A COACH. AND SIX IN LONDON

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11581, 13 October 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

A COACH. AND SIX IN LONDON

Mr. A. L. Johnson, of ftew York, ha 9 attained distinction in London by driving a coach and six through that great city. A correspondent of the Sphere, who knows him, writes : Mr Johnson bought his six horses for high prices at the sensational Bates sale, and his coach from the world-famous firm of Biewster. During his biief stay in England he drove 1000 mil^s. Generally it may be stated that the English hold the r hands higher 'when driving than Americans do, thus bringing a much greater strain on their muscles. Mr Johnson holds his hands exceptionally low, contending that the muscles are in their natural position to stand the greatest amount of fatigue. Nnturaily Mr Johnson's style of driving was very severely criticised there, jast as the American style of riding had been when tbe New World jockeys first landed. But when ou a certain dny Mr Jo'nuson, with his team of six, at tho request or certain members ol the club, gave an exhibition of driving, it waa freely admitted that whatever his style of driving might be the results were excellont. Whin Mr Johnson expressed his intention of driving a cosch and six through London coaching men predicted that ' he would inevitably eet tangled up. Yet for two weeks he drove his team through the traffic-congested streets of London with perfect ease. Eruest Fownes, who recently took the first prize In the pro* fessional driving competition at Ranelagh drove Mr Jo'nnson's six one day, and said that much of such work wou'd kill him ; yet Mr Johnson drove them hour a F cer hou r , »idn|r showe.l auy signs of fatigue. Ti.e method adopted for hitching the team waa by means of a swinging team connecting the pole and thf leaders. The centra horses were called the swinging team.