Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25

the bonds between the whites and the In
dams took all sorts of forms. To improve
the grade of cattle in the Mohawk valley
lie brought over from England the finest
az hlooded bulls To improve the breed OF
horses he brought over Thoroughbred stall
lions. Indians were charged nothing for
the service Of the bulls and the stations
To their cows and mares. Al Mount john
son he held races regularly. and the sell
tiers and the aborigines for scores of
miles around fiocked to see the sport. lie
a great patron of boxing, too, and
had contests at intervals There were
shooting matches, too, for prizes given by
Sir William Tor the baronet wanted to
improve the craftsmanship of his wards.
1t is a queer fact that today almost on
the same ground that Sir William Jonn-
son held his horse races, his boxing con-
tests and his shooting matches. $50 years
ago Senator Stephen Sanford and his
son. former Representative john Sanford.
have the great Hurricane stud farm and
hold private race meetings. 10 Tlich they
invite the people for many miles around.
The Sanfords are like feudal lords TO-DAY
i'm the city o. Amsterdam, Just as the
Johnsons We're in the eighteenth century
times. And the Sanfords, with a fine 10y
atty 10 the historic character of their farm.
name their horses for the Indians and fo,
the men of the prerevalutionary- times or
for the streams named by the Indians.
The queen OF the harem in the stud farm
today is that great race mare Molly bfani,
ana one OF Inc DcSI representatives vi liie
farm i'm active training is Sir John John
son. In the Sanford home are the multi
tudeS of trophies won by the champions
Of other campaigns-Chuctanund CauSh-
nawanga, Mohawk, etc.
X
But while Sir William johnson mprov-
ed the Indians live stock and appealed TO
his love of sport, he did not neglect his
mental and social condition. To improve
the Indian youth he selected a number or
Mohawk boys and sent them to the Mount
Lebanon Comm Academy. which was
under the direction of DR. Eleazer Vince
lock. afterward president of Dartmouth
College. which the academy subsequently
became. Joseph Brant was one of the
boys sent to the academy by Sir William.
and he never selected better pupil. The
TWO years that young Brant spent at the
academy were utilized by him to the full
est degree, and when lie LEFT there ne
was pretty good English scholar. He
married the daughter of an Oneida chief
and made his home in Canajoharie. but
gave good deal Of his time to Sir VIII
liam and practically later on became the
baronet's secretary
Sir William had the finest library in
America and had a standing order with
the leading bookseller OF London to for
ward every thing rev that was worth
w
Brant INDUCED 10 the fullest his love for
reading. He read biographical and philo-
sorhical works. history and romance, but
was particularly interested In the study
of music and religion. He read every
thing he could get relating to music, and
lie was a fine biblical scholar.
July II. 11I4. Sir William Johnson
died. His death vas dramatic in the eX-
IRENE He had been addressing A gather
ing of 6bo indian chiefs. who had come to
irt H. iyNFn To
VaSion of the Indian country on the Ohio
river by the Virginia and Pennsylvania
frontiersmen. and was stricken with apo
pexy. As he was carried into Johnson
Hall his last words were to Joseph Brant
They We're. Joseph, control your people
control Your people. | am going away.
Sir Williams death created profound
impression upon the Indians throughout
the land. The Iroquo.s confederacy, en-
braciuC the Mohawk Seneca CaNuga,