relationship yit
that popular breed. But after al his effort
do go, and after all bis success in making othe
believe that bis horse was descendant Of n
old Sherman Morgan, he is said to have COT
fessed bus inability TO free his own. mind (
doubts - TO the fact. Mr.. Flint's review
the evidence on this point raises somethin
more than . doubt. II what he states a. fac
are admitted sue6, Black Hawk was prot
ably sired by horse known as Paddy, 40
which accompanied Sherman q = tease
"Tnose who knew the tsaser declared 1th
Black Hawk was . perfect image of hlI
while very few would maintain that the
Eas any striking resemblance TO the Shexaa