The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-05-18

fCorrespondenoe Of the n. =. SUN. j

cAAO oI4oOOW "a y UlACAs WOO0CsA OAuAs - |
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 |
er 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
ly 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
years 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 fiocked 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 /, 1893 mares, and produced
1901 foals. It 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
q special Injunction that Hambletonian,
which had always been his petted horse,
and which had brought to him fortune,
should be buried with unusual marks Of
respect. It was first specified that the
horse should be placed in . grave that
was six feet deep, that he should be ar
rayed in his stable blankets, gear and
shoes, and that q 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.
Hartman Fink Showers, who has been
the groom of Hambletonian for the last
nineteen years, said this evening that
the stallion has been falling for about
year. He took the epizootic last fall,
and had been failing ever since. He
never lost his spirit, however. He
tried to eat until the last moment,
and often the food fell from his jaws
into the Manager 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 100 pounds,
shrank to less than 800 pounds. ALI eff
forts were in vain. On Sunday night
Herman Fink Showers left the stable
about II O'Clock, and at that time Ham
bletonian was eating as well as usual.
When the groom returned at 5 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. III. Vail, q
carpenter, constructed an elaborate cof-
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 q look at the
horse. It was intended that the burial
should be made yesterday, but on ac-
count OF the frost in the ground it was
impossible to dig the grave. The box
was accompanied to the old orchard BY
q 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. G. Rowland, once
owner Of Ajax; B. C. Wood, and Jno.
Bartlett Tuttle.
The coffin was taken of the stone
boat at noon, and was lowered down q
heavy sliding plank into asix-foot grave.
The last shovelful Of earth was tossed
in at about 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 stall
lion, and the owner OF relic Of the old
horse, piece of tooth on hair, was
looked upon as treasure holder. Mr..
John 4. Comstock, well-known horse
man OF Chester, held many, and he re-
fused almOst fahnlnus nr;ooe fr, HI.