The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-14
An Old Horseshoe.
Cleveland Leaders Cincinnati Letter


Cleveland Leaders Cincinnati Letter.
The other day I heard good story OF
the superstition of one of the best known
sporting men in the west. Capt. George 5.
Stone, the man who first discovered the
swiftness that lay 10 the feet of the ia
nous Maud 8. The,s story has been cur
rept for some time. and Capt. Stone hasn't
taken the trouble to deny it. 1t is said
that about fifteen years ago Capt. Stone
was ekiug out q precarious existence down
in Georgia-was living from hand to
mouth. He had previously enjoyed a
modcum OF prosperity, but unfortunately
had been too oonhding, and had trusted
out funds which seemed next to impossible
to collect. For months the payments ke
received we're promises, and on these
Stone had been living. He had lost
friends and resources. One woe had trod
on the heel of another ia such rapid sue
oession that even hope was well nigh gone.
The man with whom be boarded
finally refused to trust him further. and
he was indeed filed with despair. AS a
last resort, he borrowed horse on which
TO ride to neigh boring town, where he
proposed to seek work OF some kind, no
matter how mental. So iii had been his
luck that he woetully prepared to
failure. En route 10 the town, the horse
became uumanageabIe, The beast dashed
down a hill at furious pace, and, just
before the bottom was reached. stumbled
aud fell, hurting the by this time demoral
lied rider over her head Poor Slooe
landed on ms face in the mud, and aud as
his right hand touched the earth, it at the
same time touched an old horseshoe which
had been lost on this spot. The young
nan had always had more or less super
stitiou, and he looked upon what, to all
appearances, was a worthless find, as a
! good omen. Shaking the mud from his
! person, he again moua!ed the horse.
which had been fully tame! by the fall J.,
| aad rods Ou to his destination with the
! horseshoe 10 his pocket His GRAND was
a successful one, as be readily found some
! lucrative employment, and went to work
| His fortunes mended fast A few days
after the adventure his Old debtors voun-
tarly squared up with him dollar for
dollar, aud little later, with a plethoric
puTse, he came north. His success IN
the south was only harbinger of what he
was to realize here. All his ventures turned
out we'll, and he still clin2s to the horse
shoe. AS an instance of his exceptional
| luck is mentioned his purchase OF Maud S.
| in Kentucky. She was purchased tcgeth-
| er with another little FLY and brought
over TO the Bugher farm, near Glendale, in
Hamilton county. The pair of FLIES had
| been purchased for a nominal sum. at the
especial request OF Mr.. Bugher aud ons Of
his friends. When the pair reached the
farm, Bugher's friend was given the choice
and he chose the FLY which did not bear
the name Of Maud s. The friends choice
was also Bugher's choice. and Mr.. Bugher
reluctantly accepted Maud because she
fell to him. Though blooded stock
raiser himself. he saw nothing in the little
mare moro than any ordinary roadster
possessed, and so. when Capt. Stone came
along one day and offered him $3.50 for
her he cried. cts bargain, and was
lest Stone should back out. The purchase
10 ade, Capt. Stone took Maud s. down to
Chester park and put her 10 training, and
10 less than q year the little FLY had
startled the world with a record of
2:l73, and was sold to William
II. Vanderbilt for $4,000. After this
Capt Stones horseshoe was more
valuable than ever, and it is
said, indeed be has told few of his
| friends, that he can not get over the super
stitious reverence for that horseshoe, found
down IN the Georgia mud. and so where
ever he goes. goes the horseshoe. AS GER
tain as clean collars and cuffs and boiled
shirt go into his gripsack. just so certain
goes the horseshoe whenever Stone sets
of on journey. The horseshoe went to
Chicago and Rochester during the past
summer. Capt. Stone is now regarded as
wealthy. His new home on Walnut hills
is elegant and kept up in elegant style. but
in value. compared TO that of the old
horseshoe, it is a mere bagatelIe
No doubt the captains superstition will
provoke smile on the lips of not few
readers, but let the smiling reader search
his heart and answer as to whether be or
she has any superstition, Let him answer
as to whether he will start on Journey or
begin some new enterprise on Friday; as
to whether he would be willing to be the
thirteenth person TO sit down to table;
as to whether the chirping of al innocent
little cricket ever made him nervous; as to
whether he ever let foolish dream bother
him.
To GIVE tone 10 the stomach auG