The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-20

covered from these men and it was be-
heved that Saeger had received. the
lions share Of it. At any rate he fed
to South America, where he was fol-
lowed by Detective Robert Hague, later
the chief of police of Pittsburgh Sac
ger kept out of reach of detectives I'M
til some years later, when he returned
and was arrested in Denver. At that
time he was conducting big cattle
ranch in Texas. One of Benninghoffs
sons went to Denver and made
some kind Of deal with Saeger and he
was never brought to trial. Whether
he restored part of the money is not
known. The employment of detectives
and the search for the robbers, which
extended over a year or two, cost Ben
ninghoff fortune in addition to the
reward of $4,000 which went to the
officers who arrested the Saegertown
people. The belief is that he recovered
but little of his lost $3.50, 900.
The simple story of John McKeown's
life is not the least interesting of the oil
region romances. Mr.. McKeown landed
at Castle Garden from Ireland on the
day that Lincoln was assassinated. He
had $40 in his pocket, and this was all of
his worldly possessions. He went TO
Oil Creek and found employment as
day laborer, handling the pick and
shovel around the tanks and wells at
Petroleum Center. He followed the oil
development around, grading tank seats
by the day and by contract until he had
saved enough money to take an interest
in well. His first venture as pro-
ducer was in Butler county, where he
had good luck. When the excitement
broke out in the Bradford field, in
Mexican county, he went there, and
from small beginning he made for
tune estimated by those familiar with
his operations at 100000 to $500, 900.
When the Bradford field was pretty
well sucked dry, he went into the won
derful Washington field near Pitts
burgh, and there, as at Bradford,
good luck attended him. He bought
and leased farms, drilled wells by the
dozen and scores, and nearly all of them
were good ones and some of them among
the biggest. gushers that the oil country
ever knew. For time In the Washing
ton field heshad a daily production from
his wells of over 10000 barrels a month.
He was then receiving about 1.25 bar
rel for oil, SO that his income per month
was considerably more than the presi-
dent of the United States receives in a
year. Three of his farms in this field
are believed to have netted him IS, 000,-
900. McKeown died in February last
year worth perhaps not less than S10,-
100000. He left widow and several
children, who have lately been served
with notice of a contest for his millions
by the attorneys Of a woman who claims
to be wife left behind in Ireland.
OUR GREAT RACING INTERESTS.
Our second spring legitimate racing
meeting-that of the Morris Park asso-
ciation-is nearly over and the patronage
both meetings have received indicates
that "the sport of kings is more popu-
lar and profitable hereabouts than ever.
Thirty thousand people saw the Brook
ilyn handicap, while more than twice
that number of people witnessed the
running of the Metropolitan handicap
lat Morris park on the opening day. The
prizes offered for these big races are
great, but it seems as though the greater
the prize the greater the profits of the
clubs giving them. Americans are
natural gamblers and the racecourse
and the stock, grain and oil exchanges
offer the only legal opportunities for
indulging IN this alluring method OF
getting money. The racing associa-
tons in this vicinity are usually very
profitable to their stockholders.
This may be inferred from the fact
that the Brighton Beach association, a
,second-class track, last summer cleared
$4,000 during it's season, and this was
made despite the fact that it had to
bitterly fight the Monmouth Park, one
of the big associations. 1t is reasonable
to presume that the Brooklyn Jockey
club made. over 100000 at its recent
meeting. The four big associations, the
Coney Island, the Brooklyn, the Mon
mouth Pork and the Morris Park
Jockey clubs have formed racing
trust, known as ''The Board of Con-
troll" The board formulates edicts
from time to time which are intended
to control all racing men who wish to
do business on its tracks. It has barred
owners, trainers, jockeys and horses
who have engaged IN racing on what
are called the winter tracks," north
of Washington. It has "set down"
Jockeys; that is, debarred them from
riding on its tracks for months at a
time. Now it is discovered that the
board has no legal existence. This dis
covery was anticipated months ago, but
it has just been made legally evident
through the overruling of a demurrer
by Judge Gildersleeve of this city. The
colt Huron had" been entered for the
Futurity stakes, the richest for 2-year-
Odds in the country, before he was
foaled. He was sold by his breeder,
Gen. jackson, of the Belle Meade stud
farm in Tennessee, with all his engage
ments At the time of the sale he was
slightly lame and he sold for compar-
atively low figure on this account. Col.
Carter, not the famed ''Col. Carter of
Gainesville" but the manager of Gen.
Jackson's farm, found record on his
book that he had been directed to de-
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