Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-04
Famous Men in the Saddle.

FROM the New England Farmer.
Many of our most celebrated men have been
enthusiastic admirers of that most noble of ami
mails, the horse. 1t is we'll known that General
Washington was one Of the most prominent of
this cass Reared as he was i'm the state of Vjr-
GINA. which at that time possessed the finest
biO0ded stock to be found i'm the whole country
he early in life displayed a great fondness for
line horses. which Characteristic he retained
through his whole career. Washington was
much attached to the exciting sport of fox
hunting. and is described as one of the boldeSt
and most fearless riders that ever took the field
His pack of hounds were of the best and his
horses the feetest and keenest fencers to be
found in the Old Dominion i'm their day. He
usually rode Thoroughbred called BLUE
skim" surprising jumper of great endurance
and courage; on this splendid animal the gen
eral, dressed in true sporting costume Of blue
coat. buckskin breeches, top boots. velvet cap
and hunting whip with long thong, took the
field at daybreak with his huntsman. friends
and neighbors. and none rode more bold Y nor
with voice more clreerily awaked the echo among
the woods and hills with his merry hunting Cry
than did the gallant Washington.
Thomas Jefferson had a remarkable fondness
for horses 1t is not recorded that he ever put
one horse in training for a race, but he bred and
kept number for his own use, Who has not
read the story of how he rode to the Capitol I'M
attended diSmOunted hitched his magnificent
"Wildair' to a post walked i'm and took the
oath of office as President of the United States!
During the time that he occupied the position
OF Chief Magistrate he would allow nothing to
interfere with his taking his daily two hours
ride on horseback; nor did he permit false ideas
of Off1c al decOrum to prevent his attending the
races which were regularly held near Washing
ton; he was always an enthusiastic spectator.
Mr.. Randall, in his splendid biography of Jeffer-
son, relates that he saw several pages in one of
Mr.. JefferSOn's farm books which were devoted
To {J,D ,,AI; nfl, al,
that he usually owned number of brood mares
of the highest quality, most of which were car
ried off by Lord CORVALLIS troops during the
destructive campaign in Virginia. Near Monti-
cello may be seen the rough. craggy pass or path
on the side Of Carriers mountain, up which Mr..
Jefferson rode in hot haste when a detachment
of Tarletons dragons were in sight. sent to
capture him; but, thanks to his ieet-fOOted
steed, he made safe his escape.
Perhaps there was not. In his time greater
lover, nor better Judge of a horse than Andrew
Jackson. He was for 20 years staunch SUBJ
porter of the turf-the turf was not i'm such bad
repute then as i'm latter days-making it not only
source OF pleasure but one of profit also. Old
Hickory owned some very successful racers, the
most prominent of which was ''TruXton,"
so called after Commodore TruXton Another
of the general famous horses was Pacolet: ia
nous not only as a winner of many hard fought
contests on the turf. but also as a successful
stallion. The blood of this horse is looke ed upon
to this day valuable strain in the pedigree
of a Thoroughbred Pacolet founded a family
of horses noted Tor their speed, game and endur
ance. not only on the race-cOurse, but also for
long Journeys under the saddle and in harness.
Gen. Jackson usually appeared mounted on
superb gray, and his tall. commanding figure
showed to much advantage in the saddle he was
a most accomplished horseman.
John Randolph. of Roanoke, the famous Fir
ginia orator. and the most eccentric character
who figures in our history, was another promi-
nent figure on horseback. Mr. Randolph took
great interest in fine horses. He frequently
used to walk into the Senate chamber while a
member of that body dressed i'm riding cos
tune whip in hand. and followed by his favor
lte fox hound. who would quietly sleep under
his desk during the session. Mr.. Randolph inn
ported from England, at 4 large expense. some
very valuable thoroughbred horses and Mares
and was always a large breeder. He put sew
eral horses at the turf. but was generally I'M
successful When about % years of age he
was on a visit to Charleston. SC: while there
he made the acquaintance of a Scotch barOnet
by the name of Sir John Nesbit, of the ancient
house of Nesbts. of Dean Hall. near Edinburg.
Sir John was very handsome man. and las
gallant a gay Lothario" as could be found i'm the
city; he and Randolph made q match for race.
in which each was to ride his own horse The
race came off during the race week and Ran
dOlph won easily: some of the ladies eXclaning,
though Mr.. Randolph had won the race, Sir
be wondered at. when the graceful and beauti-
full style of riding Of the barOnet was con-
trastad with the awkward manner of his com
petitOr, who, no doubt. knew more about
racing and horses than did the gallant Sir John.
Mr.. Randolph was present at the famous match
race between Eclipse and Henry, fOur-mile
heats, which was run over the Union course on
Long Island in 1928. in the presence of an as
semblage of over $1,000 spectators. This race
for a long period before it took place. had been
6tcny ny,1 Tod I,-< ia
papers and the public at large. not only in this
country but in England as well. 1t was
a sort of a sectional contest. the north versus
the south. 1t was won by the northern cham
picn Eclipse, Henry winning the first heat and
Eclipse the next two. Mr.. Randolph was so
disappointed over the defeat of the southern
horse, Henry. though he had no pecuniary in
terest in the result, that he made strong per-
sonal efforts to bring about another match; but
it could not be done. as the northern gentle
men declined to run Eclipse again. After Mr..
RandOiph's death his fine stud of bloOded
horses were sold by auction at high prices; many
of them were purchased by gentlemen who
resided out of the state.
Henry Clay was stOck-breeder on a large
scale. The pastures of Ashland always CON-
tanned some of the finest horses and Durham
cattle in America the business is still carried
on at Ashlandby the distinguished Kentuckian S
son, John NJ. Clay, who bread the celebrated
horse Kentucky. one of the best of the get of
the great Lexington, and also who was sold for
$4,000
Gen. Grants admiration for horses is too well
known to the present generation to be dwelt
upon at length; it may. however. be stated that
he is the fortunate pOssessOr of three of the
finest pure-bred Arabian stallions-a present
from the Sultan of Turkey-which have ever
been brought to these shores.
Famous Theater Fires.
The most fatal of theater fires unless it should
turn out to be surpassed by the Vienna catas-
trODhe, was the burning of the SaragOssa theater
in ITS. when 600 persons lost their lives. At
the Carlsruhe theater, in 1S47, 1O4 persons
persisted. The burning ofthe Opera House at Nice
this year in which 62 persons We're burned or
crushed to DEATH is still fresh in the public men,