The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16

Its not a question Of money with
me, Commodore, II you fancy the horse
SO much you can nave him, but not for
money!
What. you mean for nothing? Oh.
no, my good fellow! l a TO pay you
a good price for him.
But Morrissey insisted upon the old
Commodore taking the valuable animal
as a gift and Vanderbilt was delighted.
You can ask me for any favor ] can
grant at any time!' was Nanderbilt's
way OF expressing his thanks.
Maybe 1t wasn't a wise move by Nor
rissey to give that swift trotter Mountain
friends always after that incident and
the pugilist got anything he wanted on
the railroads that the millionaire con-
trolled. In fact, when Morrissey al
for Congress the great Vanderbilt inter
ests helped him materially to be elected.
While Judges. Senators and railroad
presidents had TO wait for an audience
with the old Commodore, the card OF
John Morrissey always got the prefer
enc over all Of them.
Johnny Barry. who was a very popu-
lar bartender for Billy Florence, opened
~upanoted house just his side of Macomb's
Dam Bridge, when they held so many
trots in the snow from Gabe Cases to the
bridge. Case bought out Barry and
lot years Tdu tIt nOuSS WIFI IulCll BUZZ
cess. | frequently saw a bunch of mil
lionaires after a cold. frosty trot, hungry
as wolves, seated in the cosey back room
devouring immense steaks with all the
fxings and enjoying themselves like n
lot Of newsboys at a holiday feast. II
seems to me that the ~millionaires Of those
days had far better appetites and diges-
tive organs h some OF those OF the
present time. The old timers enjoyed
life and sport in a hearty, vigorous way
and were a happy lot.
There waI, OF course. great rivalry
between the owners OF the crack road
sters, particularly between the late Rob
ert Bonner and Commodore vanderbilt.
who often had a lively brush on the road.
Mr.. Bonner was the owner OF the famous
against time al Bufalo. Other noted
%trotters in MIR. Bonner's barn were Graf
ton. who also made 2l714. at his owners
private track up in W~estohester; Maud
Macy. May Bird. Music, Astoria, a full
Taylor and Molsey. All were driven up
old Seventh avenue by Robert Bonner
or his son, who was also considered an
expert reinsman.
"1he old Fleetwood track was a magnet
in those days for persons who wanted
10 see the fast steppers. William II. Van
derbilt often drove his team, Small Hopes
u't pNy 'Auts w IOeN ""eop' '
ledge, Lady Emma. Dickens. Little Fred.
Arthur Boy. William H. and Capt. Jack
at thiso old track.
"It was at Gabe Cases that W. &. Wal
colt ate two quails a day for thirty days
on a wager In 1883. This gastronomic
feat drew a largo crowd OF horsemen
every day. Case had wagered $3.50 with
James Aioffat ono day that there wasn't
u man living who could perform this
feat. Mofat won the bet, or rather ac-
copied 1t with an ace In his sleeve. as Wal
colt had shown him several years before
that he could devour one quail n day for
thirty days at Ed Burns's oyster house
In Eighth avenue. After Walcott had won
the two quail wager he was known as the
champion quail eater Of the world. The
boys had a lot OF fun with Case over this
affair, but ! think he got his money back
twice over from the crowds that visited
his resort during the contest.
There we're several other famous old
r~oadhouses remember-those Of Henry
Bertholf, Peter De Boise, who had a half
mile track. and later old Judge Smith.
Many a fine dinner was consumed at De
Bosses, Some OF these places were still
In existence when the Speedway was
opened, ~ -