- LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. ^ 7 



E. Ne^vlnan, and after a little talk lie made me believe 

 I would make a better crockery merchant than anything 

 else. The result of that talk was that I accompanied him 

 to Buffalo to go into his store and learn the business. When 

 I found that the first step in the life of a crockery merchant 

 was to carry out portions of the stock in a hand basket, I 

 shied at the first turn, and that was the end of my life as a 

 merchant. I asked if there was a race-track in the neigh- 

 borhood, and was directed to what has since been tlie famous 

 mile track at Buffalo. On reaching there, I inquired for 

 the best trainer, and, fortunately for myself, I was directed 

 to Mr. John Stevenson. I said to him that I was looking 

 for a chance to learn to be a driver of trotters He replied that 

 my size and age were a little against me, but that if I could 

 wait he could see no reason why in time I might not succeed. 

 We struck up a mutual admiration right there, and I laid 

 down my bundle. Mr. Stevenson took a great interest in 

 me, and gave me everv oi)xio]'tunity to not only learn, but 

 also to practice driving. I have never forgotten liis kind- 

 ness, and never go near his city without paying him a per- 

 sonal visit. 



The first horse I ever drove was a stallion called Pelham 

 Tartar, and that belonged to Mr. C. J. Wells, at that time 

 mayor of Buffalo, and always a stanch friend of the trot- 

 ting turf. I remember distinctly that I was so small and 

 short that it was necessary for me to put my feet on the 

 cross-bar of the sulky, my legs not being long enough to 

 enable me to reach the stirrups. I don' t think that Mr. 

 Stevenson ever had a horse on his j)lace that he took as 

 much pains in training as he did with me. Pelham Tartar 

 was a handsome lu'own stallion about sixteen hands high. 

 He was bred in Canada, and at that time was looked upon 

 as a very promising horse in the way of a trotter. He was 

 fine-gaited, perfectly level-headed, and I remember him, not 

 only as the first horse of which I had charge, but also as 

 the first one that I ever drove a mile in three minutes. The 

 first day I drove Pelham Tartar Mr. Stevenson had out a 



