Morris tribune., 1883-02-17
SINGLET0N'S- SILVER HEEL.

Quaint "Reminiscences in the Life OF
an Illinois Congressman.
Gen. James w. Singleton, of Illinois, j.
4 short, stout man, with f1orid complex
sion and frosted sandy beard. He has
1 represented the Eleventh district in Con.
!. gress for two sessions. He was anxious
TO stay longer, but after long and stub
born contest he failed of denomination
He made an independent race thereafter
and got left. III asfg
Many of the boys who relish good sup
pers will miss Singleton next winter, He
lis high liver anda prince of enter,
tainers. His motto for years has been
Elk optimus ontimus, and it has cost him
manya rheumatic twinge. He was once
among the richest of Western land
owners, and is said to still possess a
handsome fortune. He has team of
stations in Washington said to
be worth $4,000, and he keeps a
/ great number of thoroughbreds at his
place near Quincy. lie has raised some
the finest trotting stock in the West.
The story of the way he came into
possession of the famous stallion Silver
Heel, the greatest horse of his day, is
worth recording. 1t was two or three
| DAYS before the race. Singleton was at
his zenith. He was president of the St.
| Louis and Wabash road, and he wanted
TO own the finest horse in the world.
He travelled all over the country seek
| ing for q equine king, and finally, at the
| New York state Agricultural fair, he
came upon Silver Heel. He ascertained
| that the owner was Commodore Van
| derhilt. The commodore told him that
Silver Heel could not be bought for five
| hundred thousand dollars. Singleton
| went back home disappointed and dis
eusted. Not long after his return Wa
bash stockstook 4 sudden boom. He
| was surprised one day to see Vanderbilt
| walk in on him. After little chat the
commodore asked bluntly. Singleton,
when are you going TO let Wabash
Drop" - as E5 Il
81 don't know why You should ask
me such a question:" was the reply of
the general. .... ...
well, look here now, :" rejoined Van
derbilt; you want Silver Heel, don't
yon9' 49, r's~
Eyes"
"Well, tell me when Wabash is going
to drop and the horse is yours"
Singleton paused fora moment and
then replied, "Sell when it reaches
eighty-tiye."
The Commodore departed. Wabash
went to eighty-fye. Vanderbilt unload
ed, raked in his pile, and in due course
of time Silver Heel sarrived at Quincy in
a special box car
The general had now come into pos
session of what he considered the finest
horse in the world. About this time
jockey club in st. Louis bought st. Law
renee, a well-knoWn stallion, for $40, 600.
They got up an exhibition for the follow
ing summer, offering $4,000 premium
for the best stallion. This offer coming
to Singleton's ears, he concluded that
he would take Silver Heel down and
capture the prize There were three
entries, st. Lawrence, sMambrino Chief,
and Silver Heel. MembrinO Chief was
the property of James Clay of Kentucky,
and was noted as the sire of some very
feet trotters: When the judges had been
appointed Gen. Singleton: inquired in
what points they desired excellence.
They responded: s'In style and aGtion."
Singleton had avery light sulky con-
structed for the occasion, and informed
Abrams, his trainer, that style and action,
not speed, were required. When the
horses came on the track Silver Heel
was by all cd Is the favorite with the
great assemblage, but the award was
given to st. Lawrence. This enraged the
General. He went to the judges and de-
'nlafded to know in what points OF style
and action'' ST. Lawrence was SUPERIOR
to Silver Heel. They informed him that
the former showed greater speed. This
him still further. He -ac-~
cused them of having purposely misled
him. and challenged them to
trot him two days afterward
for $4,000 side. He went further, and
offered to put up $4,000 against a like
gum, the whole togo into the treasury
of the club whether he won or lost. He
gave this offer publicity in the news
papers, and the club was forced to do
him justice. 1t would not accept his
offer, butitdecided to put up a cup and
$500, and further, to allow the judges to
reversetheir. decision If they saw fit.
The track was a small circle of one
sixth of a mile, and the general, know
ing the superiority of Silver Heel over
ST. Lawrence, instructed Abrams, his
trainer, to. hold up for him, and then
pass him in front of the stand at least
four timessin the. mile. This instruction
Abrams fulfilled to the letter. Silver
Heel was declared winner amid the
widest enthusiasm. The decision OF
two days before was reversed, and the
$4,000 premium was awarded to Silver
Heels owner sg.s..rr
The general gave a breakfast on the
following morning to select party at
one Of the principal hotels. James
Clay the owner of Mambrino Chief,
was a guest. The horse question was o
course. a prominent feature of the con-
yersafiofi. Clay was especially eulogls-
tic of-thes colts of Mambrino. He de-
clared that the colts of. the Chief had
outfooted everything on the turf and
that they would continue to do so. His
ingit as long az possible he ripped out. /
colts here, Sallie Lee and Swiftness.
They are two-year oIds, and neither i
have been traind. I will take one 4
those two colts, give you the whole
Mambrino breed to select from, and |
next SUMMER, for $40 900 a side.
Clay laughedand told him itiwas sheer
folly to make such bet, as he was
sure to be beaten The general refused
to receive such an answer to his chal-
lenge, and they finally settled the mat
ter by repairing to one OF the banks
and deposifing five thousand apiece,
the balance to be put up a. week before
the race.
The race came on in the following
summer. 1t SO happened that Clay and
Singleton were both elected delegates to