Mexico weekly ledger., 1907-12-05
SLACK SQUIRREL
hi, Famous Stallion had a National
Reputation and Was Owned
in Notwithstanding In
formation-J u Stan
hopes Accident

IatEiSrAro Al tn0 At1Al44 VI DIAN
Squirrel, - formerly owned In Mexico,
as there are quite q number OF his
colts in this county. The following
are some extracts taken from an ar-
ticle In the Kentucky Farmer &
Breeder. written by Joseph NJ. Gar
rett, who owned BLACK SQUIRREL
when be died.
"Black SQUIRREL as . colt, was sold
BY ]. G. Graves, OF kentucky. for 600,
bat later on was bought back BY
him.
SHOWN AS A Fou1-FEKR-oLD
AS a four-year-old Mr.. Graves made
q season with the horse and showed
him the following fall, and bis success
was remarkable, He attracted atten-
tsen and criticism from every quarter.
The wonderful style OF the horse. his
long quarters, high tail, small muzzle,
erect ears and large eyes brought him
10 the height OF popularity At the very
beginning Of his career. Ii 1881 Mr..
Graves made . very large season with
Squirrel and his popularity was not
less 10 the shox ring during the sum-
mer and fall Of that year. Than 1t was
that Mr.. Ian ssvTT;s, % sss1sos, TO-,
who was in Kentucky looking for o
saddle stallion, fiut saw Black SPUR
rel and in his own words "when
Squirrel came down the stretch rack
ing 4 three-minute clip, with head
and tail SO high that Nj. Graves could
scarcely be seen, eyes seemed to be
bursting out. ears perfect he looked
like q var horse, anu when In front OF
the grand stand he burst into q great
trot the crowd went wild and ! went
with them"
Ar. Morris bought the horse, not
because Mr.. Graves wanted to sell him,
but the offer was tempting and Mr..
Graves had not husbanded bis finances
well enough TO stand the strain. And
thus parted horse and owner whose
names win be coupled together as long
as saddle horses are bred In Ken
lucky.
UNFORTUNATE SALE.
The sale was in many ways unfortu-
nate. Squirrel was popular and get
ting the best mares 10 bis section, his
colts were Of the highest quality and
he promised great things in the show
ring. Then, too. Mr.. Joseph Stanhope,
whose health in Missouri was not good
and whose physician there had dis
Outraged him, had come back to bis
native State TO consult his family ply |
stefan here, and, receiving 3 still more
unfayorable answer, was turning again
TO Missouri, when he was engaged to
take Black Squirrel with him. The
car In which the two were making the
journey was wrecked near ST. Louis
and a timber pinned Mr.. Stanhope TO
the floor Of the car, while Squirrel had
. plank thrust through his side and
lay struggling with his shod feet at
Mr.. Stanhope's head. The latter
thought he would be killed Instantly, |
but, reaching out his hand he touched
the suffering horse anc spoke TO him
and there was not another struggle;
the horse seemed to realize the situa,
tion and lay perfectly stu, groaning
In the greatest agony. This was but
one instance OF the remarkable doci-
lily and perfect temper OF Black SPUR
rel.
RESULTS OF ACCIDENT.
1t Is well remembered to this day
how Mr.. Stanhope died from the inju-
ries received In this wreck and how
the railroad company refused to pay
the family because they had found out
the doctors reports, and how a post
norton was held and Mr.. Stanhope
was found 70 be a sound man and the
money had 10 be paid; how Squirrel
was supposed to be yalueless and MIR.
Morris refused to receive him, and
how the railroad company took him in
charge and for q long time be lay In
the veterinary hospital in st. Louis;
how afterward he was accepted, to-
gether with damages, by Mr.. Morris
and was taken TO Mexico, Nc, where
he made six or seven seasons In the
stud.
1.-THE estimate generally expressed
BY people Of Squirrel was ID very high
one, land quite often expressed as
strongly as was done by the Texas
sheriff. When l vas riding along the
street one day i noticed a very large
man dressed in rather q cowboy style
and two smaller men who were hand
cuffed together, and that all three
were looking intently at Squirrel.
When about co pass them the large
man asked me il 1 would mind stop
ping a minute to let him get q good
look at the horse. After a thorough
inspection be said: "Well, Mister, that
Is just a hi OF . horse and no mis-
take. And turning to one of the pris-
oners,a dark complexioued fellow, be
said: Pedro, how long could you keep
your hands off that nag? Pedro re,
piled: Me no take him; every one
see me; get caught too quick. So take
him all around lido not think we shall
O see Black Squirrels equal.
Wilmore Garrett went to st. Louis
October 1889 and purchased "Black
Squirrel" from DIR. Crowley, at what
was considered a good long price for a
thirteen year old horse.
The Saddle Horse Register show
more horses By or tracing to Black
Squirrel than any other three stall.
lions that have lived in the past TWEEN
ty years.
Rex Mcdonald gets his greatness
from Black Squirrel while the stall.
lions kept Cor service by this horse far
outnumber those kept for service BY
any other sire Of saddle horses that
has yet lived. Nearly every one Of
these hostes was sired by Squirrel in
Kentucky during the eight seasons
made here. What position would BIsck
Squirrel hold bad be made bis other
seven seasons in Kentucky, we leave
others to answer. We know that even
as he was the greatest sire Of fine bor.