Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-03-28
Leland StanfOrd,s Equine Wonder,

Leland Stanford's Equine Wonder.
Grace Greenwood writes as follows
from San Francisco to the New York
Times:
"With my ruling passion strong even
In California, | was not long in making
atfectionate 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 /
might see for myself; and the next
morning l had the honor OF a presenta-
tf>n to the most princely piece of
horse-iiesh | have seen for many n long
day. Though not SNOWY, and not, at
present, carefully kept up, he is really
a grand creature - beautiful almost
equally in action and repose, intelli,
| gent, gentle, tractable, yet full Of
joyous fire. [ did not see him
IN harness, as the ground was
being put to his speed, but a
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 II fine
ecstacy OF life. The trainer of this Dc
cidental treasure-troye IS a Yankee of
the Yarks, who devotes himself to his
charge with tho 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 ut his slightest whinny. In
truth the horse is far less nm object of
pride and solIGituae to his Owner than
to his trainer. No railroads come IN to
rival, no steamboats, to run him down,
IN thelOyal affections of "Yank Smith
He is jealous of his record TO the fourth
part OF u second.
This noble horse is scarcely vet Il
pubic parsonage, but perhaps "A few
personalities wIil be pardoned, and as
have the data from the best authority,
may be of interest to horse-lovers.
Charles pedigree has not been fully
and accurately made out. He is sup
posed to be Of Morgan stock, and was
raised in the country, neal Sacramento.
He passed into the possession of II
man who worked him in drawing sand
for the railroad, with "a much larger
horse, who was slow, and did not do
his share of the work so finally his
owner sold him to butcher for $50,
saying that he could get a horse for
$50 that would answer his purpose rs
well. The butcher sold him TO n ranch
man, who drove him in a market wagon
A neighbor, a little wiser in horse mat
ters, bought him cheaply enough, gave
him u little training, and sold him to
Governor Stanford for $3.50, and IA
valuable horse named Grant. Since
his wonderful speed has been ascer-
tanned, Governor Stanford has received
immense offers for him. One
demented ndmirer offered n ranch
and seventy five horses of good blood,
for all OF which possessions he would
not take, he said, S75, 900. In refusing
this handsome offer, the Governor said
ho was reminded Of a story he read i'll
his boyhood, of an English highway
man, Uerhaps Dick Tnrpln), who once,
when fleeing from the Sheriff, ana hard
pressed, caused bis horse, Uerhaps
Black Bess), to take an astonishing
leap oyer a chasm or stream, which
feat n wonder-struck farmer beholding,
cried out: 81 would give fifty bullocks
fer that horse" But the flying robber
shouted back "Fifty bullocks could
not take that leap"
Charlie is now eight years old. He
is fifteen and one-half hands high, and
when III good condition for speed,
weighs $50 pounds. He is in color a
rich bay, which becomes a dark brown
in winter.