The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-01-30
SINGLETON'S SILVER HEEL.
Quaint "reminiscences in the Life
OF an Illinois Congressman.
How Commodore Vanderbilt Gave
Singleton Silver Heel-Great
Race with st. Lawrence
Quarter Day in Old
Kentucky.

Washington. Jan. 25.-Gen. James
w. Singleton. Of Illinois. is a snort,
stout man, with forii c. Complexion and
frosted sandy beard. He has repre-.
seuted the Eleventh district in con.
gress for two sessions. He was anx.
ious to stay longer, but after a long
and stubborn Contest ne failed Of re-
nomination. He made made an indie.
pendent race thereafter, aud got left.
Many Of the boys VINO relish good
suprers will miss Singleton next win
ter. He is . high liver and q prince
of entertainers. Ais motto for years
has been LEX o. timus optimus," and
it has cost him many rheumatic
twinge. He was once among the rich
est Of western landowners, aud is said
To still possess q handsome fortune.
He has y team of stations in Wash
ington, said to be worth $4,000, and
he keeps a great number of thorough
breds at his place near Quincy. He
has raised some Of the finest trettiDg
stock IN the west.
The story of the way he came into
possessiOH of the famous sta lion Silver
Heel, the greatest horse of his day, Is
worth recording. 1t was two or three
years before the race. Singleton was
ut his zenith. lie was President OF
the 81. Louis and Wabash road. and
ne 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 cane upon
Silver Heel. He ascertained tina,
the owner was Commodore Wander.
bilt The Commodore tod him that
liver Heel could not he bought for
five hundred thousand dollars Single
ton went back home disappointed and
disguised. Not long afte- his return,
Wabash stock took sudden boom.
He was surprised one day to see Var
derbilt walk in on him. After q little
chat the Commodore asked bluntly
singleton. when are you going to lei
Wabash drop?"
IL don't know why you should ask
ne such q question ]" was the repl,
Of the General.
"Well, look here now" rejoinet
Vanderbilt ; ''you ~ant Silver Heel
don't you ?"
yes"
"Well, tell me when Wabash i
going to droPand the horse is yours"
F, Singleton paused for q mOmen
and then replied. Sell when it reach
rs eighty-five."
The Commodore departed. Wa
bash went to eightv-6ve. Vanderbilt
unloatled. raked IN his Pile, and in du'
course of time Silver Heel arrived a
Quincy in a special box car.
The General had now come int,
possession Of what he considered the
inest horse in the world. About thi,
time j ckey club in ST. Louis Dough
II. Lawrence. a well-known stallion
for $40 600 They got up an exhibi
ton for the following summer, offer
ing SO 900 premium for the best stall
lion This offer coming to Singleton
ears, he 1vseluded that he woult
take Silver Heel down and capiur'
the prize. There we're three entries
st. Lawrence, Mapbrino Chief ANT
Silver Heel. Mambrino Chief va
the property Of James Clay, Of Ken
lucky. and was noted as the sire o
some very feet trotters. When the
judges bad been appointed Gen. Sin
gleton inquired in What points they
desired excellence. They responded
"In style and action" Singleton had
very light harness made AID q very
light sulkv constructed for the occa-
sion, and informed Abrams, his train
er, that style and action. not speed
were required. When the horse:
came on the tract Silver Heel was BY
all odds the favorite with the great IS
semblage, but the award was given te
St Lawrence This enraged the
General. He went to the judges and
demanded to know In what points Of
'.styIe and action" st. Lawrence was
superior t, Silver Heel. They inform.
ed him that the fnrmer showed great
er speed. This exasperated him still
further. He accused them of having
pl rposely misled him, and challenged
them to tros him two days afterward
f"r $4,000 q side. He went further,
and offered to put up $1,000 against
a like sum, the whole to go into the
treasury Of the club whether he won
W Iost. He gave this offer publicity
IN the newspapers, and the club was
forced to do him justice. 1t would
no, aecept bis offer. but it decided
IN mt ,,Is =, ann and Ann and fer