RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



" Yours of 1 9th inst., containing my check, $5000 

 forfeit on challenge, is just received. Thanks for 

 the trouble we made you in the matter, but am 

 sorry it worried Mr. Vanderbilt so as to compel him 

 to part with his pet comfort. I know nothing of 

 the Jay-eye-see syndicate the papers mention as of- 

 fering Mr. Vanderbilt $100,000 for the mare. If 

 there was anything of the kind by any party or 

 parties, it was wholly unknown to me. The report 

 rather accuses me of trying to assist in getting up a 

 hippodrome scheme, which, as far as I am concerned, 

 is as far from the truth as possible. Now, in regard 

 to selling Jay-eye-see. I received two telegrams on 

 last Wednesday asking a price, and I answered I 

 could not sell him because it would break up the 

 family. I wired you also that I withdrew him from 

 sale. I wired because W. H. C. had told me that 

 you considered you had an option on him. As I 

 recollect you asked for one and I replied I did not 

 think I cared to sell him, but you pressed me for 

 my idea of his value in case I would sell, and I 

 replied about $50,000 and $4000 or $5000 to the 

 man doing the business. Now I think Jay-eye-see 

 can beat any piece of horseflesh living, 3 in 5 to 

 harness, either trotter or pacer. I believe Mr. Bon- 

 ner to be a gentleman and consistent, and I do not 

 wish to say a word to wound him, and no word will 

 go to the public without a cause. I have been think- 

 ing how we would manage to bring the two great 

 phenomenal trotters together and fairly test their 

 speed and bottom. Do you think it would coincide 

 with Mr. Bonner's views to match the two, to trot 

 for gate money, and we devote the proceeds to chari- 

 table purposes, he to name the disposition of one 

 half and I the other? We can arrange such a meet- 



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