The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-09
MH BoNNER's OFFER.
A Rich Prize for Martha wilkes o.
some Other Trotter.

Some Other Trotter.
Robert Bonner has just written as fol-
lows to Mr.. Il. ID. Wiggin, Of Bellingham,
Mass, owner of the wonderful young
mare, Martha Wilkes:
Mr.. F. ID. wiggln.
DEAR SIR: AS / own the fastest two
horses, according to the records made
previous to the introduction of the won
der working bicycle sulky last July,
was pleased to hear, a few days ago, that
you intend to start Martha w likes against
time next year to the old-style sulky at
Cleveland. In that way the differenc,
can be tested between the bicycle, which
has srevolutionized all time, and the sulky
in which all performances previous &c
last July were made. In Martha Wilkes
you have a wonderful young mare. }
am told that she trotted quarter IN
better than thirty seconds To the old
style sulky over year ago. AS all young
horses increase in endurance with age,
she ought in the course OF another year
to be able to carry her speed " for full
mile. She Is certainly bred to do it; and
should she trot any time during 1898 on
the Cleveland track in q 05 to the old time
sulky, in accordance with the conditions
existing at the time i made the offer a
year ago, shall forward you check for
5000 Just as soon as Col. William Ed
wards. President of the Cleveland Club,
certifies to the regularity OF the perform
ance, unless some other horse should
previously trot in EOS, under the same
conditions. The offer, OF course, is made
to the owner of the horse that first accom-
plishes this feat on the Cleveland, or any
OF the Grand Circuit tracks, in the time
specified. Several gentlemen have sug-
gested that ought to have due notice OF
the time when the trial Is to be made;
but i waive that. President Edwards's
certificate, or the certificate of any of the
other Grand Circuit Presidents, would be
perfectly satisfactory to me. Yours truly,
ROBERT BONNER.
Mr.. Wiggin in his reply says: 81
think you are very generous in your
proposition and offer, and / thank you.
have watched the bicycle sulky since
1t first appeared, saw the first one tested
and followed the circuit from that day
until November 1. j saw it on different
tracks drawn by different horses, and
have tried to form some idea of the diff
ference between 1t and the old sulky. ]
believe there is from four to five seconds
difference on a sandy or rough half mile
and possibly on mile track.
81 have had in Martha Wilkes a great
mare for two years, but have refrained
from saying much about her, as people
are apt to think a man Is carried away
with his own horse when he shows a little
speed. Martha showed me an eighth in
10 seconds the first spring / worked
her. This was after losing a colt, and J
was fearful OF overworking her, conse-
quently trained her myself. She never
went a trial mile under the watch until
started at Independence, when she trotted
in EOS. i drove her quarter in 80 Sec
onds at Providence, year last fall.
know no more what she can do than you
do. only want to keep her sound and
strong until she is in condition TO go a
full mile. shall fit and trot her some
races in the spring, and then prepare her
for fast mile"