The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-04-13
Noted Horses Death and Funeral
Ceremonies,
[Correspondence Of the Y. Y. Sun.


Correspondence Of the n. Y. Sun
CHESTER, n. u, March 28.-Under |
the shadow of black, wooded bluff of
the Blue Ridge Mountains in this village, |
the remains of the world-renowned /
stallion Hambletonian were buried to-
day. The body, which had been cover
ed with the blankets and robes and 9TH
err stable gear that the horse had worn
at his death, was enclosed in pine box,
and was borne to the grave on stone
boat that was dragged at the heels of
horses. Many people from the village
of Chester and from neighboring towns
had gathered at an early hour this
morning, and they formed an escort TO |
the burial place. The grave had been
dug in the open orchard at the back of
the stable in which the horse had been
kept for many years, and under dark
" clouded sky the interment was made.
Hambletonian was dark bay. His
hind ankles were white, and there was a
bright white star on his forehead. He
was foaled in 1849, and was bred by
Jonas Seely of Sugar Loaf, Orange
County, and sold in the same year to
Mr.. Rysdyk for 1925. He gave promise
of great merits, and when only four
wears old he was exhibited at the Amer
lean Institute Fair and was awarded the
first premium. He was at once put out
to breeding purposes. The first colt of
notable excellence that he produced was
George Wilkes, and soon afterward came
Dexter, the king of the turf. The tri-
umphs of Dexter raised the renown Of
the stallion so high that numbers OF
breeding mares flocked to the stable OF
Hambletonian from all parts OF the
country, and the rates of services were
increased, first from 800 to $500, and
then to $500. During his career Ham.
bletonian had ], 1898 mares, and produced
1901 foals. 1t is estimated that he had
at his death over 100 sons and daughters
that have showed remarkable time. -
Mr.. Rysdyk just before his death left
special in junction that Hambletonian,
which had always been his petted horse,
and which had brought to him fortune,
should be buried with unusual marks OF
respect. 1t was first specified that the
horse should be placed in grave that
was six feet deep, that he should be ar
raved in his stable blankets, gear and
shoes, and that brown headstone
should be erected upon the mound that
marked the grave. The grave, so Mr:
Rysdyk enjoined, must be just back OF
the horse-stable and in the center OF the
smooth orchard, under the shadow OF
the apple-trees. All of Mr.. Rysdyk's
orders have been faithfully complied
with. ...-r.
Hartman Fink Showers, who has been
the groom of HambletOnian for the last
nineteen years, said this evening that
the stallion has been failing for about a
year. He took the epizOOtic last fall,
and had been failing ever since. lie
never lost his spirit, however. lie
tried TO eat until the last moment,
and often the food fell from his jaws
into the manger because he was too
weak to masticate it. For the last
two or three weeks he had eaten
but little, and his form, which
when in health weighed 1,l00 pounds,
! shrank to less than 800pOunds. All
forts were in vain. On Sunday night
Herman Fink Showers left the stable
,, about II o'clock, and at that time Ham
betonian was eating as well as usual.
When the groom returned at 3 in the
, morning the old horse lay lifeless in his
stable, his body still warm. In accord
ance with Mr.. Rysdyk's instructions,
Showers Strengthened the legs of the
animal and then bent them and fasten-
ed them with straps close to the breast
On Monday morning Mr.. VIM. IL. Vail, 9
carpenter, constructed an elaborate cot
fin of matched pine boards and the body
was placed therein. The box was left
open and hundreds of persons from
. Chester and neighbOring towns passed
before the box to take look at the
horse. 1t was intended that the burial
should be made yesterday, but on ac-
count of the frost in the ground 1t was
impossible to dig the grave. The bon
was accompanied to the old orchard by
long file of persons. Notable among
} them were Guy Miller, owner of Iron
. Duke; II. Wisner Wood, David r. Fea
giles, breeder of Messenger DurOc
Charles Bachman, j. c. Rowland, once
owner of Ajax; B. c. Wood, and Jno
Bartlett Tuttle.
The coffin was taken off the stone
boat at noon, and was lowered down 6
heavy sliding plank into asix-fOot grave
5 The last sh0velful of earth was tossed
in at about l O'Clock, and the little train
of followers went back to Chester
, through shower of rain.
Little else was talked of in Chester
except the death of the celebrated stat
> lion, and the owner OF relic of the OLD
6 horse, piece of tooth on a hair, wa.
looked upon as treasure holder. Mr.
John X. ComstOck, a well-known horse
!, man of Chester, held many, and he re
|. fused almost fabulous prices for hi
= treasures. For an old grinder that haC
J fallen out of Hambletonias's jaw few
! weeks ago So and $40 were offered, bu
= the owner would not sell. 1t has beer
= estimated by admirers of HambletoniaI
: that he has earned nearly 81, 900 eacl
: year since ne was three years old. iii:
entire earnings in the time that he wa
in the possession of Mr.. Rysdyk amour
to over S241, 900.
q Hambletonian was 81 years old at hi
death, and it is thought by his keepe
that he might have lived many year
longer, but for the terrible cold that h
caught last fall. Many skillful ply
, sicians were employed, but they wer
. unable to break up his disease. ~0