BLACK HAWK 163 



him only a short time, perhaps four or six weeks. I used him only 

 for practice, or teaching him to trot. He cost me eighty dollars. I 

 sold him for two hundred dollars. The names of the Twomblys, as 

 you state in your letter, I think are correct. Ezekiel is the one who 

 raised the colt in Durham and moved to Greenland, died there and 

 the colt came into possession of the nephew, whose name I do not 

 recollect. I only knew or heard of the colt two or three days be- 

 fore I went to see him and bought. One of the Twomblys living in 

 Durham told me of him. At the time I saw him he was in the cow- 

 yard with the cattle, thin in flesh, rough-looking, and small. Would 

 probably have weighed not to exceed seven hundred and fifty or eight 

 hundred pounds. 



"He was sired by Sherman Morgan, who was owned by a Mr. 

 Bellows and stood in Durham at Kelly's hotel one day each week. 

 The horse and dam I remember perfectly well. The dam was a 

 good-looking, large-sized black mare, said to have come from Nova 

 Scotia ; also said to have been from English stock, and from experi- 

 ence since I should think she was. Nothing was ever said or thought 

 much of in those days about pedigree or speed. 



"I remember her as being a good-looking, easy-moving mare 

 with long neck, large ear, full, large eyes, wide between eyes, strong, 

 short back, good legs and feet. I could tell you many particulars 

 referring to Black Hawk from the time I sold him to Brown and Thurs- 

 ton until the horse died. It was at Brown's hotel, Haverhill, Massa- 

 chusetts, that I sold the colt. They bought together, and Thurston 

 afterward bought the other half. I will be pleased to answer any 

 other questions would give you more information by seeing you. 

 Truly yours, A. R. MATHES". 



Again Mr. Mathes writes: 



"DEAR SIR: Yours of the 29th at hand. When I first saw 

 Black Hawk he was poor, small, and long-coated, yet he had such 

 a bright, intelligent look that I fancied him and asked the owner to 

 harness him to his sleigh. I stood and saw him drive past me once 

 or twice, and finally exchanged a cheaper horse for him. It 

 was his style and easy, open gait that I admired more than any- 

 thing else, and I never saw anything before or since more per- 

 fect. He was one of the kind that is always broken. I improved 

 his speed and general appearance very much during the short time 

 I kept him. I don't think he was ever away from the farm before I 

 bought him, and I sold him directly to Brown and Thurston. Brown 

 afterward sold his interest to Thurston, who gave the horse the name 

 of Black Hawk". 



