The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-21
THE PRESIDENTS HORSES.
EXPORTERS VI SIT TO THE WHIT
HOUSE STABLES.
How they are Situated and What
thcy COntain-Miss Nellie's Indian
POny-fHOrscs of Former Presidents.

How they are Situated and II
they COntain-Miss Nellie's Indian
POny--EuOrscs of Former Presidents.
Just south of the State department, on
Seventeenth street, says the Washing
ton Star, are the White House stables.
The building is a two-story press brick,
forming three sides of a square. 1t is
set back a little way from the street, and
the stable yard and drive way are paved
with asphalt clear to the side walk.
The building is reached through an iron
gate from the street. 4 private telephone
wire runs from the Office of the Prcsi-
dents secretary to the stables, so that a
carriage can be summoned in a very few
minutes. There is nothing remarkable
about these stables. In fact there are
scores of private stables in the West End
far handsomcr, more convenient. and
healthier. \ deep cellar extends
beneath the stable portion, and the
moisture soaking through its walls is
apt to make it unhealthy for the
horses. The only interest attached to
the stables arises from the simple fact
that they are the Presidents stables. De-
string to know something about their
contents. and knowing the antipathy OF
the stable employees to reporters, the Sta
man sought the kind services Of Colonel
W. II. Crook. the executive clerk, and
was accompanied by him the other norm
ing through the stables. The central
part of the building in which the horses
arc stabbed has stood. as it now IS, Tor
many years, but the wings were extended
Il couple OF years ago to make more car
riagc room, as President Arthur needs
more than former Presidents. The north
half of the stable proper is devoted to
the Presidents private horses. There
arc three large box stalls on one side, and
six stalls on the other. The Presidents
riding horse is the occupant of one OF the
box stalls. He is a sorrcl gclding, seven
years old, ana about sixteen hands high.
There is nothing remarkable about this
animal. He is simply a good-looklng,
easy riding horse, his PRINCIPAL galts
being pace and cantcr. The President
frequently takes Il ride on summer even
ings. lie is a fair rider, and is fond OF
the exercise. lie has four carriage horses,
two in the box stalls and two in the
stalls ON the other side. They
are all bays. about sixteen hands high.
They arc very stylish, and are groomcd
to perfection, and either pair hltchcd to
any one Of the handsome carriages, with
Albert on the box, make a very striking
turnout. Occasionally they arc driven
four-in-hand. Two other stalls are oc-
cupicd by Allan Arthur's buggy team,
one a IIambletonian gelding and the
other q Black Hawk mare. They are
driven a great deal, either single OF
double, by their owner when he is at
home, but while he is at college they re-
ccivc only the necessary exercise. Allan
Arthur is a very daring rider. lie not
only knows how to ride well but has
plenty of nerve. and it takes a good
horse to get the better of him.
In one Of the remaining stalls stands
the little Indian pony which the Prcsl-
dent brought back from his trip to the
Yellowstone country last year. lie has
lot vet made his debut, but is receiving
a course of training at the hands OF
Albert on the White Lot drive. When
by patience and careful training he be-
comes perfectly docile he will be driven
by the Presidents daughter Nellie to a
dog cart. lie is a cute little thing, with
reached name and banged tail. His color
is what is termed in the Westas ''paintcd"
or ''calico," and what the children call
''circus"-irrcgularly marked with white
and brown in about equal proportions.
Hc was presented to the President last
summer by Sharpnosc, an Arrapahoe
chief.
The south side of the stable is devoted
to the office horses, six in number. The
pair of clipped sorrels usually driven in
the secretary's carriage arc very good
travellers.
"a great many people think" said
Colonel Crook, '@that the expense of
keeping the Presidents horses are borne
by the government. Such is not the
case. The government keeps up the Of
flee stable, OF course, but all those horses
in the north side are the Presidents "
property, and their keeping is paid for
by him. They are practically two dis
tinct stables. When Albert needs feed
he buys it from a private firm, while the
feed for the office horses comes from the
ouartcrmastcr's department.
General Grant had very fine horses
when he was President" continued Col
onel Crook, "and it was very seldom
that he was passed on the road. He
was a splendid driver. Hayes had only
four horses-a pair of grays, and a pair
of bays. Garfield had very nice turn
outs. He had one pair of bays and a
gray and a black. The latter were used
mostly for saddle horses, and the boys
used to ride them a great deal"
The south wing of the stables is used
for the Presidents carriage, and in the
second story live the Waterman and his
family. The President has three car
riagcs, a landau, a victoria and a brough-
am. They were all very handsomely fin.
ished. President Arthur's coat-of-arms
is on the doors with the motto: elm
pellc obstantia." Allan Arthur's Brews-
ter trotting buggy is also in this carriage
house. The opposite wing contains the
office carriagcs-a coupe and a six-scated
carriage.
Albert, the Presidents wcll-known
driver, has acted in that capacity for
Grant, Hayes and Garfield. Heis Il faith
iul servant and Thorough horseman. lie
is very fond of horses, but he dislikes re-
porters. If he thinksa question is asked
for newspaper purposes, he shuts up like
a clam. He never leaves the stables ut
night until he is certain that he will not
be needed any more. In case III emergency
should arise and his services be required,
the Waterman always knows where to
find him. He is very dark, but Il fine
looking man, and in his handsome livery
looks we'll on the box. Beverly Lomas,
a handsome mulat:o house servant, acts
as footman to the President. President
Arthur's %turnouts always look well and
always attract attention.
r.-o r,. n:t