Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-06-10
GRANTS HORsEMANSHIP.
The General Gave n Party OF Italian
Officers Surprise.
.urpose-

Officers n Surprise.
Gen. Grants horsemanShip was wide
Iy known recall an Incident that came
under my own view and brought this
knowledge very forcibly to some young
Italian officers. In the spring of 1873,
1 happened to be in the city of Milan.
Returning to the hotel one afternoon,
saw an immense crowd gathered, and
group of Italian officers mounted,
their horses grandly caparisoned, them
selves decorated with the most brilliant
of uniforms. In front of the doorway.
held by three uniformed grooms, was a
beautiful blood-bay horse, equipped
with new English pigsIin saddle. 1t
Kept the three to RESTRAIN his plunges;
every moment it. seemed as if he would
leap on top of the holders and break
away.
Going into the hotel, 1 asked what
was the matter, and was told that Gen.
Grant was going to review the flower of
Italy's army, the pride of all the flying
Bersaglieri. Taking my stand in the
corridor in full view, waited to see
our famous general appear.
In few moments saw the general
coming down the stairs, dressed in plain
block frock coat and trousers and high
SILK nat ne NGlhS1 ny ulhuONlCONA,
announced, in his plain, nnpretentious
manner towards the door. At this time
one of the group of officers who had dis
mounted, and were standing in the hall
way to receive and escort him TO the
restless steed without. remarked loud
enough for me to overhear: eWhy does
not Gen. Grant Gomez said. There
he goes now,' pointing proudly to the
Thax- frDsalrar1 AZ
me with doubling laugh, saying: NO,
that cannot be the general" )
replied: 81 am a United States Off
Ger and know him we'll"
Meanwhile Gen. Grant had come to a
halt. having undoubtedly heard the re-
marks, as q good-natured smile lurked
on his face. Finally, one of the officers,
being sufficiently convinced, approached
and asked if he was Gen. Grant Re
ceiving an affirmative reply, a look of
utter establishment overspread their
faces; they FASTENED to make amends
for their apparent rudeness, accom-
panying him to the waiting horse, who
was making frantic efforts to shake him
self free from the three stalwGrt grooms-
A more restless. wicked-appearing
horse 1 have seldom seen. L was in
speedily thrown and crushed to death
by the cruel hoofs. From the sly winkS
and nudges that passed between these
dandyish young officers it looked to me
very much as if they had assigned to
the general of set purpose a young un-
tamable horse that had never been rid
den. My fears for him were somewhat
removed when saw Gen. Grants eyes
ls1xl, rac -<1z6d
upon the horse. Whether it was that the
general was not well or was merely as
Stunning a sort Of helplessneSs, have
never been able to fully determine; but
in mounting he accepted the assistance
of two officers 1.-THE horse fully occupied
the attention of the grooms), and from
an apparent stiffness had some difficulty
in getting his right leg oyer the saddle
So soon as he touched the seat, however,
he grasped the reins, his form straight
ened, and the change in his appearance
Immediately so impressed those around
with his thorough horsemanship that
spontaneously shout OF applause went
up from the crowd. The horse. after
few futile plunges, discovered that he
had his master. and started off in
gentle trot- From that time on
horse and rider were as enc being.
The Bersaglieri are the brag foot troops
of Italy. and perform all their man
euvers at a run. For two hours. most Of
the time with his horse at a gallop, Gen
! Grant kept both mounted and foot
troops on the move On his return TO
the hotel could hear murmurs OF Won
der and admiration from his escort
They themselves looked much fatigued-
but the general appeared as calm and
unrufied as if he had been seated in
rocking chair.lCapt- Alfred NJ Fuller.
in McClure's-