Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-03
IN. Y. Sun, April SO.1
JOHN JACOB ASTOR'S BOY,
FRON SLEDGE DOGS TO ZINE TROT-
TIERS and RACERS.

Starting a Life of Peril at Eight Dollars a
Month and Ending with MiIlions-A New
Man on the Turf-Old Gold and Blue.
Visitors to this seasons races will see a
new set of colors fash before their eyes.
The colors are old gold and blue. They
will appear first at Sheepshead Bay on the
opening day of the Coney Island Jockey
Clubs races, and will represent the racing
stable of a gentleman who has recently
become identified with the turf by invest
ing hundreds of thousands of dollars in
trotters and thoroughbreds. Although he
is a man who believes there is not much
profit in turf enterprises, he has resolved
to indulge his taste for fine horses, both on
the trotting track and the race course. He
has earned his right to this enjoyment by
a long life of hardship and peril.
In 1929 slim and wiry boy, about 15
years of age, migrated to Minnesota in
the service of John Jacob Astor. He
proved more active and industrious than
the average lad of his age, and was soon
known as Astor's boy. After hardening
his muscles by long season of outdoor
labor at IS month, he began trading on
his own account, driving teams of dogs to
sIeds through the wilds of the northwest
as far as Winnipeg. He sometimes trav-
elled as far as seventy miles day on foot,
while making exchanges of goods with
the Indians for furs. Continuing in this
business, with more or less success for
years, he endured untold hardships and
passed safely through unnumbered dan
gers. Believing in his good fortune and a
guardian spirit, he followed impulses for
which he could not account at the time,
and which, in one instance at least, were
undoubtedly the means of preserving his
life.
In 1862, while coming down from Winni-
peg to Fort Smelling in company with a
party of travellers, their conveyance broke
down when about sixty miles from the fort.
The break was irreparable, and there was
no apparent means of continuing the jour
ney until the following day, when another
stage would come along. Although urged
by no special business, the trader found
himself impressed by desire that he could
not control to push on to the fort. Search
revealed the fact that there was yoke of
oxen and cart at hand. The owner re-
fused all offers of money and all other per-
Finally the trader bought the oxen and
pushed on alone, through daylight and
darkness. until he reached the fort. In
formation came few hours later that q
hostile band of Sioux had swooped down
on the delayed travellers, numbering every
one of them.
About thirty-five years ago the fortu-
nate trader was appointed agent of the
Hudson Bay Company, and he remained
in its service until about 1874. He then
engaged in mercantile pursuits at St.
Paul and other trading posts. His great
experience, united with untiring diligence,
a cool head, and almost infallible judg
ment, secured his financial success.
At that time he found the st. Paul and
Pacific, now the st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Manitoba Railroad, insolvent. Conduct
ing successful negotiations in conjunction
with Mr., Stevens, President of the Bank of
Montreal; Mr.. James Hill, the present
President of the road; Messrs. Donald A.
Smith, R. B. Angus, and other capitalists
of Montreal, the trader purchased the
road and reorganized it. His fortune had
now Increased fir ON his first salary of eight
dollars month to hundreds of thousands.
QSubsequently the above gentlemen asked
chase of the Canadian Pacific Railroad,
with the alluring subsidies of 25,000,000
acres of land. The trader became i'm
pressed with the belief that the gigantic
work would not be finished in his lifetime,
so he declined to join in the enterprise. In
addition, he offered to sell to his friends
his interest in the st. Paul, Minneapolis
nd Manitoba road. They bought, and
the trader then possessed more millions
than he could count on the tips of his
fingers.
The man who had spent an active life
from his boyhood now found himself in
need of occupation and diversion. Mr..
Dan Woodmansee, the the well-known
horseman, suggested that he should take
an interest in borses, with view of i'm
proving the stock of Minnesota. The sug-
gestion took root, and now the name of
the new horse buyer, Commodore n. w.
Kittson of st. Paul, is familiar throughout
the length and breadth of the land. Dur
ing the first year of his purchases, 1881, he
expended more than 100000 in horsefesh,
mostly for trotters. Atpresent his stock
and breeding farms are valued at 100000.
Different versions are given as to how
Mr.. Kittson acquired the title of Comma
QOr6s his IF16uuS dbS0rI IlltAI ITO was SdlLOO
Commodore while running line of boats
on the Red River of the North, between
Fargo and Winnipeg. The Commodore
says that Col. King and Dan Woodmansee
introduced him by the title for the purpose
of creating heightened impression while
on their first trip to buy horses.
The Commodore is now on visit to in
spect his racing stock in the east. Most OF
his trotters are in the West, where several
are under training for the grand circuit
On Wednesday last the writer enjoyed a
chat with Commodore Kittson at Erden-
helm, formerly Mr.. Welch's Chestnut Hill
farm, near Philadelphia. Just year ago
the Commodore purchased this property
through Major J. R. Hubbard, for 1928
900. Added land, improvements, and
stock have brought the figures up to $3.50
900. Itseems a fitting place for man OF
the Commodore's present aims. Although
the massive stone mansion is known to be
at least $50 years old. Its well-preserved
interior and exterior give it the appearance
of modern built farm house. The Com
modore paced the large piazza facing the
south with an elastic step. His tall, slight
and gentlemanly figure was dressed in {
fine suit of black broadcloth. He has ;
sin0uIarIv DIeasinp face and clear com