The Dawson journal., 1884-01-17
ALL THROUGH TWO WOMEN
THE APPEALS OF ONE AND TEARS OF
ANOTHER GIVE GOLDSMITH MAID
TO THE WORLD.
A Little Story of the Most Notable Horse
on the American Turf.

farm horse of the beast.
At the end of the half-day's plowing
she lay down in the furrow, kicked her.
self loose from the plow, and ran
away. She got to be known in the
neighborhood as "Decker's worthless
colt" There was one thing she would
do and took great delight in. That was
joining in the running races that were
then the popular sport in Sussex county.
But her owner never knew when she
was entered for these races, and had no
suspicion that she was being used in
that way. She was always taken sur
reptitiously from tho field, and seemed
to have premonition of what she was
wanted for. The races that she ran in
always came off on moonlight nights,
and she beat all the crack runners in
the country. AS worthless as she was,
John B. Decker loved the mare, and
would have housed her like a queen if
she had been willing.
At the age of 7 che was the same
worthless Decker colt" She had not
put her head through a collar in four
years. This was in 1864 and John H.
Decker, who had left his uncle's before
the colt was born, had never seen her,
having removed to Newburgh. In that
year he and Squire Bingham of New
burgh were driving through the country
buying up turkeys for speculation. 1t
was in November that they brought up
at Uncle Johnny BIS farm, which is
three miles from Detkertown. John
H. Decker saw the mare, and saw at
once that she had points about her that
few horses had, and he wanted to buy
her. He offered $3.50 for her, but his
uncle emphatically refused. Then John
B. s wife took hand in. She had long
been disgusted with the mare, as she
had 'eaten her head off, q score of
times. She said to her husband that,
as the would-be purchaser was his
nanesake and near relative, he ought
to sell him the mare.
'Give him $780," said she, "and he'll
take it.
So the nephew "made it $780," and
the uncle finally said that if he would
catch the mare alone he could have her
for $500. The condition was accepted,
aud, after more than an hours persist
ent effort, the younger Decker sue
ceeded in getting the mare in the barn.
Then the elder Decker wanted to back
out. He offered his nephew a blooded
black mare that he had refused 5000
for if he would leave the wild mare.
John H. refused to make the exchange.
At the time of this transaction John
FL. Decker's parents lived three miles
from Goshen, near the village of Den
ton. Bingham and Decker drove away
from Johnny B. with the mare tied
behind their wagon, They stopped at
Decker's fathers for the night, and it
was noised about the village in short
time that John Decker had paid $3.50
for the well-known worthless colt"
William Tompkins was then keeping
the TaImage House at Hampton, mile
from Denton. He had long had his
eve on the Decker mare, but had never
been able to buy her. Hearing that
John Decker had bought her, Tompkins
drove over to see her. John Decker's
mother was good and very pious
woman, and had a great horror of fast
horses. His father also was disinclined
toward sporting matters. Mrs. Decker
gathered from the talk of the men that
they anticipated great things of the new
mare as trotter. When Tompkins ar
rived one morning Decker and Squire
Bingham were about ready to start on
their way. .....-..
A hired man was showing off the
mare in the lane, and Mrs. Decker was
a sorrowful spectator, remarking that
she was sure ruin would follow her son
if he owned fast horse, and she knew
he had just refused to accept an offer
from Squire Bingham of $130 for one
half interest in her. In relating the
circumstances to the writer, he said that
he really intended the mare for his
brother-in-law, Judge William Fuller
ton. Tompkins looked at the mare q
minute or two, and then bluntly said
that he would give $3.50 for her. On
hearing this Mrs. Decker appealed to
her son to sell her. But Decker de-
clined. Tompkins raised his offer $40.
Decker's mother begged him with tears
in her eyes to get rid of the mare at any
price, and his father added his voice to
hers. At last, his parents seeming so
much IN earnest, and exhibiting so much
feeling in the matter, Decker accepted
Tompkins' softer, and he drew a check for
$3.50. While this was being done
Decker was booking the mare over, and
repented selling her. He made pretence
Of not caring to take Bills check Tor the
mare, but his father asked to see it.
When it was handed to him he wrote
his name across the back, and, remark.
ing that he guessed it would go now,
handed it to his son. There was no ex.
cuse for further opposition, aud Tomp.
kins drove off with the Decker mare.
John Fl. Decker and Bingham started
for Goshen, but the more the former
thought Of what he had done the more
he regretted it, and he said he wa
bound to get the mare back ifhe could
Reaching Goshen.he telegraphed to tn,
officers of the Middletown Bank askin,
Il Tomnkins, chenk ruas orood CO.. Soen