Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-03-21
Leland Stamford's Equine Wonder.


Grace Greenwood writes as follows
from San Francisco to the New York
Times:
.With my ruling passion strong even
in California, I was not long in making
afectionate inquiries of Gov. Stanford
in regard to his famous trotting horse
Charlie, or Wonder as he has been
popularity christened. In reply, my
host offered to drive me out to the race
course, where the animal is kept, that I
might see for myself; and the next
morning had the honor of a presenta-
tion to the most princely piece of
horse-hesh have seen for many long
day. Though not snowy, and not, ct
present, carefully kept up, he is really
equally in action and repose, intelli-
gent, gentle, tractable, yet full Of
Joyous fire. I did not see him
in harness, as the ground was
too heavy to allow of his
being put to his speed, but q
little son of the trainer mounted him
bareback, and let me see a little of his
action. The morning was beautiful,
and he seemed to revel in the sunshine
and fresh air, and to thrill with fine
ecstacy of life. The trainer of this o.
cidental treasure-trove is q Yankee of
the Yanks, who devotes himself to his
charge with the utmost enthusiasm.
and brings up his children in the same
fealty. Every night he or one Of his
boys sleeps beside Royal Charlie, ready
to wake at his slightest whinny. In
truth the horse is far less an object of
pride and solicitude to his owner than
to his trainer. No railroads come in to
rival, no steamboats, to run him down,
in the loyal affections of g Yank Smith. :"
He is jealous of his record to the fourth
part of second.
This noble horse is scarcely yet q
public parsonage, but perhaps few
personalities will be pardoned, and az
have the data from the best authority,
may be of interest to horse-lovers.
Charles pedigree has not been fully
posed to be of Morgan stock, and was
raised in the country, near Sacramento.
He passed into the possession of a
man who worked him in drawing sand
for the railroad, with . much larger
horse, who was slow, and did not do
his share of the work 80 finally hia
owner sold him to a butcher for $75,
saying that he could get a horse fol
$50 that would answer his purpose a.
we'll. The butcher sold him TO ranch
man, who drove him in q market wagon
A neighbor, little wiser in horse mat.
tiers, bought him cheaply enough, gave
him little training, and sold him ia
Governor Stanford for $3.50, and q
valuable horse named Grant. Since
his wonderful speed has been ascer.
tained, Governor Stanford has received
immense offers for him. One
demented admirer offered q ranch
and seventy five horses of good blood,
for all OF which possessions he would
not take, he said. $4,000 In refusing
this handsome offer, the Governor said
he was reminded of story he read in
his boyhood, of an English highway.
man, (perhaps Dick Turpln), who once,
when fleeing from the Sheriff, and hard
pressed, caused his horse, (perhaps
Black Bess), to take an astonishing
leap oyer chasm or stream, which
feat q wonder-struck farmer beholding,
cried out: 81 would give fifty bullocki
for that horse" But the flying robbie,
shouted back: "Fifty bullocks could
not take that leap"
Charlie is now eight years old. HI
is fifteen and one-half hands high, and
when in good condition for speed,
weighs $50 pounds. He is in color 9
rich bay, which becomes q dark brown
| in winter.