The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-03
JOE HARKER.s START.
~hIcd2o Irlbune-
Ehn knnrra an,rthin

Who knows anything about the re
ported sale of ST. Julien to Joe HarkeI
and Charley Green 81 said one of a party
OF horsemen who were sitting in the
Jockey club rooms the other day.
1 Nobody seemed to possess any infor
nation on the subject, and one person
doubted whether Harker would feel like
putting $4,000 of his own money into
a trotter, although he owns several for
which he paid from $4,000 to $40 600
He ought to be willing TO do it." said
a gentleman, "for every dollar ne has is
the result Of owning trotter ~
Being asked for an explanation, the
gentleman proceeded as follows:
Way back in the time when the Pa
eIfc Mali was in its glory, Joe Harker
was clerk ID a brokers' office on New
street, New York. Even then he loved a
trotter, and while on an excursion to
Orange county, picked up, for small
| price, a four-year-old colt that had Won
derful speed. Not long after bringing
him TO New York, Harker drove ont to
the road where Commodore Van
derbilt always stopped when out for a
ride, and soon after his arrival the old
man drove up and sat down for his af-
| ternoon smoke. When he had finished,
and was ready to start for the city again,
| Harker had his own colt brought out
and logged along down the road behind
the Commodore, and when the old man's
team was going pretty good clip pull
ed out and went by him. Once in front
he pulled up, and the Commodore was
soon even terms with him. The railroad
kings eye had detected the ease with
which the young man had passed him,
and no sooner was near him again than
he asked whose horse that was.
| Its mIne' SAID Harker
"'What is it's from the Commodore
Only four-year old that bought
up in Orange county
is he for sale?'
mo
"'Now young man, want that horse,
and if you will send him around to my
stable will buy him
"'Can't SELL
"'Well,' said the Commodore, getting
rather interested, isn't there any price
you will put on the horseE'
mo-
"'No way can get him?
"'Yes; if you Will give me a point
er on Pacific Mail I'll send the horse
around
1.-THE Commodore looked at the young
man in admiration of his intense cheek
He was getting angry as well as interest
ed, and said rather roughly that ht
would pay good price for the horse.
That won't buy him. was Harker'
rejoinder.
$50 they logged along in silence al
the way down town, the Commodore
noting the easy gait of the colt, and
feeling more and more that he mus
have him. Finally he told Harker tt
send him around, and the horse reached
the stable that evening. The CommO
dore droye him single and double for
) couple of weeks, and finally sent 70
Harker. The young man was promptly
on hand at the appointed time.
"1 want to pay you for that horse.
said Vanderbilt, taking up achecl
book.
"'He can't be paid for that way,' wa
: Harker's reply; you know what said
Vanderbilt looked aehim steadily 70
moment, and then said: When
want you l will send for YOU and Har
ker left and went about his business.
at was nearly three months before h
, heard from Vanderbilt, but one da
word came for him to call at the Office
He went and found the old man there.
Now said the Commodore, I SUI
! pose that if told you anything fort
men on Wall street would know it insid
of an hour.
"'No, they wouldn't replied Harkel
: That isn't my way of doing business
"fWen you buy 1000 shares of Pacif
Mall and the Commodore resumed hi
writing.
Looking up in a few minutes h
; found Harker still sitting there.
|, why don't you go and attend t
thats | told you to bny 1000 shares
! didn't ~
eyes said Harker, but you might a
well have told me to buy the New Yorl
: Central
"'Hayen't got any money!
|, mo, sir
, "sThen what were you driving such
! fast horse for"
l "'I got him cheap
Cant you get a friend TO buy iii
stock for your
eyes, I suppose could get forty q
them if I could prove that you told m
to buy the stock; but that isn't m
Style
This reply struck the COmmodoT
|. forcibly, and, when telling the story a
! forwards, he would allude to it will
> sent an order to one of his brokers I
buy 100 shares of Pacific Mail for Hal
: ker, and he (Vanderbilt) would be II
sponsible Tor it. When there was clea
profit of 800, 600 in the deal VANDERBILT
: told Harker to sell, which he lost netim
/ in doing. The young mans secretivl
/ ness so impressed the Commodore thu
he took Harker into his employ, CAV
him desk in his private Office, and it
l doubted if any man enjoyed Vanderbilt
: confidence to the extent that Joe HarkG
did from that time until the old ma
J, died " ~