New-York tribune., 1902-02-01
COLONEL S. D. BRUCE DEAD.
WELL KNOWN HORSEMAN EXPIRES IN
HIS SEVENTY SEVENTH YEAR.

Colonel Sanders Devices Bruce who founded Ihe
Turf Field and Farm and was one OF the great
est living authorities upon the pedigree and genea
ogy OF thoroughbred horses, died yesterday at ms
home, No. III West Fifty-eighth-st. He was IN MS
seventy-seventh year. The funeral and burial viii
be at Lexington. Ky.
Colonel Bruce was born in Lexington, Ky. on Au-
gust 16 1925 and brought up on farm Al
ter he was graduated from the University OF Ken
lucky he went into the crockery and china busi-
ness with Cioodloe Bros. in Lexington, KY some
time afterwa-d he became the proprietor OF the
Phoenix Hotel. in that city. He was subsequently
elected County Clerk of Fayette County, ny.
At the beginning of the Civil War he became the
captatn of the Lexington Chasseurs. one of small
number of Union companies in his native state
Later he organized the 10Th Kentucky Regiment
At that time his sister the wife of General
John Morgan. famous for his raid. When the Union
troops were in possession of the State Colonel
Bruce stayed at his mothers eoHse, and when they
compelled TO withdraw General Morgan occu-
pied his chair at the home of his mother. Colonel
Bruce the staff of General Buell. when the
latter went to the rescue General Grant at Pitts
burg Landing and saved the Union forces from de-
feat, If not an1ihilation. General Grant recon-
mended his promotion and had it not been for an
illness which then brought him TO New-York he
would have been brevetted brigadier general. When
he recovered from his attack the over, and
In p sss he lcnmded md fhe TURF Field and Farm
When boy he was thrown from sulky and had
leg broken. This Is the reason why he seldom
was seen on horseback, although be, was a great
lover OF horses. and especially OF tne tnorouB.-
bred He was the founder of THE American stud
Book" which is the recognized authority on the
thoroughbred.
Colonel Bruces eldest daughter, who died about
three years ago, the wife of DR.. Doty, the
health officer of the port; Colonel Bruce was one
of the leading spirits in the organization and sue
cessful conduct of the National Trotting Associa-
ton the Western Turf Congress and many other
associations of horsemen. The Jockey Club chal
lenged the authorship Of The American Stud
Book, about five years ago. and the matter went
into the courts but after decision in favor OF
Colonel Bruce i'm of the inferior courts the
case amicably settled by the Jockey Club pur-
chasing the work from him for $4,000.
1t said OF Colonel Bruce that he could tell
the pedigree of any horse by simply glancing at
the animal by hearing slight description
Among the horses the colonel owned in the course
of his life was Jessie Kirk dam OF Majolica. Of
the fastest horses ever in the stable of Robert
Bonner
The colonel almost always consulted by
many wealthy owners of racing stables like
August Belmont and the LorlardS when they
purchased horses valued at thousands Resides,
Colonel Bruce the auctioneer at many Of the
most memorable sales of thoroughbreds held in
this country.
Colonel Bruce the famous Grey Eagle-Wag-
at Louisville in 1889. The distance was
four miles. and nearly every sportsman OF any note
in those days was present on the occasion.