The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-14
rHorooRApHINo. BY ELEorRruTr.
Negative. OF u Trottina Horse Taken while
Goinx at - eco Gait.

Last year California photographer
named Muyhridgc secured n photograph ~ the
horse Occdent. while the latter was trotting ai
the rate Of thirty-six feet per second. This
photograph showed the horse TO be ~ an att
tude so AT variance with that with which tho eye
credits horse going ut full speed. that 1t was
resolved to put this first effort to the test 10y
series OF photographs taken IN ~, Sgm ,,a,o
graph so misrcprcscntcd the position ~ the
horse in the minds. Of experienced turfmen,
that the artist decided TO make his next cX-
pertinent on principle which would certainly
carry conviction 10 even the most inrr'dulnus
natures Tho slide Of the camera. it wns found.
in attempting to photograph Occident, could
not be- moved rapidly enough 10y hand Tor IN"
purpose and accordingly an apparatus was
we'll as the fair success Of tho attempt proved.
Still. Muybridge believed that better results
10 Cooperate in the matter, He studied out
plan OF the machinery required. and having the
confidence and aid of Gov. stanford 10 sustain
him. arrangements were made for its consiruc-
ton in London.
Recently the cameras arrived from England.
and were provided with double Slides The
electrical attachments however. by which alone
perfect success was had. was constructed ~ san
Francisco. Tho background WINS made perfectly
white by erecting n screen or planks NJ slight
angle and having the same painted white. with
lines stretched across every twenty-one inches.
These spaces were numbered from one 70 TWEEN
". Horizontal lines wore drawn. the first on
level with the track. the uthnrs with sparcs oi
four inches between them The track was also
whitened for part Of the distance across u.
and wires were run from the cameras opposite
under the surface until within two feet OF n"
background, whore they were raised 50 that the
suiky would strike them. These wires cor
respond with the lines on the background. On
the opposite side OF the track, tho battery. con
sisting Of eight Jars. and the cameras. were
stationed, the latter numbering from one L.
twelve
Having his arrangements perfected the artist
selected Saturday. the 18th ut.. as the day. and
Palo Alto. in San MnteO county ns tho place
when and where 70 make the experiment winch
has proved to he the greatest discovery yet made
In photography. Occident for some reason
was not honored on this ocrasion. hut in his
stead the fine young trotter. Abe l. lgington be-
longing b. Gov. Stanford, was employed to show
whit could be done. and giving nm opportunity
To take his own photograph. rs II were. \ num-
Der OF invitations were issued 10 renre senia-
tivcs 81 the press, tur'men, and others, ana the
experiment was made IN their pres 'nc".
Eigington WAS trOtted NJ and down N"
course to warm him M. that he might trnt
steadily and nj his best: AMI when all was In
readiness. his driver turned HIM soma disinil"
from the spot and sent him down at spi"ulld
slashing gait. equal 10 about 1928. or under.
w ithOu skin or hitch 10 mar the perfection oi
his gait the horse reached and passed the line
NJ cameras and wires and batteries The strik-
ing II the wires by tho sulky wheels broke the
different circuits. and each pidure-twrlvo IN
part Of n second. Tho negatives were very small.
but perfect in outline and detail. even to show
ing the shape ot each spoke in the whrrl, and
ne whip ~ the DRYERS hand. Ih'sr PICTURES,
which could not be otherwise than true. prove
that the horse IN trottlng assumes positions
n,ver dreamed % befOre-pO-i'ions which.
while they rob the horse Of that gracefulnrss
generally credited 10 him when going ~ full
speed. the knowledge Of which will nevertheless
prove valuable to persons concerned IN the care
and trimming ~ trotters. They show the legs To-
be in almost all conceivable positions. No.
shows one hind foot on the ground. giving the
last vigorous push 10 propel the body along; In
No. all are on but the other hind foot Is nearly
ready to touch tho surface. The fore feet are
more extended In this. while in No. the near
hind foot and the OIL fore have struck. and IN
No. the body has been carried over the fore
leg until II is vertical. while the other fore leg *
doubled up until the foot is two feet from the
ground, and the hind legs are very singuarly
placed. Five pictures give half Of the stride.
brought out and the eXnarirn;..: IN her case
WIS attended with still more interesting re-
suits, II possible. II was shown that the sup
posed surcsior grace Of the horse while run
ming ., ia reality, "A deus ion; that the feet are
gotten into nll sorts Of queer positions. The
saddle-grth broke while the mare was pas- ing
tographei the accident distinctly. showing tho
instant the girth parted.