News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-02-15
SINGLETON'S SILVER HEEL.
Quaint "Reminiscences in the Life of an H.
linOis Congressman.

A Washington letter says that many
of the boys who relish good suppers will
miss Singleton next winter. He is a
high-Iiver and a prince of entertainers.
He has a team of stations in Washing
ton, said to be worth ten thousand dol
lars, and he keeps a great number of
thoroughbreds at his place near Quincy
The story of how he came into posses
sion of the famous stallion Silver Heel. is
worth recording. 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 seeking for
an equine king, and finally at the New
York State Agricultural Fair, he came
upon Silver Heel.
He ascertained that the owner was
Commodore Vanderbilt. The Com
modore told him that Silver Heel could
not be bought for five hundred thousand
dollars. Singleton went back home dis
appointed and disgusted. Not long after
his return, Wabash stock took a sudden
boom. He was surprised one day to see
Vanderbilt walk in on him. After a
little chat the Commodore asked bluntly,
g Singleton, when are you going to let
Wabash drop?"
q don't know why you should ask
me such a question p was the reply of
the General.
"WelI, look here now," reioined
Vanderbilt; "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, "Seu when it reaches
The Commodore departed. Wabash
went to eighty-fve Vanderbilt I'M
loaded, 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 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 ten
thousand dollars. They got up an ex-
hibition for the following summer, offer
ing ten thousand dollars premium forthe
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,
Mambrino Chief, and Silver Heel Nam
brino 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 Gen.
Singleton inquired in what points they
desired excellence. They responded:
In style and action" Singleton had
a very light harness made and very
light suIky constructed for the occasion,
and Informed Abrams, his trainer. that
style and action, not speed, were res
qlired. When the horses came on the
track Silver Heel was by all odds the
favorite with the great assemblage, but
the award was given to st. Lawrence.
This enraged the General. He went
to the Judges and demanded 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 exasperated him still further. He
accused them of having purposely mis-
led him, and challenged them to trot
him two days afterward for $4,000 a
side.
He went further, and offered to put up
$40. 900 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 was forced to
do him Justice 1t would not accept his
offer, but it decided to put up 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 Il 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 times III the mile. This instruction
Abrams fulfilled to the letter. Silver
Heel was declared the winner amid the
widest enthusiasm. The decision of
two days before was reversed, and the
ten thousand dollar premium was
awarded to Silver Heels owner.