The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-13

Ilarker, who placed her in the hands OF
Charles S. Green for further develop
msnts. She did not prove a sensation on
the turf, although good mare, trotting
to a record of 2:21 at Prospect Park, now
the home of the Brooklyn Jockey Club,
Oct, 22, 1872. Her dam, Hattie Wood,
produced ut stony Ford Idol, sire OF the
great PAGER Fidol, 2:0iia; Victor Won
Bismarck, sire OF Edemark, the un-
beaten four year old, 2:l6, to high wheel
sulxy, and Louis Napoleon, sire Of Jerome
EDDY, 2:i6ia. Through Volunteer, sire
of Louis Napoleon, the blood OF Lady
Patriot was joined with that of Hattie
Wood, the daughter of "Sawdust" Clay.
The advocates of the Clay family never
forgave Mr.. Bonner for this "Sawdust"
sneer. They made mouths at him for
wears, ana grow red in the face when you
remind them of it now.
In the autumn of 1882 / was in Ken
tucxy with MIR. Bonner. We were en-.
joying the shade of Colonel X. p. Tod
hunters old-fashioned porch, when a
band OF mares came al a swift PACE
through the charming woodland pasture
up to the yard gate. The foremost was
cleaiI cut figure with elastic step, aad at
her side brown filly trotted. The mare
was quickly recognized as Gazelle, and
kr Bonner smiled as he exchanged
glances with ms, because he felt conf
dent that my thoughts had gone back
with the sharp controversy OF twelve
years before. Mr.. Harker sold Gazelle
few weeks later to Governor Leland STAN
ford, land she ended her days at Palo Alto.
The only colt out I her that has obtained
record is Benton Boy, born 1886, who
has faced a mile IL 2:17I2.
It was in the summer of 1882 that the
country was aroused by series of stub
bornly fought races between the two
great geldings-Clingstone and Edwin
Thorne. The first Of the exciting battles
was fought at Cleveland in the latter
narrow margin. At Utica the ia bles were
turned. Edwin Tborne won, and the en-
thus iastic followers of Clingstone bad
lean pocketbooks At Poughkeepsie, in
the latter part of August, Clingstone de-
clined TO start against Edwin Thorne and
the. chestnut had to face santa Claus and
Minnie X. All Of Dutcness county was at
the Hudson River Driving Park to see the
race. drove to the track that morning
from Thorndale, and knew how anxious
Mr.. Ihorne was to scorer victory with
his horse in the county where he was bred
and raised. Every man on the farm was
eager to attend the race and risk some OF
his savings on the result
Orrin A. Hicok had Santa Claus in fine
ment OF the crowd, was beaten in CON-
paratively slow time. 1t was charged that
the chestnut gelding had been pulled, but
John r.. Turner bitterly denied it. When
Mr.. Thorne saw him at Hartford next
week and spoke TO him about 1t he said:
"Do you think that | would be mean
enough TO come to your home and job
your horse when you were too sick to be
present. III you do, have only this to
say, and that is that | want you to take
your horse from my stable. T"
Turner looked and talked in such an in
jured way that Mr.. Thorne was mollified.
Mr.. Bonner was in Hartford and walked
in the broiling sun across the track to
the stable OF Turner to make critical ex-
animation OF the gelding. lie found just
what he had supposed was the trouble
The hind toes were so long that they un-
balanced the horse, imposing a strain
uron the loin ana making him sore, and
consequently unsteady.
When winter came Mr.. Thorne wrote
me that he was confined to his house and
would be please to have me come up. [
replied that should like to bring a
friend with me, Mr.. Robert Bonner. BY
the return mail came a letter cord tally in
viting Mr.. Bonner to visit him. The in
vitation was accepted in manly spirit, and
the welcome we received was tactful and
most kindly. The two strong, high-spirit-
discussed breeding and other questions
until the night was far spent.
No ailusion was made to the past, but
neither had forgotten the sharp corre-
spondence of 1870. 1he fact that they
had been estranged seemed to make each
more considerate of the others feelings.
The friec dship thus strongly re-estab blish-
cd lasted until the great rcart OF Mr..
Thorne ceased to Leaf and he passed into
the realm OF nv s,eFy and silence.
met, the other day, Mr.. Joseph Hark-
or, who was a factor in the "sawdust'
controversy OF 1870. lie had enormous
faith in the world beating taIacity OF
Gazelle when he purchased her, and ne
smiled family as he recalled the Incl
dents OF 20 years ago. lie had not as much
money as when n trained in the COM
modore Vanderbilt crowd, hut enjoys
good health, ana that is a blessing not
TO be dospised.