Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-08-14
JOSEPH BATTELL,
kITTRElL'S TOM HAL AND 9TH
ER PAGERS.
Middlebury, VT.

Err PAGERS.
Editor Tennessee drmer:-For all
practical purposes the pacing horse of
the United States originated in Wilson
county. Tenn, and to Major Marion b.
Kittrel and Colonel Edmond Chambers,
now of Austin, Texas, is due the credit
of forming that now famous band.
They fought each other, having rival
stations, and the prejudice against pa
GERS at that time a very few years.
however, soon swept all opposition out
of existence and the PAGER was accorded
his place as a distinctive breed. About
the year 1919 Colonel Chambers brought
to Wilson county the old roam stallion
Copperbottom. He commenced to I'M
press his saddle qualities into popular
favor. Major NJ. B. kittrel, seeing the
tide setting that way, started out to find
lucky he heard of two young saddle
stations belonging to Mr.. Kerly, full
brothers, out of thoroughbred mare
(of whose pedigree / am not informed,
three and four years old; one a large
bay, full name and tail, no marks, and
the other Il light bay, bald face and
stocking legs to the knees. The latter
was the better horse of the two, but
was declined on account of his marks.
He bought the four-year-old for 500
and brought him to Wilson county.
This colt was the now famous kittrell's
TOM Hal.
There was standing there at that
time Motley's Arab by Hardy Cryer's
Arab, Murat by Motleys Arab and
several other noted horses mostly Le-
yiathans, Dunganans, Stockholders and
others. They were moderately good
saddlers, but not natural PAGERS. These
two horses were crossed on above breeds
and produced the horses of which all
true sons of Wilson are so Justly proud.
Copperbottom left large produce
there. The most famous, if | remember,
was Telegraph Both Copperbottonl
and Telegraph were bought by breed
ers from Illinois just before the war.
Kittrell's Tom Hal sired Clipper
Henry Hal and others. Henry Hal was
captured from his owner Uong Ton
Taylor by General Wilder and sem
north in 1864; was named for G.. \
Henry, who was making a canvass fol
governor against Andrew johnson the
year he was foaled; was dapple gray
and perfect beauty. Clipper surviveC
the war by being hid out from the Yam
KEGS and made several seasons in tina
county. a greater error cannot b.
conceived than to give an ilustriou
pedigree to Old Mountain Slasher.
is nothing to the discredit of that gran,
old horse tell the facts, i. e., he wa
literally a
"WOODS COLT"
\ gentleman living near Gibbs
Roads, Macon county, Tenn, name,
Conner, | think, turned his colts in til
woods one spring as is the custom o
that country. Among the number wa
a fine young two-year-old gray tlly
She proved to be in foal, by what vii
never be known (some colt in tn
woods, but brought when a three-yeal
old the colt that developed into tina
grand old sire Mountain Slasher Maio
Gibbs bought him and sold him to W
II. Gholston for $500 at the Leblanc
fair. Gholston captured prizes enoug
that season to pay for him. He ais
was hid out during the war and save
from capture.
Old Copperbottom's best colt Tel,
graph, and Clipper by Kittrell's Tor
Hol were matched as three year olds
Taylorsyille, Wilson county, in the ce
ebrated pacing race between the tw
speediest sons of these famous old sire
Telegraph was ridden by Bob Taylo
came under the string about a rod
advance of Clipper, ridden by Sam Kit
rell. They were neck and neck on II
mile track, when Clipper broke with
fifty yards of the wire. Telegraph new,
made skip or break from the star
These two horses were never matcht
again, but continued great rivals unit
the roam went north of the Ohio rive
Kittrelfs Tom Hal made eight season
when he was sold to Mr.. Bryant,
think, of Marshall or Bedford count
His produce crossed on the Arabs, /.
viathans and others did much to aid Il
cavalry boys of Wilson county to W
the laurels in the late war. The writ
can remember quite large number wi