The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-27
An Old American Jockey.

Plane street, Newark, NJ. He is the
oldest living native American horse
jockey and trainer. He is 80 years old
He was born in Dover, near Boston, and
rode running horses in races over II
years ago. His father, who was Il fa
nous horse trainer, taught him to ride
as soon as he could sit in saddle. HI
hos blue eyes, regular features, gray
hnir, mixed with little brown, and {
small but compact figure. His hands
are palsied. "Runnin' horses amt wha
they was when was youngster," sale
Mr.. Walker to a reporter, 'for they
amt got the bottom now to run three
m four mile heats o couple of times il
one afternoon. Seventy years ago horse
men wouldn't give much for horse
that couldn't stand two or three fou,
mile heats in day. I'll never forget
the great four-mile race, best two in
three, heats Of four miles each, between
the North an South, which come off at
Craig's Point, near Boston, in 1914. II
was blisterin' hot day, an clouds OF
dust nearly hid the wagons and people
that crowded the road between Boston
an Cambridge. Thousands Of people
crowded round the race course. The
South had matched Watch Eye, fine
bay horse, ngin Sam Purdy's fast Little
John, rattlin runner. Rich planters
plnnteas. backed thoir horse with their
last dollar alr then put up their slaves
agin the Northern mon. A littlo darkey
boy in pink suit rodo Little John an
white boy was mounted on Watch Eye.
Folks cheered like mad when tho horses
was brought out. Little John won the
first heat by length, m ho took the
second heat easy. The Northeners won
heaps of money. Tho next day Pence
maker, Revenge, and two other good
ones started in tho three-mile race.
Arthur Hyde, of Boston, owned Peace
maker, an the New England folks put
their money on him. The New Yorkors
an Southerners backed Revenge, Now
York horse, Sam Purdy wanted MIR.
Hyde to let the darkcy who won with
Little John ride Pcncemakcr, but Mr..
Hyde said lie Ind Yankee boy who
could ride. Twas IL little brown-haircd,
bluc-cycd lad then, m I had on a scar
lot suit. In front of the Judges stand
Mr.. Hyde lifted ne into Peaccmakcrs
saddle, nn' the Boston folks checred me
till they Was hoarse; peaccmnker linowed
ne, an | knowed what hc could do,
'cnusc I had often rodo him. Revenge
took the first and II brown horse the Sc
cond heat Then l let old Penccmakcr
out, an just slid right away from the
other horses, and won the next two heats
and the race. The Boston folks pulled
me from the saddle, carried nc on their
shoulders, m men pitched gold and sill
YER pieces into my cap, an the women
kissed me. Sam Purdy an Mr.. Hyde
gave me nice presents, an MI the news
papers spoke about me. was so light
then that the men passed me over their
heads on the track like fcathcr--I
weighed Only 81 pounds.
II rode lots of 600 yards, half-milc
an mile races after that" said Mr..
Walker, satisfied smile plnying about
his thin lips, cam always won. With
Culkin's Indian Chief, fine black horse,
Balkin's gray mare. They was both fast
ones, m the college students an citizens
made big bets. Then some fcllcrs
bought Decatur, from Commodore De-
catur, of New Jersey, an beat all Bos-
toms best horses. In 1916 The Pride of
the South, famous Baltimore pony,
was brought to Boston under another
namo to beat Indian Chief, an Mr.. See
ley, n great trainer, who owned Amcri-
can Star, timed Indian Chief on the sly.
Then he an his friends backed the
Baltimore pony. The race was for $500
the horses to start on the score, the
dash being only a quarter of mile.
rode Indian Chief, nm whom l saw Mr..
HARDWOOD, the starter, move his lips
put the spurs to Indian Chief, who won
by half neck. In 1916 Little John was
bought by Mr., Warren, who took him
an 2G other runners to Halifax, where
he was to ship them to the West Indies
to run agin English horses. I was hired
to ride Little John. Tho English
wouldn't let Americans tako racing
horses to tho West Indies, so Mr.. War
ren sold all the horses except Little
John and two others, which wo shipped
to Kingston in the name of al English
firm. We was 81 days at sea, and got
to Kingston one day too late for the
races, but Mr.. Warren sold Little John
to Major McCren, of the English Army,
and he beat every horse owned by the
other officers. rodo Cuban horses in
Havana for while, an then went to
Charleston, s. G., where I rode for
planters Mt the races in New Orleans,
Savannah, Macon, Raleigh, an lots of
other towns. The planters sent for me
from every part of tho South, an made
q heap of money Al great rorn moot