The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-08-07
BEAUTIFUL JIM KBY.
The History of William Key, His Keeper
and Trainer.

Baltimore Sun.
The many persons who at different
t'Tes have seen in this city Jim Key,
the wonderful horse, will be even
more interested in the history of the
old negro who attends the horse than
they were in the intelligent animal
This negro is William Key and he
was formerly the owner of the horse.
Some time ago he sold the horse for
$4,000, but the new owner soon dis
covered that the wonderful horse WAS
OF little use without William, as no
one can make the animal do the tricks
as William can. Accordingly the
new owner engaged William at $50
a month and he is now with the
horse at Atlantic City. The history
of William Key, as he told it, when
last in this city, reads like romance.
| When the civil war broke out,
forty two years ago, William was Il
slave on the plantation of tho late
John w. Key, of Bedford County,
Virginia, Mr.. Key WAS too old for
military service, but his three sons
espoused the Confederate cause, and
when they rode away from home
William went along with them rs
their servant.
AT Fort Donelson, when the Con
fcderates were forced to surrender,
William built Il bastion of logs and
rocks, behind which the wounded
we're sheltered. "Fort Bill" rs the
soldiers termed it, saved many q
wounded mans life When Fort
, Donelson surrendered William took
on his back one Of the three brothers
, who had been badly wounded, and
. evading the pickets, carried him be
yond the enemy's line.
While with his masters at Shelby
, vile, Tenn, William voluntarily
, went to Murfreesboro to recover fo1
a Confederate officer large sum O
money, which Lad been left hehinc
, in the retreat. After being abou
, Mnrfreesboro for a few hours vii
r ham was arrested rs q spy. He was
made to wear ball and chain fol
t three months before be had tina
hearing. He WAS condemned to b,
t shot. But William did not want tc
die that way, and as the ball anc
: chain had been taken off Of him th,
q night bofore he was to be executed
e he succeeded in escaping and 60
0 back within the Confederate lines
When the war Was over William
g was free TO go or stay. When as
g sured that his old master wished hin
TO 60 out for himself William, VIII,
2 WAS good blacksmith, set up shop
In few years he branched out an,
he began raising fine horses. Ii
: this he was also successful and i
+ was apparent that WI!llam VIZ
growing rich.
t Being q great lover Of horses h
, began TO train q young horse to q,
various things generally thought t,
: be beyond the capacity Of an animal
This horse he named jim Key
: From mis- knowledge Of horses VII
g liam managed to obtain degre,
from & veterinarian school and l.,
prepared g liniIneut for horses which
t Is said to have III excellent sale
! William then called himself DR.. vii
liam Key.
y William saved money and he is
now the owner Of several fine horses
t in Shelbyyile and also Of large
stock farm. But amid bis prosperity
f he has never forgotten his old mas
tors. Recently he wrote to one OF
It the SOUS Of his former master offer.
ing him beautiful home, to be his
" while he lived. lie closed the letter
" with tn" following pathetic reference
to the old days:
| made your father good servant
love the graves where the family