The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-11-13


at the Worlds Fair, Chicago, and cap
tured the free-for-alI stallion race, beat
ing handily such horses as john Crit
tenden, Royal George and others. The
race was driven in the mud, proving
the horse a slayer. fle continued to
win every race until sold to w II.
Crosby, OF Chicago, in the spring of
1864, when he retired from the turf
A letter from DR.. Ives of Coldwater to
DR.. John Button, then in the army,
dated February 10, 1865, says in regard
to Magna's colts: "The VauAken colt
was sold to a Toledo man for $500 and
Groves and Paddock's colts were sold
at the same time to the same man for
1000. Eph Paddock sold his Young
est colt just coming three, to Goshen
man for 5000 and George VauAken sold
his Magma horse, year old in the
spring, to a Vermont man for $500 aud
still keeps his two other fillies which
match we'll" This shows the standing
OF Magma colts in 1868.
Magma received mark at Detroit of
2:3O IL and was not called upon to do
better. He has shown a full mile at
Coldwater (half.mile track in 1922.
y
willing to testify to the fact. He was
next sold to Mr.. Gilbert butcher, of
Chicago, who soon after disposed of
him to E. G. Newhall, of Detroit, who
made some seasons with him at Stur-
gis, Coldwater and Detroit. Septem-
Der 16, 1874, after a heavy season in
Coldwater, closing August l, and nee
essarily in poor condition for speeding
and in his 18th year, he won second
money in the free for-all stallion race
at the State fair at Saginaw, being a
good second in 1887 over heavy track.
He also won the first premium in the
roadster class against fourteen Compel
itors, among them the best stations in
Michigan
In the year 1875, he was purchased
by f. l.. Skeels and l.. E. Rose and
was kept curing that season at the
Magma Charta stables in COldwater.
TIE disposition of the horse continued
TO grow worse, and early in 1876, f. l..
Skeels & Company sold him to Len
Dean, Of Girard, his present owner,
for very small sum. Mr.. Dean by
careful management, aud exercising
kindness has succeeded in getting the
old fellow quite docie, although he
does not give exhibitions of putting
his head in his mouth, and letting him
walk over him, etc. As he informed
me the other day while looking him
over, 81 never give him chance to
get the best of me-" Ever since his first
grand circus in 1868 he has had his
spells and when they come ON he will
commence walking back "A u forth lust
as tar rs his long halter will allow him.
Says Mr.. Dean, 81 have known him to
commence walking in the morning,
aud walk all day. and night until COM
pletely exhausted and covered with
foam. a thought suddenly came to me
one day and as soOn as he commenced
his walk harnesscd him and hooked
him to a wagon and started out. Mag.
look the bits in his teeth and started of
at a fearful rate. gave HIM his head,
aud let him 90, trOttlng all the time,
until he gave up, when he returned to
the barn perfectly satisfied. This
practice | still continue, and it works
like charm" This is the only time
| ever harness him and YOU would be
surprised to see how timber he strikes
out, Just the same as in his younger
days, but of course he can stand 1t but
a short time. The only real lively
time we ever had with him was in 1877
when Job Irish who was working fOI
me entered the box stall suddenly, t.
show him to Charlie Jone-, formerly OF
Coldwater. Ihe old horse was headed
toward the door, and immediately
seized Job, throwing him into the
corner. Charlie started out, and so
did Mag, the former making for a hog
pen near by, and bringing up on the
roof Although Mag. went in another
direction, Charlie swears to this day
that he could feel his breath on his
neck. lie will serve thirty mares this
season, and | have already refused over
sixty" Mag has made a snug fortune
for his owner and from all appearances
is good for several seasons yet.
The last time this great horse was
ever exhibited in public was at the
Branch County Fair in 1883 together
; with five of his get, and he succeeded
in capturing every first premium from
a 3-year-old down to sucker. Magns
has grown somewhat gray in the face
and his back has dropped down some
what, but he is still lively and full o.
Morgan vim. With the exception of L
short siege of distemper he has no
seen sick day during the nine year,
he has been in Mr.. Deans possession
Magma has sired the following horses
with records:
Hannah D..........2 ;22l2J C Deyo,........2 -
Belle OF Lexington ;2634 Magma ChArta, Jr. = 81
Mollie- .......227 Maggie Douglas. . 3
Sallie Scott. .......2 :2Sl4 Maggie Wahl. ....2 q
SOrrel Dan........2 rs Phil sheridan. = ~