St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-19

Turf. Fleld and Form. .

Among those who were at home on New
Years day was 10. Elliott, "Uncle Jo, >" who
served the New York Herld for forty seven
years. His face has not been seen in public
for months, and at one time his life was de-
SPARED Of. But now he looks ruddv, sleeps
soundly and has a good appetite. He was
born in Baltimore in 1910, and came TO New
York In 1928. His earliest rccollections are
Of horse racing, and he pursuaded the founder
of the Hera'd TO open a sporting department
\ man was brought over from England to
take charge OF IL, but whisky got the better OF
him and he was retired. In an emergency
Mr. Elliott wrote up a race, and Mr.. Bennett
was 20 well pleased with 1t, remarking as he
read It that he could see the horses run, that
he asked Uncle Jo to conduct the depart
ment In short time the face Of Mr.. Elliott
became widely known. IN the interests Of
the Herald he visited running and irottiug
tracks, athletic grounds, acquatlc courses,
and was given front seat at
prize fights. There is no man living
who has seen SO much OF sport in ali its
branches ia America as Mr.. Elliott, and Il Is
4 pity that We have no connected story in
compact book form from his pen. Previous To
moving into the new HsrGld building he kept
u daily journal, aud be had this ready for the
printer when it Was destroyed 10y an accident.
The truckman who was moving his desk let
II fall, breaking 1t open and scattering the
contents In the street. Il was at midnight,
and the heavy rain storm had made young
rivers OF the cutters. The manuscript was
washed into the sewer, and the labor OF years
neither the heart nor the time to do the work
over again, aud so he viii pass away, leaving
no story behind except what the flies Of the
Herald contain. His recollection Of things
which took place ten, twenty, thirty and
forty years ago Is clear, and he loves to re-
call the past. 1t is all packed away here, 3"
be said with Il smile As De tapped the back OF
his head. But a haze hangs over the present
He ran his had across his
forehead and mournfuiiy said: at is
dark, confused. | guess It has given out ~
He Ccnuot even End bis way through the
streets of the city which be has known for
nearly half century. His face was all arlow
when he recalled some Of the stirring scenes
that he bad witnessed in the old Union and
Fashion courses, and hjs voice was strong
and his gestures emphatic. When the races
were being run he vas 50 busy In making
notes and writing ont the story that he had
not time to enjoy them after the deliberate
fashion ol men Of leisure. But now, when
bis hands are idle aud hc sits with crossed
legs in the arm chair, the incidents come
back 20 him with each line brosdened. each
! sharp corner rounded by the sweet, calm light
of reflection. Memory, rctrospectou. IS tie
solacc Of aye. Il IS 70 be hoped that with the
return OF physical strength the mist which
Ctscugcs the present 10 Mr. Elliott will fade
As Uucle Jo Is conscious Of his own infruI-
/ ~, the simple statement Of TIE fact will
I prove 20 mental shock to him. We hone
tlat be viii live 20 extend his kindly band
n friends On other NrW Years DAYS. and 4
would De p,rssurr 20 see him 10 harness
again, because be is the Kind Of man who
was made 20 wear on, rather than to rust cut