The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-08
LORD LONSDALE

Americans have heard good deal of
Lord Lonsdale in connection with sport
ing events, but there are few OF them who
know just what sort of a man he Is.
Here IL an anecdote of remarkable
match made and carried out four years
ago, and OF which he was the hero,
which may throw some light upon his
character.
His lordship of Lonsdale, so the story
goes, was staying with the Earl of
Shrewsbury at Ingestre. where, after
dinner ono night, the question of driving
cropped up. Lord Lonsdale, who was the
possessor of pair of lirst.class American
'rotters, expressed the opinin that animals
OF this kind would always beat gallopers,
and the question of driving having been
thoroughly threshed out between the
pair, match was made for G100, to en-
brace the four styles of coach manship.
At the time the engagement was en-
tered into it was thought the horses to be
used would be from the stables of the two
rivals, but Lord Shrewsbury having pur-
chased pair OF galloping thorough breds,
Lord Lonsdale did likewise, and prepara-
tions for the match were entered into
with great spirit. The distance to be
covered was twenty mics, and the road
eventually decided upon was that between
Reisate and Crawley, in Surrey.
1t was arranged that the headquarters
should be that famous old coaching
house, the White Hart,a Reigate. Thith-
er. at considerable expense, Lord Ions
dale had his horses conveyed. but unfor-
tunately. upon the date fixed for the de-
~ IN mn 70, Nav
snow was falling, and this was deemed
by Lord Shrewsbury sufficient reason for
not putting in an appearance.
Not dramatically. perhaps, the Earl of
J.onsdale vas considerably inceDsed at
the failure of his rival to come to the
scratch" and wired to Lord Shrews bury
that il he failed to turn up on the NOR
row he should go over the ground and
claim the stakes. This hs eventually
did, and as his hardship had several side
bets on the result, referring to the ques-
ton of time, he set about com pleting the
distance in the most expeditions manner
possible.
According to the conditions, the first
stage Of the journey was to be covered
by single horse, and precisely at
o'clock Lord Lonsdale set off in buggy
lent him by Richard X. Fox, and drawn
by War Paint,a son of Uncas and Toilette,
who had been claimed by his lordsbip at
OuUStdli u tlIut Previously
Going in fine style the thoroug hired
covered his five miles in thirteen minutes
thirty mine ard one-iftE seconds. and.
bounding into pair horss buggy fur
nished by Lord Cholmoadeley. the Sec
ond stage was accomplished in twelve
inmates tifty-one seconds and two-ii.hs
seconds.
Tho changing at the Reigate end was
managed with equal celebrity, a four-in-
hand team attached to char-a- banc be-
ing in readiness to speed the sporting
earl over the third portion or his jour
ney. Loud were the expressions of adj
at che style in which his lord
ship handled the team, but these were
increased when, dressed in postillion
fashion, and still sporting the blue
goggles with which the feat was COM
menced, ne mounted his favorite hunter.
Draper, for the ride and drive portion Of
the journey with which the feat was to be
concluded.
Having set himself to do the twenty
mile within an hour, Lord Lonsdale. was
at this stage OF the proceedings we'll in
front of time and, doing the final five
miles in thirteen minutes fifty-iive and
four-tifth seconds, the whole distance. in
Guiding stoppages, was covered in fifty
six minutes iifty-tive and four-tfth seconds
leaving the handsome margin for those
who had wagered against the scythe-
bearer.
Lord Lonsdale. it may be mentioned,
went through special course of training
in order to be perfectly tit to undertake
the feat and that he aoheicvd that emu
was unmistakaply proved at Its conclu-
sion.
Speaking literally, ho had not turned
a hair. and his lordship was greeted with
tremendous enthusiasm when he rose to
respond to the toast in his honor which
was proposed at the luncheon that fol-
lowed. II have tried" he said, Ito act
in a straightforward manner through
out" a statement which those present
Endorsed most fully, while his hearers
echoed to the full his lordships regret
that as an encounter between the two
rival. the match had resulted in failure.
New York Mercury.