Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-12-07
Death of Longfe- low.

The Turf, Field and Farm.
On Wednesday, July 5, 1871, Long
fellow, then four years old, was intro
duced to Eastern race goers in the
Monmouth Cup at Long Branch, which
he won with ease, beating Helmbold,
Regards and Preakness. The night be-
fore this race the tall, gaunt form of
John Harper, appeared in the Pickering
gaslight under the arches eff the West
End Hotel, and to the group around him
the gray-haired Kentuckian said:
"Well. gentlemen. 1 think that Long
fellow is purity good horse, and if any
thing beats him tomorrow it will have
to run from eend to eend." The tre
mendous stride of the big brown of II
hands broke the hearts of his competi-
tors, and the struggle did not last from
start to finish. Uncle John Harper
attracted as much attention in those
days as did the imposing form of Long
fellow. He was picture of simplicity
and plainness, and although he spent
nothing for personal comfort he had the
nerve to refuse S60,0O0 for the four
year-old son of bennington and
Nautura. In July, 1872, Uncle John
and LongfellOw again appear ed at Long
Branch, and this time the interest of the
nation was aroused. The stallion was
TO meet Harry Bassett in the third
annual renewal of the Monmouth Cup,
and as each horse was regarded as the
champion of his section, the prospects
of the race were earnestly discussed
months in advance of the issue. An
enormous throng witnessed the struggle,
aud prominent in the Kentucky delega-
ton were Gen. John c. Breckenridge
Gen. James F. Robinson, Ex-Governor
Magoffin, Zeb Ward and Price McGrath
The day was intensely hot and there
was much discomfort in the packed
grand stand. The impression had grown
that as Longfellow was bennington,
he would weaken when pinched, and the
New York delegation, acting upon this,
made Harry Bassett the favorite. When
the real test of endurance came Harry
Bassett was wanting, and Longfellow
won, running the two and half miles
in 4:34. The roar which greeted the
triumph of the magnificent brown was
deafening, and hats were wildly thrown
into the air. 1t was one of the sensa-
tional turf events Of the country, and the
well wishes of the thousands who were
excited by it followed Longfellow when
he was retired to the stud. Harper, al
though dressed like mendicant, lifted
his head and walked with the pride of a
king. His pride, however, did not keep
him from dining in frugal spirit. Seated
on box, he drank coffee out of tin
cup and feasted on bacon and cornbread.
In the stud Longfellow built up com
manding reputation, and now he is dead
When the Autumn winds had stripped
the trees of their leaves and the gentle
rains had given brighter hue to the
grass scorched by Summer sun. life
passed from the wasted form, and the
spirit which had been tried by fire, which
had carried grand piece of mechanism
to victory on the chosen battle ground
by the sea, was at rest. Longfellow
outlived many who were thrilled by
his success-outlived Harry Bassett, Col.
Mcdaniel and Uncle John Harper; but
those of us who have survived the vicis-
situdes of twenty-one years still wear
him in our hearts and grow reminiscent
over his grave.