The Press., 1885-03-19
FIFTY YEARS OF EvENTFUL EQUINE EX-
 ISTENCE.

Old Turk, the venerable horse that has been an object of curiosity to Staten Island people for many years, died last week. Old Turk had lived for nearly twe-score years at the Richmond County Poor Farm. There Is not person living now who was either an inmate of the almshouse or con- nected with it's management when the horse first went there to begin his long service. Old Turk had @ singular history. He first became known on Staten Island about 1942, when he appeared on the old racecourse in New-Dorp Lane, and trotted against field of horses, among which were entries by Commodore Vanderbilt and Captain Jacob H. Vanderbilt. Turk proved the fastest in the race. He soon had the name of being the fastest horse on Staten Island. He had a record during ''the forties' of 2.5O, good speed in those days. He was first owned ill Richmond County by Daniel Seabright, rich lover of horsefesh, who died long ago. The horse also captured some valuable purses on the old Fashion Course on Long Island. He was well known to Hiram Woodruff, Charley Foster and Captain Rynders, it is said.
 He was finally sold to the county to do odd jobs at ploughing on the farm or haul ing provender for the paupers. The anl- nal was always obstinate, and at times ! could not be coaxed or beaten into work. He would stand for hours under lash and never move. At the time of his death the horse was believed, from records that were kept of his age, and the date of his pur- chase, as shown by the books of the super intendents'of the poor, to be almost fifty years old The records of Richmond County establish that fact. Old Turk had his reputation inscribed in the county archives few years ago, from a proposi- tion by one of the superinteudents of the poor to sell the horse and buy more use- ful one. The proposition brought about & protest from several prominent politicians, among whom was ex-County Treasurer James R. Robinson. The latter, who is now a white-haired but vigorous man, nearly seventy-fve years old, went before the superintendents and offered to board and care for the old horse at his own ex- pense. It was then determined to keep Old Turk there all his days MT. Robin son, at his own expense, built a fine stall for Old Turk
 When the ferry-boat Westfield blew up at her pier in this city, about twelve years ago, Old Turk was standing on the bow of the boat, and exactly over where the end of the boiler went ploughing through the woodwork. He was knocked forty feet in to the air, aud came down with the for ward pilot house, falling into the water, The hair was all scalded off his back. The horse swam around to the Battery, which then had no sea wall, but sloped down to the water, aud walked ashore.
 During the rebellion, Old Turk was pressed into service while a large detach- ment of troops was in camp on the New Dorp meadows, aud hauled the materials for the meals of hundreds of men. He was then a vigorous and strong animal He was taken out of the stable one night and driven off by deserter, who got past the lines because the sentries thought the rider Was the sutler. During the last year Old Turk failed rapidly. He lost all but two of his teeth. He lived on boiled food for many months. His hair, tail and mane had turned from rich bay to silken white. He was believed to be the oldest horse known. It is said that several museums had offered to buy him for exhibition as a curiosity N J. Tri6nne.