128 LIFE WITH THE TKOTTEKS. 



grew a pretty lively news^Daper controversy, but no liorse-race. 

 From Chicago Mr. Conklin wended liis way to his Long Island 

 home, and I started for the Pacific with Rarus, giving exhi- 

 bitions in several places on the way there, to which he drew 

 great crowds of peoi^le and always trotted the tracks faster 

 than any other horse had np to that time. On my arrival 

 in San Francisco I trotted Rarus in an engagement next 

 da}"- after getting off the cars, in which he went in 2:14, 2:14^. 

 I state this to prove what a wonderful horse he was. He 

 had started in races all over the country, been twice across 

 the continent and as far north as Minneapolis, and the next 

 day after a ten days' railroad trip beat 2:15 twice. 



I have often heard people say that Rarus was a weak 

 and washy horse. I don't think that needs any denial, as 

 his performances are the strongest argument. Naturally, 

 after a campaign of that length, he was reduced in flesh, 

 and his feet had commenced to trouble him a good deal. I 

 immediately concluded to stoj) driving him, reduce his feed, 

 and commence to nurse his feet. Rarus was a great horse 

 to recuperate, and it was but a short time before he com- 

 menced to show his old-time axDpearance and spirit. I gave 

 him very moderate work and trotted him at few exhibitions 

 in California that winter. In the spring I brought him to 

 Sacramento, thinking to prepare him for his trip home. He 

 was a great horse to play in a stall and at the end of a halter. 

 One day, while in Sacramento, as I stood watching him, he 

 laid down and began to roll in the stall, and when he was 

 through he sprang up suddenly. His hind feet went out 

 from under him and he fell. I was frightened lest he might 

 have bruised himself in some way. I looked over him very 

 carefully, had him led out, but saw nothing to indicate that 

 he had hurt himself. The next morning when I went out to 

 work Rarus I thought he was slightly lame behind. I spoke 

 to Dave about it, and he said he thought not; but I felt 

 sure I was right. As the horse' s shoes had been on for some 

 time, I took him to the blacksmith's shop, hoping to find 

 the cause of his lameness. At this time there was no swell- 



