The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-10-08
Grants Love for Horses.

When ho first entered tho White
House as President of tho United
States ho owned over hundred head
of horses. which he kept ut his farm
near st. Louis. Tho foreman of tho
stables in which tho horses wcro kept
was Albert Hawkins, who is now
coachman for President Cleveland.
Albert says General Grant was an OK
collont judge of horscilcsh. twas a
difficult matter to deceive him in n
horse trade, because no was familiar
with all tho points that arc considered
in examining them. He could look in
to horSo's mouth and tell his exact
ago within few months. Hc always
insisted that his horses should mover DO
lll-uscd, either in or out of tho stable.
They wcro given tho best kind of food,
furnished with large comfortable stalls,
and regularly exercised. Any man
who was known to ill-trcat or misuse
ono of his horses was immediately dis
missed. Tho General took a fancy to
Albert because he was always kind and
gentle in dealing with tho stock under
his charge. After the General became
President he sold many of his horses
in st. Louis, and directed Albert TO
como on to Washington and assume
control of tho presidential stables.
Tho Generals favoritc horses were
Cincinnati, Egypt, and Jc(r Davis. Tho
former was as gentle rs II lamb and ho
knew and obeyed tho General ut all
times and under all circumstances.
Cincinnati was good saddle horse, in
addition to being first t-class horse in
harness. The General could ride him
to any point in tho city, jump off his
back, and leave him standing unhitch-
Cd for any length of time. No matter
how long the General remained away,
when ho returned Cincinnati was thcro
waiting for him. Ho did not pay any
attention to circus paradcs, and was
not to be frightened by noise and con-
fusion on the street. When tho Gcncr-
al directed him to stand and wait for
him, Cincinnati would not bulge till
tho General had mounted him. Dur
ing tho Generals second term in the
White House arrangements were made
Tor an equestrian statue representing
General Grant mounted on his favorite
war horse, Cincinnati. Every day for
nearly Il month the General would 90
down to the stable have the bridal and
saddle put on Cincinnati, and of he
would go to meet tho sculptor. On
several occasions Albert accompanied
him to 4 beautiful spot in the vicinity
of the Soldiers home, where the cast
was made, and General Grant frcqucnt-
~ visited the presidential stables, went
into the stalls, and talEcd to his horses
just as though they wcro human
beings and were capable Of understands
ing every word he said to them. Tho
Jeif Davis horse was terrible kicker
and bitcr, and the stable hands were
afraid to go near his stall. His feed
had TO be passed in TO him through an
adjoining stall. The General, however,
had complete control over him, and hc
could enter his stall, handle him as ho
desired, and, in fact, do anything he
wanted with him. O Il Jclf knew his
voice, for rs soon us thu General enter
cd tho stable he would throw back his
cars and move around rcstlcssly in his
stall until the General showed him
some attention. On several occasions
tho stable hands tried TO deceive jeff
by initiating the Generals voice, but as
soon aS he discovered tho deception he
made his heels play Il lively tune on
the side of the stall. Boston Hru.d.