The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-04
JEALOUS OF A HORSE.
Why William ii. Vanderbilt Sold the
Famous Maud s.
From dc New York Journal.

the election, | had occasion to pass a Sun
day in New York. 1t happened, and by
accident, that l met Mr.. Conking on Fifth
avenue. Alter the formalities he invited
me to call with him upon Mr.. William II.
Vanderbilt.
One time in the conversation Mr.. Conk-
ling said: Mr.. Vanderbilt, why did you
sell Maud 81"
Mr.. Vanderbilt proceeded TO give rea-
sons. He had received letters from strang-
ers inquiring about her pedigree, care, age,
treatment etc, which he could not an
swer without more labor than he was will
ing to perform.
AS a final reason, he said:
when I drive up Broadway people do
not say. There goes Vanderbilt but they
say, There goes Maud s.. "-George 5.
Boutwell,. in McClures Magazine for
January.
The real reason why the late William H.
Vanderbilt sold Maud S, the queen of the
trotting turf is now known for the first
time.
He sold her because he was jealous of
her.
A Vanderbilt jealous of horse
Impossible" you say. But proof is con-
tributed by George S. Boutwell,. Secretary
of the Treasury under Grant, leading
counsel for the prosecution in the i'm
parchment of Andrew johnson, ex-sena-
tor from Massachusetts and the Oldest liv-
ing Ex-Governor of the same state, in the
words above quoted.
1t was because, when he drove up
Broadway, people did not say: There
goes Vanderbilt" but There goes Maud
s."
There was a reason why people say
"There goes Maud s." She was The fast
est trottiug horse that had ever appeared
in the history of the world The peerless
daughter of the great Harold and that
patrician OF blue-blooded danes, Miss
Russell. was the queen of the trotting
turf. Her name was mentioned with ac-
claim in the four quarters of the earth.
The fame of her matchless performances
was greater than that of all the Wander
bilt millions. Her name, better known
than that of reigning monarehs, over
Swallowed even the great name of her
owner.
The distinction was invidous. He sold
her.
Maud in Her Old Age.
Sixteen years have glided away since
then. For more than twelve of them the
man who was Jealous of Maud S. has
DeeH Sleeping III MS grave.
And Maud S.?
How many know her career since that
memorable day in 1885 when at Cleveland
on an oval track, in the old-fashioned,
high-wheeed sulky, her flying feet reeled
off that wonderful mile in 2:0SA-a per
Torrance that, all things considered, has
never been equalled since then-her last
public appearance?
Time has touched gently the old horse
that ever caused Jealousy to rankle in
the breast of a man worth $1S00O0,0C). She
has outlived both Vanderbilt and Bon
ner-the man who sold her and the man
who bought her in 1884.
But, though the money king was jeal-
Gus of Maud S. witness the dove he bore
her. He would allow no commercial dis
cord to jangle in the sale of the little chest
nut beauty, that has always been as low
able as she was great. If the clink OF
coin was heard, il was only to emphasize
the fact that she was the greatest horse
in the world. Affection and pathos and
pride in her glortted all the negotiations
Jealousy and love go hand In hand. II
Vanderbilt had not loved the mare he
would not have told Roscoe Conkling and
George S. Boutwell, that he was jealous
of her. Every one knows that Vanderbilt
sold Maud S. to the late Robert Bonner
in 1884 for $4,000.
"1'he matter was preached to my faith
L
"by William Turnbull, the Wall street
broker who was an intimate friend OF
both Mr.. Vanderbilt and my father.
HE came to the office and said to my
father: Bonner, do you want to buy the
fastest horse in the wOrld?'
He then explained that Mr.. Vanderbilt
had authorized him to make a PROPOSE
ton. Later Mr.. Vanderbilt and my father
came together
Vanderbilt and Bonner Meet.
II want to sell Maud S. said Wander
bilt, 'and you're the one man in the world
! | want to sell her to- I'm offered 500 O0C
by a Cincinnati syndicate of racing men
| won't sell her to them at any price. She
would be campaigned, and the public would
| say that l still had an interest in her
You won't race her and know you wonH
| allow any gambling with her. | want yoU
| to have her
"The mare was in Saratoga. My father
sent me there to look her over. 1t was
rumored that her legs were bad. l found
| her perfectly sound.
Her price was then discussed Nh
| father suggested $4,000
! =" No said Vanderbilt, you gave s33. 0Oc
| for Rarus you gave $50 900 for Dexter and
4 you gave $3S,0O0 for Pocahontas. have a
pride in this; l want you to give more than
| s3S 0G0 for Maud s.
| III give $4,000 said my father and
the deal was closed"
The stable boys who were present when
| her old owner patted Maud S. for the las,
| time say that the affecuonate animal
| whinnied as if she knew a change had
| taken place; and when her master walked
| away his lips were quivering, her head
was lowered.
Maud S. was Robert Bonners net When
| the great horseman died last July he gave
| her over in tender words to the keeping
of his sons, Robert and Frederick e. Bon
ner.
a Visit to Maud $. in TnrrytOvn.
Recently Robert Bonner ACCOMPANIED
| the writer on visit TO the home of Maud
| 5. 1t is a beautiful home, nesting on a
| grassy plateau in the charming Westches.
| ter hills-a home altogether worthy of the
| dowager queen of the trotting turf.
MAUD will be % years old on March %. -
| said Mr.. Bonner, but when you see her
you'll say that she's u. She doesn't look
a day older"