The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-17 00:00:00

Death of Captain Becher.

We have to announce the death on Tuesday last,
of this well-known sportsman, the father of steeple-
chase riders, and. whose deeds in the pigskin some
30 years back have immortalised him in the annals
of that sport. Capt.lhcher was born in Norfolk, and.
was the son of Mr Becher, a farmer in that county,
who was conspicuous as a horseman end the last of
the leather-breeches school. C•ipt Becher commenced
his career on a pony, and wes remarkable as well for
the boldness of his riding as for the judgment he
displayed in the hunting field. Being popular with
the noblemen and gentlemen in his neighbourhood,
he received the appointment of captain in a yeo-
manry regiment, w hie!' gave him a stuttis among
his contemporaries of much benefit throughout his
career. In 1830 he first came out at St Albans,
where, on Mr Angerstein's Tattler, he rode second
to Lord Ranelagh's Wonder. At the same place, in
1832, for the Grand Steeplechase, he was third on
Corinthian Kate to Moonraker, ridden by Dan Sef-
fert ; and in 1834 he was in the same position on
Zigzag to The Peat, who was steered by Jena
Mason. At Northampton. two months afterwards,
his luck changed, and he began on Vivian a series
of victories which raised his reputation to the
highest pitch, for he won the Northamptonshire
with him, beating Vanguard and Liverpool; and
afterwards the Grand Aylesbury Chase, beating
Laurestina and 18 others, including Lord Water-
ford's Lancet and Mr Elmore's Grimaldi. So cha-
grined was the Marquis at his defeat that he imme-
diately challenged Vivian with his second string,
Cock Robin, to run over the Harborongh country
for £2,000. Captain Lamb, the owner of Vivian,
accepted the offer, and, after a fine race, by Captain
Becher's superior jockeyship, Vivian won cleverly.
In 1835 he won the St Albans Chase on Agnes, for
Captain Fairlie ; and was second on Caliph, at Chela
tenham, to Patrick on Boabdil. In 1836 he won
the Waltham Abbey on Grimaldi ; and at Ayles-
bury he was second to Powell on Saladin, for the
heavy weights steeplechase, but won the light
weight on him, beating Grimaldi, Yellow Dwarf,
and the Pony. At Egham he was second, with
Vivian, to Powell on Red Deer; and he likewise
won the Liverpool on The Duke, beating Dick
Christian, Polyanthus, and several others. At
St Albans fortune again smiled on him, but
the battle was dearly paid for, as his
horse—the far.famed Grimaldi—died after pass-
ing the winning flag. Worcester saw him win with
his favourite, Vivian, whose name had begun to be
quite a household word among the followers of
steeplechasing; but at Leamington he wee very
unexpectedly defeated on him by Flacrow, ridden
by that well.known Leicestershire yeoman, Mr.
Haycock; Lord Waterford, on Yellow Dwarf, being
third, and Lord Clanricarde, on Carlow, fourth:
At Northampton he was again a thorn in the side of
the Marquis of Waterford, as he beat him on the
Crow with Mr. Fairlie's Wing, with whom also he
won the East Grirstead chase. In 1837 he won at
Bath with Fieschi ; and at Danchurch with 71b.
extra, on Vivian, he defeated .Terry and a very large
field. But in the following week Jem Mason on
Jenny turned the tables both on him and Flacrow.
Cheltenham saw him again a winner this year on
Vivian, before a very large number of horses. In
1838 he was not so lucky, as he only won the
Northampton on Vivian. and ran second with him
at Daventry to Lottery. After this he retired on
his laurels, his frame requiring rest from the many
severe accidents he encountered during his career,_
aad which caused him afterwards to walk lame. In
appearance Captain Becher was strong as a Her-
cules, and he could endure any amount of labour
and fatigue. In knowledge of pace he was second
to none, and in finding out the weak parts of a
country he was very clever. Against his integrity
nothing was ever alleged, but he failed to make
hay while the sun shone, and retired into privacy
upon a competency on his wife's side, which ren•
dered the close of his chequered career calm and
P° lacid Ho was buried at Willesdon cemetery on
Saturday last in the presence of a few who had
draiye d, Mr. associate;; among 'Whom we
tt, aCe`JUlPanied by
nboeetincedhis lathisotledr.
fn
Messrs. C. end W. Moore, Hemp:ion, Eden and W.
Smith. The mourners included his two sons, Mr.
Dobree, his brother-in-law, and Dr. Price.

THE WORLD OF MAGIC.—On Professor Andcrd
son's kind invitation upwards of 500 of the juvenile poptvw
lation enjoyed a perfect treat, while witnessing the perfor.
mance of the renowned professor at St James's Hall on Sa-
turday last, being his sixth morning performance. The
children from the Royal Caledonian Orphan Asylum, at-
tended by their excellent band, in their national costume,
were especially noticed. The professor donned the native
tartan. The hall was crowded.