Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-08
FINE STOCK.
A Visit To Adirondack Murray's
Place Near San Antonio.

San Antonio Express, 81
la company with Captain Sid P.
Jones, the enterprising agent for this
section Of the Milburn wagon com
pany. and an Express representative,
had the pleasure last evening of visit
ing the suburban domicil of the Rev.
w. II. II. Murray, known to the peo-
pie of America as Adirondack Muir
ray. Mr.. Murray was formerly one of
the most prominent ministers of the
gospel in this country, being to Bos-
ton what Henry Ward Beecher is to
Brooklyn. From unceasing labor, he
finally found it necessary to cease
preaching, since which time he has
devoted great attention to the breed
ing of fine horses, and has also written
much on the subject. He now resides
on the property owned by Adams &
Wickes, fronting on South Garden
street and running back to the river.
Opening the garden gate, we drove in
aud through the grounds a few hum
bred yards to the old gentleman's
house. He met us with a smile and
an invitation to walk in and take a
piece Of peach pie. The kind invita-
ton was not accepted, however, it be-
ing quite late, and the object Of our
visit being to see.the fine stock in the
stables, Mr.. Murray was so informed,
and at once proceeded to show us
about the premises. "See these trees
out here2" he remarked. and the
reporter followed him to where sever
al large apple and pear trees grew,
laden with beautiful fruit. "How
can anybody say" he continued, that
apples and pears require sandy soil
and won't grow in the black, sticky
soil2' The pear trees we're still laden
with fruit, hanging in clusters Of from
two to a half dozen large pears. "Ihe
apple trees you see here, said he,
have borne fruit this year that meas
ured from ten to thirteen inches in
circumference, and that pear tree
there had pears on it from twelve to
fourteen inches around. This, you
must remember, is black soil, and no
rain more than to lay the dust in
ninety-four days" Mr.. Murray took
a stick and brought down several of
the pears, which we ate, and found to
be delicious. Peach trees growing
upon the premises had fruit hanging
from the limbs almost as large as a
man fist. But our visit was not to
write up an orchard. 1t was an
agreeable surprise, however, to be
treated to such delicious fruit fresh
from the green branches, and it is a
fact worth mentioning to refute the
prevailing impression, one which has
originated without foundation, that
fine fruit can not be grown in this
vicinity.
| When Mr.. Murray learned that we
were a reporter, however, he objected
to anything being said about what he
was doing, remarking, that is the
law of the Modes aud Persians." Oh
course, this injunction acted as a
damper to our hopes of getting good
item, but there will be no harm il
briefly mentioning what We saw
in the horse line. Visiting thu
old gentlemsn's stables, the man il
charge of them brought out beauti
full Morgan mare, "Kittie Murray,
seven years of age, and having RECORD
of 2:30 In the adjoining stall stood
Morgan stallion, Adirondack Muir.
ray" ten years old, and in third stall
another Morgan stallion six years O
age, named Murray's Morgan" Thes,
are not only the finest animals in Texas
but there are none finer in tho Unitec
States. They are kept exclusively fol
breeding purposes. The value placed
upon these stations is twenty five
thousand dollars each, Mr.. Murray
having upon his place half dozer
, horses which it would require abou
sixty thousand dollars to purchase
The Morgan horse, Of course, is bay
These animals we're brought on her,
about six months ago, and are in ex
eellent health and spirits. Mr.. Muir.
ray says that they are doing as well al
could be desired, but they receive
constant attention. They are claimet
to be the only real Morgan stallionl
in America.
We should be pleased to give more
lengthy and detailed account Of oul
trip. but as Mr.. Murray is for thu
present reticent, that will have to b.
deferred for the present.
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