Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-07-29
A REMARKABLE ANIMAL.
Old "Romp,p OF Jackson, Aged Fifty. one
Yesrs-The Oldest Horse Known TO the
Present Generation.
From the Jackson (Mich.) Patriot.

this city. He was foaled in the town
Clarence, Erie county, N. Y, the
property Of Colonel Cronk, at the
time large breeder of race horses,
in June, 1924, and is consequently,
81 years old. We have obtained the
following interesting history of this
venerable animal:
The sire of "Romp," for that was
the name given at his birth, was the
racehorse Dragon, who was noted as
winner at all distances. The dam of
"Romp' was an imported English
mare, taken at the battle of Lundy's
Lane, in 1912, from an English officer,
and purchased by Colonel Cronk and
kept on his farm for breeding pur-
poses. In the Spring of 1927 the
colt "Romp," then three years old,
was purchased of Colonel Cronk by
2. L, Carter, of this oity, and broken
by him for a race-horse. In his
trials he proved to be very fast
runner.
In the Autumn Of 1877 Mr.. Carter
made match to run Romp against a
horse that was travelling through
the village of Alexandria, Genesee
county, N. Y, for $500. The horses
started in the race, but before the
close Of the mile Romp stepped on a
rolling stone and broke his near
ankle, which so disabled him that be
could not finish the race. Mr.. Car
tor, disgusted with the whole
affair, of losing his horse and the
race, looked about for some person
to kill the animal and pat an end to
bis misery. A farmer in the neigh
borhood offered to take the horse
home. Oh account of his remarks Bile
symmetry and beautiful points, and
pay Mr.. Carter $40 for him, and try
and cure his broken limb. The
purchase being made, the horse was
placed in sling obtained in a black
smiths shop near by, sncb as was
used for shoeing oxen, the bones of
the ankle put in place as well as
could be, and in two years be was
we'll enough to do ordinary work on
a farm.
Mr.. Garter retained the interest
be at first manifested 10 the recovery
of his favorite animal, and frequently
visited him while be remained in
New York. In 1886 Mr.. Carter
moved to this city where he now
resides. In his various visitings to
his old home in New YorN he always
paid his OLD favorite visit, until the
year of 1854, whom he found that he
had been sold to come West, and he
lost track of him. In the fall of 1858,
however, he saw tho old horse in
the southern part of this county, and
Immediately bought him and
brought him 10 his own home in this
city. After using him in a buggy
for two years and the horse getting
a little clumsy, on account of his stiff
ankle, he sold him to Mr.. A. }. Hen
derson, who put him into team for
haaliug coal from the coal mines IN
Spring Arbor to this city, distance
OF four miles. In this coal wagon he
has worked every day (Slndays ex-
cepted) for fifteen years, The usual
weight Of bad of coal is little
more than two tons, and this horse
has been half Of the toam, without
the loss of single day or losing q
single meal by sickness or any other
cause, and has seen six good young
horses die, one after the other, in
trying TO mate him in his daily round
of labor
The circumstances of the identity
and history of this animal are such
than they cannot be mistaken. First,
Mr. Carter is man who is never
mistaken about any horse he has
ever owned or taken an interest IN,
His individuality in this regard is
beyond dispute with every person
who knows him. Then the testi-
mony of his nephew, who Is supe-
rior horseman, and who knew the
horse well, and who was living with
Mr.. Carter at the time of the acct
dent, and the year the purchase was
made is easily proven; and also by
the bill of sale and diary of Mr.. Car
ter, made Juno 1927, and the atfida
Wit Of the nephew, who went to live
with Mr. Carter in the Autumn Of
1926, at the death of his father, which
occurred that year Then the marks
of the broken ankle are to be seer
to-day as plainly as they were shortly
after the accident took place. The
peculiar make of the horse, his very
long and round barrel, his uncom
monty high wi.hers, his whole coun
tenance and face denote high breed
ing, and the grey stripe running from
the eff eye to the near nostril, are 81
peculiar that it is impossible for thu
illnesses to be mistaken. As thit
horse is so much older than any
other horse ever known, we have
been thus particular in stating all th'
facts to the public. Every horsemar
will be satisfied of the trath of thi
statement by examining his mouth
which is almost destitute of teetl
while those that remain presen
an appearance (to use the joke!
phraso) of having lived in Moab
ark"
If any person doubts the philoso
ply of breeding bl1oded horses, an
that they have more desirable an
lasting qualities, besides, being lon
ger lived, they had better take
look at this most remarkable anima
without puff or windgail on h'
limbs, 81 years old:
This horse having come under th
observation of a noted horseman G
this city, be determined to &c
| possession of him and Consequent
purchased him few days since. 70
the purpose of demonstrating tn
Importance of breeding from impol
ted blooded stock in order to obtai
superior vualities ofspeed, endurance
and vitality, be will be exhibited, NAL