Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-19
$4,000 Commission for Horse Sale.
denver Tribune.l

! Some men are unutCeu DY nature TO
be the owner of O fast horse, and Mr..
Mather, who recently sold the PAGER
johnson to Commodore Kittson Is one
of them. Mr.. Mather is a banker at
Berlin, Wis, and discovered the now
famous PAGER in that sylvan nook some
three years ago. At that time Mr..
Mather was the owner of pair of gray
driving horses whose speed,he rated at
about mile In three minutes. 1t was
while driving these moderately rapid
steeds up the road one day that he first
saw johnson. The owner of johnson,
man of moderate means, conveyed to
MIR. Mather the information that the
bay gelding could go along pretty well,
and suggested that the ownership of
half interest In him would be a good
thing, even for a banker. Mr.. Mather,
Judging everything In the way of horse
flesh from the standard of the gray
team, told his neighbor to start up the
road with the PAGER while he (Mather)
kept alongside with the grays, and
noted how the horse went. 1t is hardly
necessary to say that Mr.. Mather viewed
the performance from a considerable
distance in the rear; but this fact SO I'M
In the PAGER, paying less than $500 for
his share of the animal. Later he Sc.
cured the other half, and in the summer
of 1882 found himself the owner of
horse that could go a mile in about 2:15.
Last spring the animal was placed in
Peter Johnson's hands for training, and
soon after that Mr.. E. 81. Smith secured
controlling half interest in the horse
for $4,000. When the trotters and
PAGERS began operations in Michigan
Mr.. Mather concluded to go across the
lake and see how his horse would per-
form. He reached Detroit in time to
see johnson win his race with ease. At
the Chicago races Mr.. Mather again had
the pleasure of beholding johnson win.
and at the end of the second heat the
entire field that started against him had
been distanced. Then came a cloud on
the hitherto rose-tinted horizon of Mr..
Mather's turf experience. At Pittsburg
the horse was taken sick. Mr.. Smith,
the other partner, wanted to buy or
sell. Mr.. Mather refected-an bought
out Smith. At Chicago this fall John
son paced mile in 2:10. In the mean
time Mr.. Smith had secured an agree
ment from Mr.. Mather which was to the
effect that in case Smith could sell the
horse for over $18, 600 the surplus was
to be his commission on the transaction.
Negotiations with Commodore Kittson
were opened, the price of Johnson being
placed at 5000 These figures were
satisfactory, provided the horse could
show three good heats. He did that,
and then nothing remained but to pay
I1o VUAadvoooI3Coa no
paymaster. Mr.. Mather suggested that
the entire $4,000 be handed over to
him, and he would settle with Smith.
Mr.. Smith objected gently, but firmly.
He would take $4,000, and Mr.. Mather
could have $4,000. At this juncture
Mr.. Mather sought consolation and adj
vice from John Splan, who was one of
the party.
cit seems to me-" said he, "that I
am paying an awful commission.
"Does it?" replied Splan. Sc I think
you are getting off remarkably cheap.
As rule when the boys sell horse for
man they just split the amount in two
with the owner"
"'What! Is that really the custom %
Certainly. When Rarus was sold for
$50, 900 I got sly 800 for my part"
Mr.. Mather wanted to hear no more,
but went across to the Palmer House
rotunda at a 2:20 gait In order to sign
the bill Of sale. After the sale had been
concluded and the draft for the money
handed over and vouched for by the
bank, the party again fell to chatting.
Don't you think, said Mr.. Smith to
Mr.. Mather, "that now that you have
got all that money you could afford to
buy us nice cigar?'
Il should like to-" was the reply,
"but have only just time to catch my
train" and grab was made for his
satcheI.
"You'd better look out" said John
Splan. every sandbagger in Chicago
has been waiting for you to get that
money, and they are lining the road
from here to the depot now"
ooh, I haven't got the money!" re-
piled Mr.. Mather earnestly. ct put it
all in the bank except $15. Good day,
gentlemen.
"Good day." replied Mr.. Smith, ''and
God bless you"