The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-27
CHRISTMAS HOG GUESSING.
FAIR IIATEN'S UNASSUMIN0 JUDGES
or PORCINE 1TOIRDUPOIS.

Townsmen IL Most Com pieteIy INDICATED.
There Is no hog-Gucsslng arlstocracy in
tho region about Fair Haven. y. j. There are
no profcsscd experts ia the matter OF porcine
avoirdupois-p who put on airs when
there is a hog around aud who affect to think 1t
not worth their while to open their mouths OK
cept TO perform the functions belonging to a
butchers steclyards-rerso who look with
lofty contempt upon tho puny efforts Of other
persons rash ms to hazard guesses on tho
dead weight OF live porkcrs. There is none
eucn in or about Fair Haven. But there are nbo
hog guessers there, nevertheless Indeed. Il may
be said that the entire community rises TO moro
than merely respectable level in the matter OF
hog guessing. and docs this. moreover. in such
quiet. unnssuming way that n stranger might
pass through that region and not be aware that
there is Il hog gucsser ia the place The we'll
TODD residents OF Fair Haven. besides captur-
ing nearly all Of tho sweet favored Shrewsbury
Rver oysters that command such good prices
In the New York markets. raise their own pork
Aud when the holiday season approaches. ono
Fair Haven man will visit anothers pigpen and
Say: Fine shoat. that"
Tho owner Of the cOmplmentod animal will
chuck another car OF corn into the pcn. and nod
assent to the sentiment in a satisfied way.
- Go close 10 two hundred and n quarter won't
he?' the visitor will venture.
Yes nearer two hundred and n half"
Eat think that dark shoat Of mine will out
weigh him 10y fifteen pounds
Then they walk around and takc n look at tho
dark shoot and each Of them takes a iiecc Of
chalk and makes ngurgs on u post. which nro
his estimate of the dead weight ot tho two pork
ers. and which will etay there during the fow
days intervening between then and hog-killing
time.
This sort Of thing has been going on in Fair
Haven Tor generations. untl nearly every pcr-
son ot the present generation makes q very re-
spcctabie guess ON the weight OF hog, ana
docs 1t in such natural. on-hund way that the
consciousness ~ eruiiton is not at all APP
parent in the at. Even the women can make
lair estimate 0f tho weight OF a shont although
Of course. thoy would not take part in public
East fall Uncle J ohm Van Tine. formerly Coun.
ment. was present at a hog guessing some
where out on Long Island. Airy experts IN hog
strung up and slit open aud dashed with tho
last raiiful oi cold water md hung To- the steel
had mara oil the exact weight Of The hog.
Then out spekr Un.le John Van Tine: When
have n hog gut ssing in Fair Haven. tho weight
oil TIE hoE VIII DC guessed 10 "A fraction oi a
pound. by NOR" than ON" mHn-Uud thCrc are
NJ professional hos sless,r there, either
Some two or Three We Ks ugo The village OF
Fair llav was moved To a wholesome. healthy
condition OF excitement IS TIA" ANNOUNCEMENT
Tines Tavern On CHRISTMAS aittrnoon' This
ANNOUNCEMENT was made by means uf poster.
which contained what puruortcd To be- HWuol.
cut OF the hog thni was to be- guessed on. The
engraving looked a. though IL had boen cut
with subsol plough. and the hog WAS not per
mitted D see it, lest ne should lose his appetite
ana d!sappon, those WHO bad made high
Tho animal from Farmer Jopha clayton q
Leedsyillc. who II close at Il bargain. The hog
was a beauty. Eighteen months old; black.
with white face. glossy b air where ordinary
pigs have hri-tles eyes looking out Of deep pits
between his tat checks and nristocrntc nose
meat in proportion to the amount of irnmc-
WORN mHcn porf relatiNty 70 tle quantity OF
1s Young B.aekhHwk. For tn days the hos
was on exhibition in Van Tines stable. and tho
counter. EigGiy chanccs were offered. and on
Chr lstiaas afternoon. before the time Tor killing
the hog eighty chances mad been taken. At ?
of the stable, The committee to see FAIR play
WIS on band Consisting Of ChNrlcs Rid lie.
and Harvey Littlc-a honorable men Of Fair
Haven. Nathan T. Williams. better known as
Tobo Williams hold the glitterng blade with
which the principal artery Of Young Black
hawk : porcine system was = bc severed.
which he had been confined. Instead Of enter
ing INTO the. spirit Of the occasion he made u
break for freedom upsettng several hog
many carriagg e. thPt v t;9gd about In thhis
shining blade and boldly gave chase capturing
the fugacious uorker in u corner Of the yard.
and holding him alter the two had rolled over
the multitude. Then "1obe" called Tor his
knife and buried it deep in the neck Of the AM
when II was withdrawn the job was well done.
At this point Edward Throckmorton OF Long
rs the hog dead = he inquired. breath
Just breathing his last"
" Is II too late 90 take guessH
Encle John }a an iine had an a., extra number
Throckmoron NJ qhcc, secured the ticket. on
the back u this ticket Ihrockmorton marked in
bold; confident hgurGsI" 12O.' ,-,,
md scrap"d lee WIS strung NJ in the bnrn and
Tobe proceeded with the dressing In awor X
manlike manner. the committee overseerngt II 9
Job. After his was completed tho fine animal
was, dashed with cold water and hung 10 the
Four hundred and fty-slNty-slxty-nye-
siY-sNty -seven-ani a hnltY-no; four
Ma & t9Inas To n9te9 the
weights Of the steeyards. and the committee
say tnat he hcroically reilai ned from any nt-
guess. which was 4j2 The weight was an
nounced by COMMITTEEMAN Cross.
Then Il was that Llward Ihrockmorton
kicked I is heels together and. between shiyers.
said: What d-n fool WAS 10 como rushing
az mere ena pay nil} cents 10 guess 42o on The
The sealed box containing the tickets was
aacR 6Foke eR We're % gs9cr On US
md on the back Of No. 81 were the same figures.
lumber - vas ga, held 10y George r smith
Me first named was the guesser for the three.
Number 50 contained Uncle John Van Tines
smith Hcndrickson, and Littlein equal shares.
md tho other halt 10 Uncle John. \ doom
other rucssers came within iow notches 81
Me animals weight. Tho lowest guess was
rhrockm0rion's. 400. and the highest was
kdam Homcss. $685.
While the throng was discussing the fentures
VI Fair Haven's first public hog guessing.
Farmer Clayton-beiorc mentioned as being
.oso at a bargaiu-came around to Uncle John
Tor tho pay FOR the hog. II was figured up-467
pounds Of pork at a stated price per pound
Ibis hog Of you dead weightW
Yes" replied Farmer Clayton.
Then you should deliver him to me dead 2
Ye-cs.h
80. Of course. you pay for the kiling2"
"Y-e-e-s: but In that case | think the entrRls
ought 10 belong TO mel!
The Cremation OF Herr stIer at GOtha.
From he Lptia Tunes
RrpTTS Dec u The daV before Vestor-