140 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMEKIUA. 



1836, when he was four years old, I drove him a mile on 

 the Centreville Course in three minutes and thirty seconds. 

 At that time he belonged to Mr. Edwards of Philadelphia. 

 Being disposed of, he fell into the hands of Mx. Samuel 

 Coope of Brooklyn, and was used by him on the road for 

 some years. In- the winter of 1842, I drove him a noted 

 match to sleighs against the celebrated pacer Oneida 

 Chief, who was afterwards taken to England. The Chief 

 was the best pacer we had had at that time ; but, neverthe- 

 less, Ajax was matched to go the length of the road against 

 him, from Bradshaw's, near Harlem Bridge, to the pave- 

 ments at Twenty-eighth Street. Oneida Chief was a hand- 

 some chestnut, with three white legs and a blaze. He 

 stood about fifteen hands and half an inch. The match 

 was made one afternoon to go the next day. Mr. Harry 

 Jones drove the pacer. It was a very cold day, and the 

 snow somewhat drifted. At that time there were but few 

 houses along the road, except for public accommodation. 

 Where the Central Park now is was a rough, desolate tract. 

 At the start from Bradshaw's, I went away at a good 

 rate, for I knew the bottom of the gallant little Ajax, and 

 relied upon it to cue down his opponent in the length of the 

 road. It was lined on both sides, from Bradshaw's to the 

 city ; and I question whether there were ever as many out 

 at one time since that day. There they were in the snow, 

 buttoned and mufELed up, and their noses blue with cold, or 

 red from the effects of the hot apple-jack they ran into the 

 houses every now and then to take. At last we came, 

 squaring away, and going through them pretty fast. The 

 snow flew where it had drifted ; and the runners of the 

 sleighs made it shriek again, as they slid over it to the 

 music of the bells. I kept ahead, making the pace hot ; 

 and, when we had gone two miles and a qv arter to York- 

 ville, Jones gave it up, and stopped the pacer. After that, 

 many others turned in to brush with me as I went along; 

 but none of them could live far with Ajax. As we neared 



