Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-01
co,,,n,oaors ritfson,s latest.

graphic announcement lFOIu CuiCdBo VI tAo
purchase, by Commodore n. W. Kittson, of
this city, from Il: V. Bemis, Esq, of the
pacing wonder, Little Brown Jug, 211&, and
the trotting gelding Silyerton, 2:2O4, the
price paid for the two being S25,0O0. The
telegraph report divides the purchase price by
making the sum paid for Little Brown jug
sol, eco, leaving $1,000 for silverton. This
division, we surmise, was mere guesswork,
but it very nearly approximates the relative
value Of the two for turf purposes, and as
both are geldings, that is the only thing to
be taken into account IN the matter.
In making these purchases, Commodore
KIttson has rounded Oft, cap-sheated, year
of upexampled operations in the purchase OF
fine stock, th0roughbreds, trotting and
pacing, with most brilliant, as well as wise,
stroke of policy, enterprise, or whatever you
may call it. Ia an article reviewing Mr..
KllIsoE's turf operations, published in
the GLOBE on the last day of the
old year, we gave a list of his purchases in the
ten months from date of his first purchase,
the list embracing some eighty head, for
which he had paid in the aggregate nearly
Sl25 COO. Added to this his purchase OF the
driving park property for headquarters for
his breeding operations, the cost Of the man.
moth and magnificent brick stable, and other
incidental expenditures, and his total outlay
up to that time was shown to be about $780,
600. Since then be has bought the two
stations, Revenue and Blackwood, Jr., pay
ing for The two Sl9,650. Little Brown jug
and Silverton as above, $4,000, had new
palace car built for transporting his stock
about the country, and made other additions
ing the aggregate of his sx-
penditures in the time covered-not yet
thirteen months-over 100000 in round
numbers.
Persons unacouainted with Commodore
Kittson, reading This statement might be jus
titled in ascribing such result to the wild
visions of an old man in his dotage
or q rattle headed youngster with more
money than brains, fit subjects for
the care of a guardian. but sucn ~ a
mark in this case. Mr.. Kittsen is in the full
possession OF his mental vigor. After an
ordinary lifetime of severe toll, mental and
bodi Y, he finds himself possessed OF ample
means. Minnesota, the home of his adoption,
to which he came before even a territorial
organization had been formed for it, was in his
opinion well adapted to the production OF the
horse in his best form. He loved the horse,
and delighted in him when strainlng every
Eerve for the mastery on the turf. 1t was in
us power 10 give pay ~ Lhto lOfCs SlhNt iV OLS
same lime leave to his beloved state an inheri-
tage of pure bred stock, the beneficial lntiu-
ences of which would be living, ever present
reality long after he had been gathered 10 his
reward.
These were the motives-all those who know
him will readily cOnceiVe-lhat have actuated
Commodore Kittson in his purchases. And
following out this idea, the greatest care has
been observed to secure the best, regardless of
Tt hos This motive which has
duced him to confbe his purchases almost
exclusively to stations or brood mares
speed without the power to transmit or repro
duce itself after retiring from the turf, not
being desired by him
The exceptions to this course is found in
the purchase OF the trotting geldiug, Fannie
g. (2:2S) and Little Brown ing and Silverton.
When it was announced some six weeks ago
that Mr.. Bemis was about to dispose of his
visited the Commodore to urge
upon him the adyisability of be-
coming the owner of the jug. giving
as his reason for the advice that he needed such
an animal to make his turf string complete
undoubtedly the most valuable on the turf,
but lacking developed sensation which the
jug was. The commodore listened and dis
cussed the proposition, combating the idea
because OF the fact of the jug being geldlng,
though we are HOW luCliucu W luC OpIHtOu LIS
expressed opposition at the time was more
for arguments sake than anything else, he
then recognizing the desirabllity OF his be-
coming the owner Of the horse.
But whatever the mode of reasoning by
which Commodore Kittson arrived at the de-
termination to make the purchase, there is,
we think, no room to doubt he has acted
wisely. Little Brown jug is wonderful horse
and now that Maud S is withdrawn from the
toI1 ha fIa cafi
present year. His history, as told by Mr.. D.
n. Fry In the Chicago Lire Stock Journal, is
as follows:
The pacing wonder that forms the subject
of this sketch was foaed the property of Mr.
Robert II. Moore, at MooreSvllle, Marshall
county, Tenn, on April 26, 1875. lie was
sired by Tom Moore's Tom Hal, he by Kilt
rell's Tom Hal, he by Clay's Tom Hal, of
Kentucky; LIST dam by Bryaut's horse, he by
Clipper, he by Clay's Tom Hal of Kentucky;
I'd dam by John Eaton, a thoroughbred horse.
AS q colt, and even up TO the time of evincing
signs of speed, it cam OF be said that he (Jug)
attracted any special attention; on the contra
~, he was considered merely good ordinary
SADDLE colt.
Probably nothing will give more correct
andexact idea of his valuation during this
period than an account of his sales. In Jan
nary, 1876, he was purchased, as weanllng,
by me, for the sum of S27.50-an amount that
any ordinary colt would bring at the time. |
kept the colt until August, 1877, when sold
him to a cOlored farm hand for the sum of
S45, on time. Although only two-year old
at this time he was broken to ride, and soon
could go a good, lively pace; and it is believed
by some that this colored man was the cause
OF the horses speed being developed so soon,
for he would push him on Sundays 10 the top
of his speed, as that was the only time he had
the opportunity of riding hun, as he was
obliged to work during the week. The negro
being unable to psy for him sold him back to
me in the fall for S65.
used him as a saddle horse and occasion
ally on Saturday evinings would pace him on
private track in the neighborhood. Here
he gave such indisputable signs of speed that
in August, 1879, he was placed in the hands
of MIR. Harrison DAVIS, Of Pennington, for
training. So rapid and so marked was his
Improvement under the skilful handling OF
Mr. DAVIS, that in four weeks he paced mile
on Mr.. DAVIS track in 2: "a. Il entered him IN
the fall races at Nashville, Tenn, and at
Huntersville, Ala, both of which he won
with ease. After this short but successful
campaign Mr.. DAVIS continued in charge of
him, aud gave him as much work as the
weather would permit, In the spring of 1880
he was entered in one of the eastern cir
cuits, where he acquitted himself very credit.
ably indeed. During this campaign l sold
him to Mr.. II. V. Bemis, of Chicago, for the
sum of $4,000.
Since he has been in the possession of MIR
Bemjs, he has shown himself to be the fastest
PAGER in the world, by pacing three straight
heats at Hartford, Conn, last year, in the ex
trordlnary good time of 2:11%, 2:11&, 2:l2K
Gas a neighbor and myself were coming
from Lewisburg, our county seat, before the
horse had been trained, we were talking oil
horses, and discussing the movements o.
horses in general. l was riding the Brown
jug, and as we rode along l remarked to m,
friend, believed if my horse had the proper
training he would beat the famous PAGER Mat
tie Hunter. Ny friend, few days after thi
suggestion was made, told it of me in Grove
in Mooresville, and they had great deal o
sport over me, and finally concluded that
was going deranged about my horse; but
have lived to know that he has accomplished
lust what predicted he would do"