The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-27

How Dan Mace Dr"v. Lady Thorne Z
Vile In OS.


Niie in e:OS.
An intimate friend of Dan Mace,
writes 4 correspondent TO the New
York TuneS, has been regaling me with
entertaining "reminiscences OF the fam
Gus driver. One Of his stories may
mildly be called n little astonishing. /
plainly manifested my skcpticism when
] heard il, but the earncstncss with
which il was reiterated and the indls-
putaDic fact that other veteran horse
men among themselves have seriously
rccited and discussed ii warrant me IN
making it public property now after
the lapse of years in which it has been
treasured in confidence by Mace's in
Inmates Mace told the tale 10 friends
in whom he trusted, but secrecy was
always imposed upon his hearers; for.
though it was perhaps the text OF the
chief boast of his life, there were some
phases in it whic, for apparent rea-
sons. he took no personal pride. Gem
eral publication Of the story even now
will doubtless provoke many warm
discussions in trotting circles. Billy
Hunter. n conspicuous horseman now
living ut Hartford. and quondom
crony of Mace, vouches for the truth Of
the chronicle, claiming personal knowi-
edge of it, while other men well known
on the track recitc the same narrative
as they say they heard it from Mace's
own lips. Years ago." began my
authority, "whcn forty.pound sulkies
and shin and pastcrn boots We're un-
known, Lady Thornc headed the list
of trottcrs. Oh. she WAS good one
in her day, but she needed careful
nursing and regular straight handling.
Dan was the only man who could ever
get the last loop out of her Tricky
and triilc mean when she was stale,
the mare sometimes got Dan out of
patience, and sometimes, rs all the
stable-boys will remember, he went at
her in Il pretty lively way. One hot
Friday morning in July when Mace
went out to her stall the animal was
unusually ugly. She had done fast
work on the preceding Tuesday against
time, and had been in high feather ever
since; now almost fierce she turned
upon Old Blue Jacket, and fastened
her teeth upon his shoulder. Dan WAS
hurt. and Dan was mad. He ordered
his men to put n strong bride on tho
beast and take her into covered ep-
closure. With the long bride rein
over high stringcr he had the men
haul the mares head high into the air.
and then taking n new driving whip
Dan laid it on with might aud main.
shouting and yelling al the mare con-
tinually; break away sic eouli Got ,and
before the Old IN n got through with
her she was covered with foam and
trembling like an aspca leaf. a wild.
frightened look was in her eye. and il
ever horse appeared hcart-brOken,
Lady Thornc did on that July day.
But Dams ire WAS not appeased.
Hook her up he said to Billy Hunt
cr. who was with him then as his head
groom; hook her up and take this
watch and catch my second mile. I'll
loosen her up bit on the first mile,
aud then Pm going to send her on the
repeat for all she is worth. You take
that time. Now. my Old girl, I'll fix
YOU. he said sicrnly, as hc caught the
rcins behind the atlrightcd horse. lie
seemed 10 hold her tack with difficulty
on tho first mile. She feared that cruel
whip. Gradually letting her out she
came down To the starting post for tlie
second mile like flash, and away she
went. The watch snapped rs ii began
timing a mile, which Dan Mace averrcd
to his dying-day was the fastest ever
spun by Il trotting-horse in all the
world. How he yelled! How he laid
on The lash! lie acted like a maniac.
Under every blow Lady Thorne sped
along faster and faster, while gaping.
! awe-strckcn hostlcrs looked on in
| spccchless ama2cmcnt, for such trot-
! ting as this not one had ever dared to
even dream of. Down the back k-stretch
tore the maddened animal, too frighten-
ell to break, trottiug sglareiy without
skip. Around the lower turn and
! down the stretch sailed the mare, white
with foam. spccklcd with blood. With
! in hundred feet OF the wire Mace Let
out scrccch moro lidcous oven than
any that had preceded it; Lady Thorne
7 flew through tho air faster still, and,
! like lightning shot under tho wire.
Hunter looked at the stop watch, grew
/ pale, and shut the case with q vehe-
/ ment snap.
"'What was it?' breathlessly de-
manded the half-dazed onookcrs.
" Never mind; wait TILL they come
in
Almost wholly white. trembling
and stumbling. back logged the mare
Dams face was ghastly. and tho veins
on his forehead stood OUT like whip
cords.
Take good care OF her, boys; I've
been devilsh rough with tho beast
he muttcred rs they led the horse
away.
Z" Hunter said Dan, you and l will
never live To see that mile trotted
! again. Let me look ut the watch
/ When Hunter obcyed Mace stared al
most vacantly at the dial, and then of
a sudden. half in soliloquy, ho said
simply, Il knew it,
That watch marked POS" said my
enthusiastic friend, "and 2:OS it was"
Many horsemen know this; many be-
licvc it; some don't; but to my mind ID
| is really true. | am willing to take the
word of Billy Hunter aud tho word ot
Dan Mace that Lady 1horne on that
day trotted the fastest mile this world