The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-25
THE BURIAL OF EZRA.
Remarkable Funeral of an Old
Horse in Maine.
He Was Famous Gelding With a
Record.

In Bangor, Me-, recently horse was
buried with all the pomp and ceremony
that men are wont to employ when civic
or martial heroes arc laid in their last
resting places.
There have been few horses in history
soldiers horses generally-upon which,
when old age had ended them, rude burial
honors were conferred. But never since
man sat in saddle has any nag gone to
regular grave in such regal trapping and
incasement as did this one.
This remarkable steed, known to the
horse racing world as Ezra l., was a ia
nous gelding in his day. He is more ia
nous now To n life of race track glory he
has added in death such renown as prob
ably no other equine will ever attain.
There was more genuine grief shown at
the death and funeral of the famous YAM
kee track campaigner than there is at half
the church funerals held in the state of
Maine.
Ezra l. was hero in his horsy fashion
He was horse which never failed TO re-
spond to kind word from his driver, but
could not be "driven," in the ordinary nc
70 his full ability TO kindness, but never
would go under the whip.
In his vigorous racing days he broke
what were thought unbreakable records
and performed feats on the track which
brought his owner offers OF thousands Of
dollars for him, but Thomas McAloon
had soft place in his heart for Ezra l.
and never would listen To talk of selling
him. The horse seemed to appreciate it.
When the animal died, McAloon was in
consolable.
The funeral OF this famous horse will
mark an epoch in racing annals. The body
of Ezra j. was placed in "a huge broadcloth
covered caskct, silver bound and bearing
silver plate, giving his age, name and dato
of death Silver handles adorned the cof
I'm, and u well known Bangor undertaken
was commissioned To zee that the body was
properly laid out. D."
The McAloon stables in Bangor were
draped with Grape, and an air of solemnity
pervaded the whole place. The dead racer
was tenderly laid I'm the gigantic casket
and the body almost completely covered
with flowers. Had it been n dead friend
or relative the sorrow of both the driver
and owner Of the horse could hardly have
been greater. Those who know Tom Nc
Aloon best never accused him Of much sem
timentality, but there was queer look In
his eyes as he stepped up to the bier OF his
dead favorite and laid uron the collin
big Ivy and floral wreath, tied with purple
ribbon, the colors which Ezra J. had so
often carried to victory.
Then the old driver, the man who had
put Ezra l. under the wire at Hartford in
l~so i'm the record time of mile I'm 2:211.,
IN. ia
came solemnly forward and laid the whip
carried, but not used, i'm that race upon
the caskct.
Meantime four Of the handsomest and
best horses of the stable had been harness
cd TO two axlctrees, making n caisson. on
this the stable men and hostlers placed the
casket, which contained all that remained
of Ezra l.. Then with full honors the cor
tege started for Maplcwood park, just out
side Of Bangor, the last track upon which
Ezra l. ever appeared, and where he con-
tractcd the Illness which resulted In his
death.
Hundreds Of persons crowded the road
side all along the route % the park. Ev-
ervbody in Bangor, as well IA the majority
of New Englandors, knew both Ezra Il
and his owner, and as the procession, with
Mr.. McAloon driving brother Of Ezra Il
behind the caslct, passed along there were
many expressions of regret for the dead
racer and sympathy for his sorrowing
| owner
There, at the park, I'm the center Of the
| field around which the track Is built, the
old horse was buried, and handsome
monument will be raised Co his memory by
| Mr.. McA loon. The grave was necessarily n
huge affair, and it took ~ men ~ lower
the big box 10 its last resting place. Then