Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-11
The Phantom IrOtter.

Turf. in which is given the history OF a |
horse named Phantom, up to and includ- |
ing his great race as 6-year old, at
Cleveland. O.. in the 800 class. The en-
tire article is interesting reading, but ow-
ing to its length, we can only give an ex-
tract. commencing with the arrival at
Cleveland, and concluding with the sale of
the wonderful animal to Com. N. w. Kilt
son. of this city, for $l50,OO0. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Reaching Cleveland on Sunday did moth
ing more than walk Phantom for half an
hour or so. and. putting myself in as good
condition as POSSIBLE, l saUntered out up
on the course, where by enquiry 1 found
for the first time a number of the horses
that were entered in the three-minute
class. These we're taking fast work as
that race was to be trotted on Tuesday the
first day OF the meeting. And now L saw
what was sd opposed to be the winner OF
that class. lie who sat at my side. watch
in hand, being communicative, L frankly
informed hiw that I had a horse III the
same race. 1t was now that l be-
gan 10 take lessons III the mys-
ter;es Of the turf. Bat this man, like
many Of the characters OF this chapter,
must be name!ess-a description OF him.
however, will DO no harm. Ia height about
i've feet eight inches, dressed IN black
broadcloth, well polished boots, and
black silk hat with a wide band of Grape
tout Of respect, as | suppose, for some
dear dead relation). l shall never. forget
his broad, pleasant face, the smile OF which
took him fully into my confidence, as the
freshness of my turf career had won his.
However much we talked my new found
friend never missed timing a single horse,
no matter where he trotted or how many
horses were trotting. When speeding WIS
ended for the day, nay newly made friend
accompanied me to TIE stable, and too
gladly I Invested Phantom Of all clothing,
even to his halter, and proudly watched
my black angel while he did his best TO
show the stranger that he was not merely
a phantom in name, but in reality.
Our conversation was carried on In
whispers lest chance might
throw curious ears within
the hearing of our words, After question
ing and s-questioning me, the stranger,
whom for convenience we will call Jones,
OF Detroit, said, ''Mr. Templeton, l have
heard your story with much pleasure, and
much hope for your success. And If you
will rise early tomorrow morning and
show me q mile, will then give my final
opinion
That night both Jones Of Detroit, and
myself slept III the box with Phantom, and
before the birds were astir next morning
had shown Jones of Detroit. mile. Not
single soul but us three who slept
together knew of the trial. When
oH,1l oft
the mile had been trotted, l asked Jones of
Detroit what he thought of Phantom. His
reply was Sch. accompanied with a smile
of satisfaction such as L never beheld, nor
expect 10 behold again. With a smile pc
culiar to Jones Of Detroit he held his split
second watch to Ely face lest Phantom
himself might see and speak of il. I WIS
not ignorant Of the marvellous time made
by Goldsmith Maid, Rarus, st. Julien and
Maud S.. and knew that if occasion re-
CURED Phantom could distance anything
they had done. But when I saw
Jones' watch, it startled me SO that for Il
moment vas speechless. When I essay
ed to speak, Jones, Of Detroit, raised his
finger TO my mouth with q SIS sill Taking
my hand in his, we made a vow then to
keep the trial dead secret until Dan Mace
should be dead and rotten. Then we both
fell to doing up the horse that had done. az
Jones declared and his watch corro5orated
what no one bat the editor of DuntOn',
Spirit Of the Turf ever thought trotting
horse would ever accomplish.
young feller," said Jones, ''keep q
level head on your shoulder until Tuesday
night, and both our fortunes are made
There will be no monkey work. here, fol
the judges are dead square. 1 shall back
Phantom until every nickel in Cleveland i:
in the pool-box; and if there is anything
but locomotive can get away with thai
black hurricane, want to walk home"
Tuesday came, and with it came day
propitious as my first meeting with Jones
of Detroit. When we were rung up fol
the three minute class, it seemed to me
there were a hundred horses to start
SpIan, Mace, Hickok, Turner, and every
other driver of whom had heard, seemed
to be in my way as we came down for the
word. 1t was an utter impossibility TO,
Phantom to poke his nose in between
them. Phantom had been fortunate as
thought in drawing the pole, but his chance
oftaking the pole would not have been worth
nickel, believe, without the aid of
Jones of Detroit, who walked across
the quarter stretch, and holding up his
finger to the judge as no other man can
called their attention to the fact that the
driver of his horse, as he called
him, was a mere boy and not
accustomed to ''the gang;" but if the
judges would be kind enough noticed
he emphasized the word kind-we Zones,
Phantom and y would show them some OF
the neatest trotting they had ever seen on
that very popular race course. When
Jones, of Detroit, had completed his re-
qoest and ended his compliments, the
judges pledged him their best endeavor:
should be used in behalf of Phantom and
his boy driver.
After this promise on the part of the
judges, there was an unheard-of war Of
words among the profession. Mace
damned the judges; Turner put on his
spectacles and squinted at them from his
sulky; Goldsmith consulted with his
parent, and Splan and Hickok sent to the
pool box and hedged. Once moro we came
for the word, and once more the boys al
turned in front of me- But Mr.. Edwards
rang them to a halt as they we're on theil
way back, and closed his impressive lee
ture with the declaration that "any maj
who came here ahead of the pole horse