Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-12-09
BARNUM'S HORSE AUCTION
A Great Gathering Of Snowman
at Bridgeport. Ci--Engiisll Ra-
GERS Almost Given Away.

P. T. Barnum Universal Exposi-
tion Company, were on the train which
reached Bridgeport at 10 o'clock yes
( terday morning. An immense wagon,
originally used in transporting tent
poles, stood at the depot, with six fine
horses hitched to it. On the front seat
sat the jolly and rotund Whitaker,
waving blood red banner, and shout
ing, This way, gentlemen, to the great
auction in true Snowman style. The
wagon was speedily crowded. The
whole firm of June, Nathan & Co.
We're there, including the venerable
Avery Smith, George rBaiFey,J. J.
Nathans, and Louis June. Joe Cush-
ing, of Howe's d Cushing's Circus,
] limped on crutches, the result of bro
kon leg. The Bunnell brothers were
there, and j. Plumb, fifth avenue
millionaire, on the lookout for nice
pony or two.
| \ ride of ten minutes brought the
! party to the stables, which stood in a
large field, and as it proved, fully ex-
posed to the zephyrs which swept up
from the Sound in anything but gem
tie manner. There were many Bridge
port gentlemen present, and few
neighboring farmers, and the usual
number Of idle lookers-On.
TIE SALE.
| At IL o'clock the auctiOneer mount
a,l., l1r q II
and Mr.. Coup, and the three explained
| the terms of the sale. Terms, cash for
all SUMS less than 81 900; above that
amount twenty per cent down, the rest
to run until July l, 1876, if necessary.
Tie sale would commence with the
horses, but none of them would be
warranted; the buyer must take them
on his own Judgment.
"We'll begin with the English run
ming horses first" said Mr.. Barnum.
'Bring out Webster"
! The English horse with the illustri-
Gus American name, proved to be a
handsome sOrrel beast, which very
many New y Orkers have seen speeding
around the Hippodrome track. But
neither his blood, name, nor reputation
seemed to be appreciated. and after
some delay s. was bid. knock him
down. shouted the Mayer of Bridge
port, not the horse, but the man who
bid five dollars for Webster The
crowd as in duty bound haw-hawed, i,
and the bids slowly crept up to $50,
and that was all Webster brought. He
cost me $780, said Barnum.
Kitty Pease was the next running
horse, and she after slow bidding
brought $50.
Stop the sale of the running horses,
said his Honor; well wait until some
| body comes that wants running
horses. Bring on the draught hOrses.'
Frank and Bill were the first TO ap-
! pear, fine, large, gray horses. After
very laDgnid bidding, Mr.. Nathan
| bought them for Sl55 and $50. Then
Kate and Bird, and Mike and Nose,
! and four other steeds, were knocked
| down to the same gentleman for prices
ranS ing from 800 to 1925.
The first successful competitor that
Mr.. Nathan met was MIR. y. 4. Stew
art, of Cincinnati, who paid 500 for
Maud, a beautiful sOrrel mare. Mr..
Stewart bought for old John Robinson,
who was not able to come on from Gin
cinnati himself. Then Mr.. Nathans
bought Gilly and Fred aad Harry and
Heenan, not paying more than 1925 for
any of them, and they were all good
horses; so that when Mr. Williams, a
Bridge port liveryman, paid S120 for
Diamond, 'buckskin' horse, it was a
mild surprise to the crowd. Mike and
Tom, fine, round buckskin horses,
which were used in the Roman chariot
races, were bought by Mr.. Nathans for
Sl25 and $40, and theu Cushings paid
$40 for Henry, another handsome
buckskin. After that Mr.. Nathans
paid his own prices for the next nine
animals, Suse, d fine gray mare, bring
ing the highest price-S1j5.
That's right, gentlemen said Mr..
here in the cold and let that Snowman
fine horses. Well, it's your own fault.
can stand it,
Peter and Niger, two handsome
blacks, two Of the old fOur-horse char
lot team, only brought $3.50 the team.
OF course, Mr.. Nathans bought them,
and, with two exceptions, the next for
ty horses.
By this time it was an established
fact that he would start and end the
bidding, when horse that he did
not want was offered, il was always
some minutes before bid could be got.
The finest team offered were MOley
and Jim, fine pair of iron-grays, large
and stylish. Gen. Sherman offered
5000 for them when the show was in
ST. Louis, but could not get them.
They were knocked down to Mr.. Ma
thans for $500 each. There were 1901
drBught horses, aud with hardly an ex-
cepliOn all were fine animals. OF
these Nathans bought 81, and for all
the prices paid were small.
The ponies were next offered for sale,
10 the infinite delight of the many |
small boys who thronged the yard, and |
made their presence universally felt
and heard after tho manner of small
boys.
The first pony was Shooting Star, a
dainty bit of horse flesh, bought by
Mr.. Barnum himself in Hamburg for
$500. Mr.. Nathans paid $40 for her;
a little gray Shetland, sold for $40;
Buck, a yellow Swedish pony, for $50;
Black Hawk, a still smaller Shetland,
for SS5; Niger, q smooth, fine named
French pony, for $3.50; and January,
The famous trick pony,a very small and
very wicked, shaggy little beast, bro't
so.
The neat little bay mare Bell, that
the natty little Hippodrome messenger
used to ride, brought $50. Punch was
a piebald rascal that Mr.. Nathans him
self imported and sold to Mr.. Coup for
$500 some three years ago; he now
bought him back for $50. One of the
prettiest Shetlands was Baby, and Mr..
Barnum wanted her for Il little grand
child, but Mr.. Nathans wanted her
too, and wanted her So badly that he
outbid Mr.. Barnum, and bought her
fer $50. She wasn't larger than a