The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
nIHAM noODHUfE'S PARTNER.
Endurance OF TrOtters In tho Early Days
Driven TO Death.


From the boston Gi0Lc.
WORCESTER. Mass, May 6.-Horsemen al
| over the country know George Ii. Wesson, the
| old lime sport and track driver. lie was borr
Years iss of age WIfam Wesson ta,beTy %
| George was one OF the loading norsemen OF
| hi day, anu kept not only u hotel but u horse
mart
Young Wesson was put In the saddle as soon
| us he was able to ride. and in 1888, at tho age
OF TO- he rode his first race on the old llillbury
road, there being no race track in that part O.
! the country. Quarter races were run and half
mile races trotted. tho distance being, marked
| OF on the road. The contest was between
Sandhole and tho Loomis colt, Young We. son
was STRAPPED, on to the former; and was told tC
Ging was omitted. for Wessyn won.
AFTER i'm ordinary school education Wesson
arrived at manhood and coming OF good stock
no was hard Young man to handle physically.
Ho had numerous turns-up with the boys and
soon was the lstic champion OF til. town. His
accomplishments widely gained him the name
Of Pug Wesson. and so he is Gale TO this day.
In 1S43 Mr. IMesson9 formed a partnership
Cambridge track. 1t was there that Lady Sui
marx being Z 90, in lS45. to saddle; ut Beach,
ton Park. y. j; Pelham also beat 80, which
had stood at the marx for a long time
Just think" remarked Wesson. what trot-
ters of those days had to 90 through. The
tracks were little better than ploughed fields
and sulkieS weighed IS pounds. Poor old Lady
Suffolk how my heart has ached Tor her! Whv.
her TonuriOuS owner would drive tho mare
eighteen miles over to the track. and trot her
all the afternoon and drive back in the even
ing. Horses didn't wear boots In those days
and If Il horse .rabbc1 over and cut his quar-
ter. he simply had TO keen on trottinG. Why. |
have seen sulky, despatched with plood from
when | broke up at Cambridge after my
partnership expired brought with me Water
loo. an old trotter and IL roam named Quaker
that won many races with aftcrward"
Uncle Ohm sherman built track In Worces-
Gr S92 Us
Dan Mace. Peg PeiIer. Wesson. and old Hiram
drove there.
John Langley. in 1854. built the half moon
track Mt Lake Qulnsgamond, 1t was there
that George Wesson brought out the Langley
colt, then Known as know Nothing Nfterward
called Lancet who trotted many a close race
on Long Island with Flora Temple. Mr. Yves.
son declares that he rodo Lancet one morning
and had always thought him the fastest horse
that ever looked through bride.
Wesson and eX-Mayor Pratt. in the flfties,
used 10 drive many Il good race against each
other. and the contests between Car Wheel and
Lady Langley are still u theme for old timers
ono OF the greatest evcnts in wessons life
psned in this, way. There lourished q charnc-
wore equal 10 tho celebrated Ben Jonson's
Rodney Ind fine mare, and when in his cups
from Worcester TO Boston. or vicO versa. Bong
in Boston one day Eohney made the same
statement. and one Cummn%s' saloon keeper,
post the money.
One saturday afternoon Rodney stroled into
and match was made Rodney soon repent
ed, and wished to draw the money. hpt Cum;
mings hurried t. Boston and reported MS good
told him Of his III luck. and wan'ed to be
helpei out. Messon cane 70 the rescue, and
eaiH icn, t RSV woTrld, " ,"''' . -' '''"''
The horse was called Empire State and was
n Vicious animal, having Killed. ono man and |
Injured others By running away Wesso went to |
SEQ tho owner who told MIN that he could tako |
him. ONLY; sGid be- ,flS G or VII III y2u'
day from Worcester to j. ston. A severe snow
storm set IN, aud u showed all day SUNDAY,
sunday night IA sleigh stopped Mt the WessOn |
hostolr.C. aud Ham Brock Of Boston made his
'Hol,", ,Gcorse."| Grioll, he. Can | get an
'H'No replied George. - haven't any. but
guess | have II friend who has and, another
Monday morning the raro was started. Wes-
son ok the lead. and lust before getting into
he town Of Northhoro Ws.sons horse struck
ng Wesson and Johnson out Wesson hung
On 10 the horse with one hand and Oh to il hn-
through tho DRIFT Just as troy were getting
put oil their difficulties Brock drove up. but
Ne-.on went on, and was not headed all the
Brock stopped his horse at Northboro and
gave up tho race. Empire State reached |
5oston in the remarkable time OF 3 hours
That evening, Wesson loudly proclaimed at
bowuoln nan that no had horse that could |
ieat tho world for tl,00O from Boston 10
y orcesler lie was not long in finding Gus
omer Tor ono evening George Wales drove up
rom Boston and made match for Wessons
.mpiie state TO trol Ivanhuo n race over tho
'rooNH rom a.. each en-, 10 carry io9 houud7.
niildHm and mpUo state wa, q ever BEADED.
kAuuue Uul"i ~ ~ Nor,hnnru. Nie,o no
IL d Emit q SiHto reached ", rooster IN tho
wonderful limo Of . hours ~ minutes 33
econds, but he died the same night with
pasmodic collie.
OF late years George Wesson has not taken
art In any Of the UOttlng contests. uo stu
.eOpA hotel