Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-11
The Foremost of Jockeys.

The most famous OF jockeys died yesterday
by his own hand, having shot himself in the
deiirium of fever Frederick Archers name
was familiar in every quarter of the globe,
and there is no town or city important enough
20 have a race c ,urse in or near its borders
which has rot heard OF the exploits of the
most br liant and successful rider on the
turf Wherever the English tongue is spoken
Archer's achievements have been celebrated.
and in farihtst India, in China and JOpa',
amid the SHOWS of the extreme North and the
burning heat of the tropics, in the diamond
mites of South Africa, on the wild bush
lands Of Australia, and the remotest islands
of the sea, the news of his death will set
tongues wagging. For the interest in the
turf goes wherever tho English flag flies, and
there are hundreds of thousands of people
scattered all over the world who could not
tell for the lif. of them the name OF the
present Archbishop of Canterbury, but to
whom the career of Archer and the turf
champions he rode are well known. And
knowledge ot his trumphs not confined
to Engishmen, for mention of the pckey who
rode Pierre Lorilard's American colt Iro-
quois to victory 10 the Derby of 1881 interests
oil Americans who know the difference be-
tween thoroughbred rsce-horse and Shet-
land pony.
Archie exceeded all the jockeys who came
before him as well as all who rode against
him in reputation and popularity. The rich
est and most Influential of English turfmen
tumhled over each other in their eagerness to
secure his services Whether or no he was
the most skilful jockey the turf has ever
known he was certainly the most successful.
Others may have equalled him in delcacy of
hand in grace and lightness of bearing in the
saddle, in mastery of sluggish or vicious
horses, or even in judgment of pace, but he
was exceptional in his combination of quail
ties. He bad the GOODNESS and self-control,
the easy seat, the touch of velvet with the
grip of steel, that make their mark in racing.
But he had also the quickest of eyes and the
swftest of muscles. He shot his horses off
at the fall of the starters flag in a way that
dazed and discomited his rivals He never
lost his head in the widest rush. Daring TO
reckl,ssness, he met with few accidents. He
could see a chance to dash through next the
rails when other jockeys thought the feat
impossible, and the way in which he made
up ground at the perilous Tattenham
c. rner on the Derby course was a marvel to
see. He knew the horses he rode from the
tops of their ears to the tips of their
tails. He seemed to understand instinct
lively how to get the most out of them in an
emergency, and his ability to snatch the prize
by short head with a horse that appeared to
be hopelessly beaten puzzled even the ex
perts. At exactly the right fraction of a second
he could rally an exhausted animal to
fUal desperate struggle. His skill in de-
termlning the spot where he could best call
on his mount for burst of speed was
singular, and at the finish he rode with
furious energy that gained him the pet turf
name of 1.-THE Demon" while in the sharpest
stress of the fight there WAS no waste Of force
All his powers were applied with tremendous
concentration directly to secure the desired
cad
This rare combination of qualities brought
him ample rewards. He won all the famous
races of England again and again. aud his
retaining fees (for great jocky gets hand
some retaining fees as great lawyer does, ,
riding fees and the presents given him by
ated owners and betting men gave him an
income larger thar the salary of the Presi
dent of the United Ststes. Archer also made
large sums BY betting, for he was as bold in
the betting ring as in the saddle. He would
have won nearly $4,000 il ST. Mirin, his
mount at the Csmbridgeshre, had been first
instead of second, but ST, Mirin WAS beaten
by a short head by Sailor Prince. This, how
ever, was not through any fault CT Archer
who did all with the colt that could be done.
This race was run only few DAYS before
Archer fell i'll One of his last races, it was
one of his best, in the opinion Of competent
critics.
Archer will be remembered as long a. the
turf retains its fascination, far longer than
men who have been of real service to the
world. But in his class and of his kind he
was uuapproschsble. Y. Tribune 9th.