Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-29
HE GAVE A SILVER HEEL.

|
Quaint Sporting Reminisoence In the Life
of an Illinois COngressman---How Com
mOdOre Vanderbilt Gave Singleton Sill
YER Heel-Great Race with st. Lawrence
Quarter Day in Old Kentucky.
General James W. Singleton, of Illinois,
says a Washington correspondent of the
New York Sun, is short, stout man, with
ford complexion and frosted sandy
beard. He has represented the Eleventh
district in congress for two sessions. He
was anxious to stay longer, but after long
and stubborn contest he failed of renomi-
nation. He made an independent race,
thereafter, and got left.
Many of the boys who relish good sup
pers will miss Singleton next winter. He
is high liver and a prince of entertainers.
His motto for years has been ex optimus
optimus, and it has cost him many rheu-
matte twinge. He was once among the
richest of western land owners, and is said
| to still possess 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. He has raised some of the finest
trotting stock in the West.
The story of the way ne came into poss-
! essiOn of the famous stallion, Silver Heel,
the greatest horse of his day is worth re-
cording. 1t was two or three years before
the race. Singleton was at his zenith. He
was president of the st. Louis d Wabash
road, and he wanted to own the finest horse
in the world. He travelled all over the
country seeking for an equine king, and
finally, at the New York state agricultural
fair, he came upon Silver Heel. He ascer-
tanned that the owner was Commodore
/ Vanderbilt. The Commodore told him
that Silver Heel could not be bought
for 100000. Singleton went back home
disappointed and disguised. Not long af-
ter his return, Wabash stock took sudden
boom. He was surprised one day to see
Vanderbilt walk IN on him. After little
chat the commodore asked bluntly: ''Sin-
gleton, when are you going to let Wabash
drop!"
II don't know why you should ask me
such CUSTOM was the reply of the gen
eral.
swell, look here now," rejoiDed Wander
| bilt; "you want Silver Heel, don't you"
eyes,
''Well, tell me when Wabash is going to
drop and the horse is yours"
Singleton paused for moment and
then replied: "Sell when it reaches eighty
FIVE"
The commodore departed. Wabash
went to eighty-fve. Vanderbilt unloaded,
raked in his pile, and in due course Of time
Silver Heel arrived at Quincy in a special
box car.
The general had now come into posses
sion of what he considered the finest horse
in the world. About this time jockey
club in st. Louis bought st. Lawrence,
a we'll known stallion, for $4,000. They
got up an exhibition for the following
summer, offering $4,000 premium for the
best stallion. This offer COM
ing to Singleton's ears, he
yer Heel down and capture the prize.
There were three entries-St. Lawrence,
Mambrino Chief and Silver Heel. Nam
brine Chief was the property of James
Clay, of Kentucky, and was noted as the
sire of some very fleet trotters. When the
judges had been appointed General Single
ton inquired in what points they desired
excellence. They responded: In style
and action" Singleton had very light
harness made and very 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
odds the favorite with the greatassemblage
but the award was given to st. Lawrence.
This enraged the general. He went to the
Judges and demanded to know ia what
points of 'style and action" st. Lawrence
was superior to Silver Heel. They informed
him that the former showed greater speed.
This exasperated him still further. He &C
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 like sum, the whole to go into the
treasury of the club. whether he won or
lost. He gave this offer publicity
in the newspapers, and the club vas forced
to do him justice. 1t would not
accept his offer, but it decided to put up a
cup and $500, and further, to allow the
judges to reverse their decision if they saw
fit. The track was a small circle of one
sixth of mile, and the general, knowing
the superiority of Silver Heel over StLaw-
renee, instructed Abrams, his trainer, to
hold up for him, and then pass in front of
the stand at least four times in 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.
The general gave breakfast on the fol-
lowing morning to select party at one of
the principal hotels. James Clay, the
owner of Mambrino Chief, was a guest.
The horse question was, of course, prom
inent feature of conversation. Clay was
especially eulogistic of the colts of Nam
brine. He declared that the colts of the
Chief had outfooted everything on the
turf, and that they would continue to do
so. His Boosting nettled Singleton; after
standing it as long as possible he ripped
out: ''Now, look here, Clay; have two
colts here, Sallie Lee and Swiftness. They
are two-year-olds, and neither has been
trained. will take one of those two colts,
give you the whole Mambrino breed to Sc
lect from, and will trot you on a day to
be fixed next summer for $4,000 side"
Clay laughed and told him it was sheer
folly to make such a bet, as he was certain
to be beaten. The general refused to re-