Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-03-19

Thirty-eight Miles In Two Hours and
Thirty-three Minutes--Death Of the
Winning Horse.


lFrom the Worcester tMsss.) Spy.
The much talked-of long race from
Boston to Worcester, between the
horses Empire State, of this city, and
lvanhoe, of Boston, came off recently
and as the result shows, was one
Of the most extraordinary and cruel
that has ever taken place in this
country. The terms of the match
were to trot from the Mill Dam, Bos-
ton, to Worcester, for $500 side,
each horse to carry 400 pounds, sleiphs
or wheels, rain or shine, play OF pay.
Owing 10 the bad condition of the
road at the Mill Dam, the start was
effected from the Charles River Hotel
in Brighton Both horses were at.
tached TO sleigbs. Empire State was
driven by George r. Wesson, and &C,
companied by William A. Eager, his
backer, both of this city. The word
was given to 60 at l0:46 o'clock and
both started off at moderate gait
with Empire State leading. From
Brighton to Watertown the road was
bad, the sleighirg having worn away
TO bare ground, and progress was
necessarily much impeded. At Water
town the sleighing became good, and
Empire State was still leading
about fifteen rods, under strong and
steady pull He then commenced the
long and powerful stroke for which he
is noted, and trotted with clock like
precision up hill and down, drawing
his heavy load behind him with an,
parent ease, and trotted so well with.
in himself that he was allowed TO 90
as he pleased until Northboro was
reached at 1887. The distance thus
far travelled was twenty-eighty miles,
and tie time one hour and ffty-one
minutes, nearly four minutes to the
mile. A rest Of seven minutes was
here taken, and cruel, wine water and
hay offered the horse, but he refused
and was with difficulty kept from run
ming away. Once more given his
head he seemed 80 be possessed, and
trotted mile after mile at three min.
ute gait, and all the time within him.
self under a steady pull. This he kept
up until be reached Long Pond, where
he stopped trotting and walked into
the city, arriving at Washington
Square ut 1;l9 o'clock, having come
the last ten miles in 35 minutes, and
the whole distance, 3s miles, in two
hours and thirty-three minutes, which
is little less than a mile in four min.
utes for the WHOLE distance.
Soon after hio aIrisei tno norsa ne
came sick, and although every effort
was made to save him, the over-driv.
ing killed him, and he died at midnight
Of spasmodic cholic. Ivanhoe, his
competitor, was last seen at Water
town, but arrived at Northboro long
after the winner had left, and finding
II no use to follow, his driver wisely
withdrew from the race and put up
the horse. Empire State, the winner,
was one fourth thorough bred, ,l6 bands
] inch high, weighed l,050 pounds,
10 years old, and light bay color.
He was raised in Kentucky, and at
one time was owned by Dan Mace,
and called the "John horse" His
temper was not of the best, and il is
said that he could not be used for any.
thing but racing purposes. This most
noted and fatal race is without par
allel for speed, powers of endurance
thorough gameness, and is fully ex-
traordinary feat as that of trotting
twenty miles in an hour. Humane
and sensible men will wish it to re-
main without a parallel.