The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-22
How Charles Rect "Earthquak ed
the Milliounires.
ST. BLAISE WOUtD,HAVE BROUGHT
A Hundred aud Fiity Thousand Dol.
lars Had It Not Been for Reeds
Magnificent Dll,ff.... Comparative
Prices OF Stations, iii England and
Amcrica...Gcnernl' Sanford Would
Have Given Moro.

go down to postrrity. Lot II roll along
tho corridors Of time and DO m incen-
tivcto the youth OF tho country. Never
was hand better played.
The mighty Or,nonde, the "horsc Of
tho century," as Englisamen love to
cal! him, went to tho stud OF Mr.. Bou-
can, near Buenos Ayrcs, for $4,000, a
price only cqualed at that time by Don.
caster for whom the Duke OF Wcstmin-
ster paid $4,000 sixteen years ago.
Blair Athol, the most beautiful horse,
1t is said, that ever raced in England,
came next. the owner Of the Gotham
Stud causing the world 10 wonder when
he bought him Mt the fabulous sum OF
SG2,500. In sixteen seasons this cclc-
bratcd horse earned in stud fees tho
enormous sum OF $395,oOO. Melton
went to Italy at $4,000, and Ncrncuil
TO Hungary at $4,000. Mr.. Crawford
gave SO 900 for lsonomy and Mr.. Blcn-
kiron so 600 Tor Scottish Chief. Rob.
crt and Devil fetched $4,000, Hampton
$4,000 Macaroni $4,000. Tho Palmer
5000 Gladiator, the greatest French.
man OF them all, $4,000, Silvic s35, 900,
and others Of almost equal merit sums
ranging from S34 900 down TO $50, the
price paid for The Baron.
OF the celebrated stations sold in the
United States Iroquols fetched the high
est price, General Jackson paying Tor
him $4,000. The same gentleman Sc
cured Luke Blackburn ut $4,000.
Galore, imported by Mr.. Maxwell for
racing purposes in lSSS, fetched in
England $4,000, and was sold two years
later MS stallion to John \. Morris for
$4,000. lie never raced in this couli-
= try, terrible exposure at sea and on the
barren wastes OF Long Island rendering
Inn unfit for training. Mr.. Swigert
gave $4,000 for the unbcaten fremont,
known all over the turf world as the
''black locomotive" Tho immortal
Lexington fetched only $4,000. Ken
lucky, sold as racchorse to Leonard
w. Jerome for $4,000 fetched $4,000
MS n stallion, August Belmont being the
purchaser. Mr.. Harper refused $4,000
Tor Longicllow rs far back Us 1871, and
"Jack" Chinn laughed at an offer OF
$4,000 for I,eonatus.
In comparison with these prices, the
100000 paid for st. Blaise may well
amaze and confound the breeders Of
thoroughbreds in all parts OF the world.
He was regarded rs Jar below the first
class in England. His Derby was look
ed on rs tlukc, and when Mr.. Belmont
bought him the general belief was. that
he had made u mistake. The price was
only $4,000, and Lord Arlington, his
breeder, felt that the horse was well
Sold lie comes to America, Is in the
stud five years; goes under the hammer,
and is knocked down at 100000. That
is new record, and it will stand.
Is st. Blais worth 100000? ~ make
my own songs and sing them," says
Charles Reed, man OF strong individu-
atty and striking originality. GAN we
want now is little luck" he adds, 'and
the success OF Fairview is assured We
have some good mares down there"
Mr.. Reed was not looked on as q pos
siblc purchaser OF st. Blaise. lie do.
scribed himself too often as poor man.
1t was believed that one Of the many
millionaires OF the East or OF the Pacific
Slope would secure tho horse, public
opinion pointing strongly toward Pierre
Lorillard, General Sanford, 4. 9. Potter,
Jacob Rupert, J. B. Hagein and Mar.
Gus DAILY.
"Poor Reed" to use his own words,
wanted the horse and made up his mind
to have him ii $4,000 or 100000 could
buy him, and going to work very quiet
ly he gathered together $4,000 This
sum he had with him on Friday. He
attended the sale OF brood mares and
fl,p{ 1o,, !, ,,I
the extravagant prices, and returned
from Hunts Point with the conviction
that st. Blaisc would fetch at least
100000 and possibly more. On Satur-
day he arose early, and in the expires.
sivc language OF the West, hustled.
When night came he took his place at
the sale ring with $l0+ 900 in cash in his
inside pocket.
"rThe only chance Reed has is to,
earthquake these fellows" was his men
tai remark as he pulled his hat low
down on his forehead and let his gilt
tering eye fall upon Lorill0rd, Ilaggin,
Rupert, Potter and other expected
competitors with millions ut their back.
General Sanford sat beside him, which
caused many to imagine that he waa
bidding for the Amsterdam man OF car
pets. But there had been an under.
standing between the two, brought
about in Mr.. Reeds diplomatic way.
"See here, Sanford" he had said, in
the course OF tho afternoon, you are
millionaire and can afford to give any
price for this horse. Reed is a poor
man. Now, don't you bid against poor
man unless the price goes beyond his
limit. Reeds limit is 100000"
GAN right" said the General, "if tho
other fellows don't raise you, ! WON'T,
Continuing his mental remarks at the
ring side. "Poor Reed said: eyes,
Reeds only chance is to earthquake
them. If lie doesn't make the limit
mighty high those millionaire follows
will get in the pot cheap and stay long,
aa $1,000 ante don't look very big. I'll
start i'll SO strong that they won't draw
any cards.
Three bids OF $4,000 wero made sim.
ultancously, one from pierrc Iorillard,
one from Lucien Appleby, who in the
excitement OF tho moment stood I'D and
raised his hand, and the third from an
unknown source.
Then came the greatest bluff OF
modern times, when "Poor Reeds"
100000 bid rang through the house.
OF truth he had ,carthquakel them.
Ii the ground had opened and swallow
ed them they could not have dropped
their hands quicker
The auctioneer's ivory mallet fell with
a rap go hard as to split the top OF tho
desk. and St. Blaise passed into tho pos
session OF the master OF Eairview, tho