The sun., 1903-04-01
Jackson Of Belle Meade.

When Gen. WILLIAM HICKS JACKSON
died at Belle Meade Farm in Tennessee
on Monday evening, the Old South lost
one of its foremost men and America
its greatest breeder OF thoroughbred
running horses. There may be some
who would question this latter statement.
but it is to be tested by the number OF
winners sent to the races during a series
OF years. According to this standard,
the Master Of Belle Meade will pass into
history as the greatest breeder Of his
time, on this side Of the Atlantic. Belle
Meade's record speaks for itself. From
1875 to 1892, COS OF the colts and fillies
bred there were sold for nearly $500, 900.
and of that number 70 per cent were
winners. In 1891, l25 thoroughbreds
from the farm won more than $500 900
in stakes and purses. In 1892. the sue
cess Of the year before was practically
repeated, as it has been during the past
ten years.
And what a wealth Of memories of
turf and household cluster around this
great nursery Of great horses! Founded
by the late Gen. W. q. HARDING, the
establishment has been famous for
nearly half a century. Everybody
who went TO Tennessee wanted to go out
over the six miles Of Harding turnpike
west OF Nashville to have look at the
farm. Gen. HARDING was fond Of enter
tanning, but when young JACKSON,
fresh in the military fame he gained in
the Civil War, with the star of a Confed-
crate Brigadier-Genera on his shoulder
straps. had welded the old Generals
daughter and became the manager Of the
estate, the hospitality dispensed there
became famous.
Who that has ever sat at the mahogany
table, black with age, in the great dining
hall at Belle Meade, with the portraits of
several generations Of the Harding and
jackson families looking down upon the
diners, and the ten mahogany cabinets,
filed with the gold and silver cups won
by Belle Meade champions Of the turf,
along the walls, will ever forget the
charm Of his surroundings? And then
the tour OF the farm, five thousand rolling
acres OF the finest land TO be found in
Tennessee! There were horses for those
who would ride and carryalls for women
and for men who liked them. OF late
years the visitor would see the lordly
Iroquois, the only American horse TO
win the English Derby; Inspector B.,
imp. Great Tom and imp. Loyalist;
Luke Blackburn, the only horse that ever
sired the winner Of both the Futurity
and the American Derby. and several
other great sires. or the matrons. there
were Mariposa, the only mare Of her time
to produce eleven foals and eleven con-
secutive winners, Tullahoma, and others
which mothered Proctor Knott. Helen
Nichols, Maid Marian, Clifford, Tyrant,
the iron Barnum and the flying Miss
Ford.
But Gen. JACKSON was not only q
great breeder Of horses. He was great
Southerner. Graduated from West
Point with the class of 1855, he served in
the Regular army until May, 1881. when
he resigned to take commission In the
Confederate service. He served with
distinction through the war, and for
nearly two years before LEE surrendered
he commanded, first brigade and then
a division. After the war he took an
interest in politics. and was regarded as
one Of the shrewdest advisers the Dem
ocratic party had in the South. He was
q familiar figure at Democratic National
Conventions and his counsel was sought
and heeded
Fortunately for the American turf.
Belle Meade will continue in the jackson