The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-10-11
Goldsmith,s Famons Maze

John II. Decker, Esq, q brother-in.
law OF ex-Judge William Fullerton
dled at his residence near Denton
0&ytAnge county, n. Z, few DAYS ago.
ne was the man who found running
slld IN pasture lot in New Jersey and
nrst Drought to the notice of horsemen
the mare that has since astonished the
world as Goldsmith Maid. A short
nme before his last illness Mr. Decker
told the story of the beginning OF this
wonderful mares career
In 1864, Tom Bingham and nv
sell, Mr.. Decker said. went into a
mite speculation buying mp turkeys
and cattle through this section. We
Doth lived In Newburg OF that time.
In november OF that year we drove
over INTO Sussex county, and stopped
as Jonn B. Decker's, near DeckeFtoWn.
Johnny y. as he was called. was INV
uncle. he had mare that every one
IN the Rhole country knew about. for
sne was the widest and wickedest
Plece OF horset1esh that ever lived. This
mare was IN the pasture lot with the
otner horses the day We went there.
ana as knew the stock she came from
wanted to have look at her: but we
conIdnt get within gunshot of her.
der sire was the Edsa1l HambIetonian.
we stayed all night at Uncle Johnny's.
Somenow or other I took q great fancy
20 that wild mare, and I offered sf50
for her; but the old gentleman didn't
want to sell her.
On, what's the use Of keeping that
marey said his wife Let him have
her. Offer him $40 more, says she TO
me, and he'll take it,
So counted ont $3.50 and gave il
20 my aunt. Uncle John hesitated. but
soon said:
IAN right. You may have her
But you must catch her firstP and the
Old man laughed as if he had me in
called two or three of his men to-
getner, and We went out and drove the
horses All in the barnyard. The mare
went into the barn and we shut her in.
Inen We got her in stall, and after a
long while we managed to get halter
on her. She hadn't looked through a
collar IN four years. She was years
old az the time. When Uncle John
saw tnat we bad her he was sick Of his
bargain, and wanted to back out. But
We ted her behind our wagon and
drove away. Uncle John had 4 mare.
z sister OF this one, that he valued at
SoOO. de said he would give me that
mare instead; but didn't want her.
Zen: Fitzpatrick bought that one after |
ward and took her to Chill with him
put never heard that she amounted /
% anything. On our way In from 1
Uncle Johns to my fathers house. in
the place where 1 live nov. we byonobt
over a ton of turkeys. I tried fine
speed OF the mare now and then bv
running my horses as fast as thev conId
go but she could trot faster than they
rHn, every IImS. I never eo.v s,,n1,
movement for green horse, and knew
sne would make good one.
Well, we got to fathers and put mn
Ior the night. Next morning Tom
brigham counted ont S130 and offered
u 20 me, and said he wanted 10 90 into Il
partnership with me in the mare Bnt
told him wanted the mare for NV
0rotner IN law, Judge Fullerton.
y J. nile we were getting ready to start.
liteE breakfast, who should drive M
out Bin Tompkins, or Jersey Bill. as he
known, and is yet. He kept a ho-
o. 81 hampton, two or three miles i
away. He'd heard that I'd bought j
'onnny B. 3 mare, and he came over to |
-ook st her The hired man had the !
mare ont OF tbs barn, and was showing ,
leh gait mp and down the lane father and I
nother we're both looking at her. Mother {
vas very much put out because I had i
bought horse that was trotter. and ,
a.ner didn't ike It, either. jersey +,
aIii fell IN love with the mare right | /
John says he, III give $500 for /
7 said no. Father and mother /
Vere both very anxious that should
axe the money, but wanted the {
81, Three hundred and fifty, said
.,..it Bat I didn't want the money, and !
IN give you three hundred and i