The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-29
The Great Sale Of Short. horn Cattle

The recent sale OF herd of twelve short
HON cattle for the almost incredible sum OF
S250,S0O at Utica, N. Y, has already been
reported in our telegraph columns, but as
many will be curious 10 know more of this
extraordinary event we reproduce the fol-
lowing report from the Country Gentle
man.
On Wednesday morning every ones first
busi ess was to get to the scene of action.
Lunch was served without waiting Tor noon,
and indeed it was fairly over soon alter mid
day bad passed. The remarkable spectacle
was witnessed of everything i'll readiness
audience and actors included-fully fifty
minutes before the appointed time. IN jus
tice to otbers who might be on the way, It
was of course impossible to anticipate the ad-
vertised hour, AID the delay was occupied by
busy consultations or casual conversations
between those who met. There were prob
ably about one thousand persons on the
ground, but there had been little notice of the
sale in I'he Deighborhood, and few were pres
ent from merely idle curiosity. We have
never seen so large gathering of the leading
breeders OF the Country, and doubt if another
such will scon be seen again.
The order of the sale had been finally de-
termined on Tuesday, after an opportunity OF
consulting the wishes of bidders. The Dutch
esses, headed by the bull I'd Duke Oneida,
were TO be taken first, the Oxords to follow,
then the members of the various other fam
lilies in the herd. Arou~d the stand OF
Mr.. Page the press was literally represented.
A bank of seats had been erected opposit.
the stand, and we noted in a eel rral group
the earnest faces OF Messrs. Morris, King,
Griswold, Parks, Murray, and Christie. flank
ed on either side by NOBLE band OF Kentuck-
iaus, seated or standing: stalwart and determ-
ined-while away TO the left, on the ring side
OF within it, were grouped the pleasant look
ing company from over sea-Lord Skelmers-
dale and Mr.. Hollord, in person-Mr. Bel
wck acting tor Lords Dunmore and Bective
Mr.. Richardson, agent OF Sir Curtis Lampson
Mr. K clio, who carried off the great prize lat
er in the lay for Mr. PAWN Davies, in the fer
tile Vale of Severn. Not far from the Eng
lish group were some of their most determln-
ed foes, the representatives of Mr.. Alexander
of Kent cky--himself detained at home to
the regret OF all. Nearly opposite, on the
right, stood the CoInels, father and sen,
Thornc, Wing, Harrison, and the bevy OF 9TH
er New Workers, with Mr.. Conger here and
there among them. The crowd pressed on
every side, finally working IN upon the ring
until there was barely circle vacant be-
meath the rostIum for the slow procession ul
the subjects of the sale. The stand of seats
was full to the ends. but only the central cir
Gle kept to the planks, for the first quiet bid
from England brought every man to bis feel
but those who sat that they might not inter-
cept the view of others.
At one clock, ate. a word of explanation
from the auctioneer as TO the programme o
the offerings, the I'd Duke OF Oneida entered.
and the half hour that succeedeG---or int eed
the sull five hours---cannot soon be k.rgotten.
"Will any one make me an offer tor the
bnll?" asked Mr.. Page.
Ten Thousand dolla's," answered Lord
SkelmersIale, in the most off-hand manue,
possible, but so clearly that no one lost the
bid. We did not take the time, but should
say that within 80 seconds, .'eleven thous-
and, "eleven-tiye twelve were called
and on the pause that followed the last, the
Observation-Disclosures from the rostrum,
carried the ownership of the secon- Duke to
the first purchaser of the day, Mr., T. j Nc
Gibben of Kentucky The first Duchess of
Oneida followed at once; she was promptly
started at $4,000, and the bids ran 16. Is,
10. 20, 21, 30, and taxed by hu; dreds to the
last, and she went to Lord Skelmersdale at
S30,600!-an announcement followed by
hearty cheers and great sensation. Then
came seventh Duchess Of Oneida, a yearlng,
and Kentucky took her innings as she fell t.
Mr. Alex nder. She was started at $4,000.
and the bids were 6, Z, 8, 10 from two parties
at once; IL, II and little pause; then a re-
newed start and quick run, by five hundred
or thousand at time, to the end at $l9,-
900!
We can scarcely { How the eleven Duchess
es. one by one, in and out of the constantly
narrowing ring, though neither fingered un-
der the eyes OF the exciting Thong. The 10th
of Geneva went by bounds OF $4,000 at bid
from five to twenty five. The next bid was
26, then 80, 80, 100, 81, 81 200, 31,5O0, 80, 33,
33,500, "a, 34t, $4,000 and at 49,, 1000 she
went to Mr.. b rwick, as was understood, tor
the Earl of Bective. The Sth Duchess went
with her companion to the same bidder for
SIS 300: the 18th Duchess of Thorndale to
Hon. A. B. Conger for $4,000. The 4th of
Oneida theu came in, and her youth
and beauty went to the Kentucky heat,
and Messrs. Bedford and McGIbbin
joir ed forces against all corners, aud carried
the day at a round $4,000 offeI-''it's so
much easier tor he reporters, said Mr.. Rage.
ito make it even money!
Next followed bret but animated work
with the eighth Duchess of Geneva, when
once again called every man to his feet WIN