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

newsboys In his employ. That was long
before the news companies were organ
lied. Mcclure was called the King OF
the Newsboys. In his employ was Barney
Williams. who became a great Irish come
dian; Bowling, later a noted Tombs court
Judge; Kelso, who was afterward Super
intendent Of Police, and other lads who
made their marks.
Among Toppy's customers we're An
drew jackson. Daniel Webster, Henry
Clay. John c. Calhoun, T. A. Benton and
many other famous public men,. While
handling newspapers Mcclure opened
up his first roadhouse at Third avenue
and 1i5th street. but the old Cayuga House
was the most popular and successful OF
his ventures in this line. Such men as
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, Robert
Bonner, Frank Work and Sheppard A.
Knapp pulled up at the Cayuga.
Mcclure owned and raced many other
feet horses besides Cayuga Maid, winning
and losing several fortunes. He ended his
career as a sporting writer on THE Sun
and passed away in 1889 in his seventy
fifth year. He was probably the best
known New York sporting man in his day
and had seen more fistic events than any
man in America,
-Sibbons's clubhouse on Jerome avenue
was another famous resort for the trotting
horsemen Of forty years ago. William H.
Vanderbilt used to leave his stable on
Fortieth street near Fifth avenue almost
every fine afternoon behind his favorite
team Early Rose and Aldine and drive
up to the old clubhouse. There he cooled
his horses. left a ten dollar note on the
bar an drove home. Mr.. William as
he was known from one end of New York
State TO the other. never cared for re-
freshments. He was a great horseman.
however, also a splendid reinsman and a
liberal buyer. He was not afraid OF any
thing on the road and frequently took
his team with wonderful accuracy between
two obstacles, barely leaving an inch be-
Mr.. william used TO say that n drive TO
him was like a tonic which excelled any
medicine that a doctor could prescribe.
.One summer afternoon old Commodore
Vanderbilt. father OF William H., was
speeding UP Seventh avenue when he
by an athletic looking chap with dark
whiskers. The Commodore didn't fancy
taking any mans dust, so he whipped up
his team, but was unable to overhaul
the stranger until the latter stopped ay
Billy Florenoe's old roadhouse. Driving
his team under the shed, the Commodore
asked Florence who the man with the
whiskers might be.
why, Commodore replied Florence.
You ought to know him. That's John
Morrissey, tho heavyweight champion
pugilist,'
.I don't know him, Florence replied
the Commodore, but he's got a mighty
fine horse I'd like TO buy. Ask Mr.. Nor
rissey II he'd like TO sell his trotter '
Florence Immediately hunted up the
noted prize fighter and told him Of the
Commodore's desire.
a'Tell Mr.. Vanderbilt my horse ia not
for SALE said Morrissey rather gruf1y,
but that I'd like TO meet him, az | admire
him as a horseman.'
An introduction between the mil
l%ionaire and the big fighter quickly
followed.
II understand that you wish to pur-
chase my horse. Commodore said Nor
Fissey. but he's not In the market
I'm sorry for hat, Mr.. Morrissey,
was the reply, Tor | am willing 10 pay
! $4,000 or more for him.