Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-04-02
PEDIGREE HUNTING:
THE WRATH OF THE OLD GRAY
MARE
BEING A TRUE HISTORY OF THE DAM OF
ETHAN ALLEN.

BEING A TRUE HISTORY OF THE DAM OF
ETHAN ALLEN
As to the statement of William Bevins,
that the dam of Ethan was bred by AM
brose Potter, it is a very striking circum-
stance that Ambrose Potter is mentioned
as such breeder by no other person than
William BcrinS; and his character for
veracity thus becomes very material. We
can fairly say that no other person who
has given information in this matter has
borne so poor reputation for truth among
his neighbors as William Bcvins: with
one eXception.cVery one of the many per-
sons we inquired of stated that he was
VIGOROUSLY unreliable. Again. looking
at his letter to Mr.. Thomson. it will be
noted that he j. wrong in every statement
where the facts are known, but one
that Holcomb raised three fast horses
from this mare; it does not seem over
| likely that his statement of the breeding
of this mare should have happened to he
the only other correct statement among
the many in the letter; furthermore. he
is fatty contradicted by Ira Potter, who,
as all state. is perfectly reliable man,
and was in a situation To know whereof
he affirmed. 1t will appear later that
Ira Potter states positively that his broth
er Reuben never had this mare; it would
not seem that he could be mistaken about
this. On the whole it would appear that
this William BevinS story is an invention.
As to the origin of this mare there re-
mains only the statement of Ira Potter,
that she was raised by Rufus Rising,
from the John GlaZier mare; and he adds
that she was sired by IA two-year-old
colt. Upon the face of it this was the
most likely account of the three. because
Ira Potter was universally acknowledged
to he truthful and honest. and had Il
right from his location to know
the facts and SAYS that he does
know them. But it was evident that. if
correct. Mr.. Rising must have owned tho
: John Glazier mare, also "A gray mare
and there had been no definite testimony
that he owned two gray mares. 1t wa,
tNlutHl from lilt ltlltG vi Imam IL
Balloon that if Rufus Rising did not owl
two gray mares. the William H. Balloon
mare was the dam of Ethan. If he die
own two. the Balloon mare and the ella
Zier mare Were probably the same ami
NAL; which tended to prove the state
ment of Ira Potter. In either case tn,
tracing of the Balloon mare becam"
! matter of the first consequence. IIenc,
| arranged with Mr.. Thomson to open
: correspondence anew with w. IL. Bal
e com and get the full history of this mare
l | also soon wrote to Mr.. Balloon. myself
: The following letters give the result:
WooDsrocK, VT, Nov. y, lssj.
: W. II. BALLOON, ESD:
o Dear Nir:-lou wrote me several years az
q that you once owned gray mare that Ruiu
-, Rising OF Hague, y. Y, owned before you
= that she was foalcd in lS2j
: wish You to state as near as you can ne
e age, weight and height; was she II jumper
# How old was she when you bought her; an
- how long did you keep her, Were the colt
she brought colorcd like her, gray, or III
l. they take the color of the horse or horse
o that sired them; Where did Rising get her
/. What horse was her sire; Did Warner Coo
~ ever own her; Please answer soon and ver
much oblige.
y Respectfully yours,