282 THE HOKSE OF AMERICA. 



that Bellfounder ever got; fourth, we have the cross of a grand- 

 son and probably a double grandson of Messenger on this trotter, 

 and the produce is Hambletonian himself. These crosses show 

 a stronger concentration of Messenger blood than can be found 

 in any horse of his generation. 



BASHAW (GREEN'S). This was a black horse, fifteen and a 

 half hands high, bred by Jonas Seely, the breeder of Hamble- 

 tonian; foaled 1855, and given when following his dam to his son- 

 in-law, Colonel F. M. Cummins, of Muscatine, Iowa. He was got 

 by Vernol's Black Hawk, then known as the Drake colt, son of 

 Long Island Black Hawk, and his dam was Belle, the first foal of 

 the Charles Kent mare, that was out of One Eye. In the spring^ 

 of 1857 he was sold to Joseph A. Green, of Muscatine, and he re- 

 mained his till 1864. He had one white hind foot and a large, 

 full star in his forehead. He was a smooth, handsome horse in 

 every respect. His head, neck, ear and eye were all good, and 

 free from coarseness. His back and loin had very few equals 

 even among those that are called most perfect at these points. 

 His hip was of great length, and in his buttock there was quite a 

 resemblance on a reduced scale to his kinsman, Hambletonian. 

 His limbs and feet both in shape and quality were admirable, and 

 his disposition docile and kindly. In walking his gait was sling 

 ing, but loose jointed and slovenly, and he was therefore not a- 

 pleasant driving horse. But at the trot, whether going slow or 

 fast, his style was very taking and his action remarkably perfect. 

 While owned by Mr. Green he was handled by good, careful men y 

 but they had no experience in developing and driving a trotter, 

 and knew nothing about that kind of horsemanship. Under 

 these circumstances many a horse would have been spoiled, but 

 his gait was always perfect and his popularity as a trotter never 

 waned. He never was started in what might be called regular 

 races, but at State fairs and the principal county fairs he was 

 always in demand and always won. He was, perhaps, the best 

 natural trotter that I have ever seen. He was able to show about 

 2:28, but I think he never won a heat on a half-mile track in 

 better than 2:31, and when sixteen years old he was able to win 

 in 2:35. In 1864 Mr. Green sold him to some parties in St. 

 Louis, Missouri, and they to Mr. Beckwith of Hartford, Con- 

 necticut, and while in his hands he was matched against Young 

 Morrill, but went amiss and paid forfeit. He made the season of 

 1865 at Hartford. The following winter Mr. Green repurchased 



