The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-06-12
A HOME OF FAST HORSE.
A Negro BOY Riding am Animal WORT
sI0O, 900 AIter ihe Cows

grove of large trees about q mile iron
the road. The farm contains five hun
bred and seventy-nine acres OF excellen
! isRd, part pasture and part woodland
There are only about forty head 0
blooded stock on the place. Mr.. +. b
Harper, the present owner, grew up II
the old home. One Harper was killed
here by guerrillas, and two were muir
dered in their beds 8 few years ago
| The murderer used an ak which had
been worn down blunt as g BANNER
No one has ever been openly charged
with the murder, snd the mysterious
tragedy is still talked about by Ken
tuckians in whispers. Mr.. F. B. Harper
is rather kindly-faced farmer OF sixty.
He wears spectscles, and talks slowl y in
friendly tone. Young Frank Harper,
q nephew. assists in running the farm.
Frank was absent in Louisville with q
string of horses. getting ready for the
spring races. We had teen informed
thst the old gentleman was very reticent,
| and were, therefore, agreesbly surprised
when we found him willing to talk about
his famous horses. Leading the way
to the weather beaten and dilapidsted
stable few rods in front of the house,
Mr.. Harper directed Harry Hurley, 8
frizzled, sun~dried old negro, with face
like a sphinx, to bring out the horses
| The negro walked under a narrow shed
that extended along in front of the barn
doors, without saying word, disappear
ing through stable door. He soon
reappesred, leading LongtellOw by the
halter. While the handsome stallion
was prancing around, Mr.. Harper looked
Cd with beam Of satisfaction lighting
his face. "There," he said, is one OF
the only two horses in America that ever
ran mile in lao. The other one is in
there. He ran in 1882. Longfellow is
in splendid physical condition, but he
viii never run sgsin on the turf. All
of Mr.. Harper's colts and FLIES are by
Longfellow.
Longiellow was Uncle Johns pet, u
said MIR. Harper, but Ten Brock was
always NINE"
After admiring the horse few min
ntes longer, Mr.. Harper said: They
want L1ngtellow to go to Tennessee next
year, to General Harfing's but If he
goes he won't be mine they'll have to
buy him"
This was said in a manner that indi-
Gated princely price. He then turned
to the African sphinx, saying: Thatll
do, Harry take him back and bring out
| the horse"
Harry whirled around silently as An
automston and led LonfIellow back to
his box Entering an adjoining stall, he
soon returned leading Ten Brock. The
king of race horses is now seven years
old. AS he came bounding into the
sunlight, his bright bay coat shone like
satin. His eyes were full OF fire. He
raised the sphinx from his feet every
time he threw his arched neck in the air.
Mr., Harper looked st the horse with
pride; then stepping to the writer's side,
he said:
"There's horse that has made the
fastest six races ever run in this coun>
try"
After allowing time to admire the
horse, Mr.. Harper continued:
"My uncle wanted to run Ten Brock
when he was youngster, but / saw
points about him that convinced me he
would turn out grest horse. So ]
fairly begged him not to spoil him, and
he finally consented"
Was be large colt"
Ono. Anyone that saw him then
wouldn't have given fl teen dollars tol
him. He was little runt, and used tc
feed with the sucking calves. Even a;
q two-year old he was so small that ] wai
ashamed of him."
You take good care of him now, ]
suppose
"Nething extra. The boys often riIe
him after the COWS, and go to the post.
Office on his back. My neighbors cuss
me for allowing it, but the boys do as
they have mind TO with him"
Here Wesley Jsmes. a good>nstured
young darkey, the trainer of Ten Brock
who stood back of MIR. Harper, grinned
from ear to ear.
When Ten Brock was two-yeaI
old" continued Mr.. Harper, she was
beaten in his first race by Bill Bruce, in
| exington, in 1874 After that race
still asserted that he was the best horse
| had ever laid my hands on-better than
Longtellow."
After gazing at the horse intently
again, Mr.. Harper said: " He began to
| spread out and improve after that race
His Joints developed. There is some
thing peculiar about his formation
You see he stands over sixteen hands
one inch high. Well, ne is exactly the
same in length from his hips to his
breast. A painter of racehorses says he
is the only horse he ever saw whose
shoulders are longer than his head
They are Usually OF the same length, "
What condition is the horse in
now ?"
"He is just as good as he ever was,
and could run as fast SIS ever this fall.
His lungs are as sound and his legs
stronger. He can run now without any
training The horse has never yet
shown Whist he really can do. l believe
if l had run him one mile further the
day he best Ad three miles, he would
have made the tour miles in 7:10 or
7:12. The boy had to hold SO that his
fingers were crsmped to such an extent
that he could not ungirt the saddle after
the race. He can change his feet, move
his head, and swing from side to side
quicker thsn any horse l ever saw, thus
relieving the strain on his muscles with
out losing time. And so says Ben
Bruce. Mr.. Bruce declares that there
is no other horse in the world like him D."
would you sell the horse, Mr..
Fsrperw
"Well, some English duke may come
along some day and get him."
A recent visitor lie said to have asked
Mr.. Harper, Will you sell Ten
Brock ?'
eyes," he answered, " for my price. d"
"W1st is your price ?" 80