New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-08
A. F. WALCOTTS LIFE.
his ADVENTURES AND sPEcULAT1oNs
A SAILOR TRAVELLER. SOLDIER PROMOTER o.
FINANCIAL SCHEMES AND THURMAN.

steamship Columbia OF the Hamburg American m.
and will remain abroad for several months He u -
of the leading turfmen Of America and Is president a.
the Monmouth Park Racing Association. Few Of ths
MANY thor OF race goers who see Mr. walcot.
almost every racing day during the legitimate season
have any idea Of his capabilities. He is exsmpls
of an American who possesses all the faculties Of The
shrewd business man, and Is yet fearless OF the con-
sequences OF any move which he makes on the che,.
board OF life.
A. F. walcott first the light in Salem, Mas,.
about ifty-fve years ago. He is q descendant Of
some OF the best families TO be found In New England
On the paternal side of the family there is sgne
OF the Declaration OF independence In the person On
oliver Walcot and I'm the battles OF Concord, Lexington
and Bunker Hill the Walcotts were in the hickex
OF the fray. The records in Massachusetts, show that
the ancestors OF Mr.. wacot or his fathers side were
inclined to be fighters. members Of the family wess
with Wolfe at Quebec fighting for the
| the King. and later with Montgomery
fighting in the cause Of independence. The maternal
line Is q famous one In Massachusetts, being union
OF the Rogers and Derbys. Members OF both families
were famous rs sailors. The name OF Derby Is nss
likely to be forgotten in Salem The greatest wharvo
in the harbor are called the Derby wharves. In the
days when the Stars and Stripes were seen In every
iarbor in the world ships owned by the Derbys and
the Rogers OF Salem frequently seen as thoss
of any other people in the world The part taken BY
the Derbys In the War for independence was an In.
portant one as j. P. Derby OF Salem, fitted out q
large number OF privateers which preyed on the con-
merce of the mother country, and captured many
sells that were loaded with stores for the soldiers Of the
King. Some OF the important battles OF the Revolu
| ton were fought and won with ammunition taken
from ships captured by the vessels fitted out by GranG
father Derby" OF Salem-
"Grandfather Derby" OF Salem, died in 1900 and his
estate was worth ~ 500 900 according to the report Of
the executors an fortune fol- that time. So
much for the ancestry Of the subject OF this sketch
The story OF A. F. walcot's life IS like q romance
as he has been great traveller In his day and cir.
cumnavigated the globe before the war In 1887 he
sailed one Of the ships that started from Derby
Wharf for the InGian Sea- The ship was TO touch At
many ports and Mr. WalcOtt was 10 leave the vessel
Yokohama where he was to remain In the Interest
OF the firm. The ship caught I'm typhoon and 30
badly battered by the storm that the crew took to the
boats There were nine persons IN TIE Doat winch
carried Mr. Wacott and their sufferings were terrible
as provisions and water gave out The boat drlited
for five days under the rays OF = tropical sum- -Four
OF the unfortunate In the boat drank salt water
and IN the dclrlum which followed jumped overheard
on the evening OF the fifth day OF starvation the five
survivors were picked up by ship bound for Bangkok
Siam II was months before any OF the five men re-
gained their strength.
From Bangkok Mr.. walcott made Journeys over
the caravan routes to different points In Asia. and as
far as the Russian provinces in the north He
visited many places never before seen by the eyes
Of an American. In the spring Of 1861 Mr.. Wacots
started for Yokohama. hut While on board the ship
and about To sail he heard that the south was In
} rebellion lie went ashore and the ship which ne
left sailed and never heard OF again. MI.
Walcott sailed on the first ship he could secure Tor
San Francisco 10 take up arms for his country.
The ship arriving safely in san Francisco. Mr. Wacott
with Others. Organized company, crossed the plains
rln nd fox felrf
In twenty-slx battles and skirmlshes He rose to the
| rank Of major and his title by hard lighting IN
| the field. Mr.. Walcott quartered at one time
at Crab Orchard, KY, in the breeding part OF that
| state He Is respected and loved by everybody IN
that region for the manly treatment he gave to the
wives and children OF the absent heads Of families
who were fighting in the ranks OF the Confederacy.
| lie projected them from any straggers Of his own
command and efrectualy cleared the country around
Crab Orchard OF the guerillhs
At the close Of the war Mr.. Wacott turned MS
a-tontion to pursuits Of peace and began his career
rs a SPECTATOR. His ups and downs on the street
arc looked upon with wonder by many Of his irehds.
Five times has he enjoyed the smiles OF ForIae' aho
| As many times las the tickle jade frowned on him
and made him lis efforts to regain her iaVo'.
In 1873 he began his career turfman, and al
TncIshmau who made several shrewd Americans
believe that he knew more about racing than anyoo
I'm America, acted his trainer and manager ho
purchased a number of the highest priced horses az
the sale Of the Lorillard stable. AT the yearnhs
sales he secured tie bes. If high prices made them
So An extensive private stable was built at Sleeps
head Bay A cottage for the trainer and building
! Tor the hoys where they ate and slept, were also
| NM I'D A large room set aside Tor a schoo-
room. in which there a library OF useful BOOKS
The Fairfax stable cXcclled any In the country In
II, equipment The English trainer did not last long
and Bsrbre, the jockey. took charge Win HUE
success When he retired James Rowe took charge,
and inst when the stable in shape 10 win Nh.
walcott WAS wiped out in the wheat corner in 1851
so that the stable sold at Monmouth Park. seven
| rruared and ffty Thousand dollars was sunk In Tie
| lairfax stable 10y Mr.. Walcott.
He was not cast down, however. but began at once
10 win another fortune. lie visited Chicago, ana "
fsca NJ the opposition OF the surface road syndcates
he secured the franchises and charters Tor Two Ines
~ elevated railroads in Chicago His indom,able
will found the way to the funds To carry OUT
Ms nlnns and from the they have been Success
fu so that he Is once more a millionaire ana 'he
| owner of an extensive racing stable. lie returned
to the turf three years and went into partnership
with j. :. Campbell. The stable has had fair snare
! Of success.
Whom D. D. Wlthcrs died last year the turf world
was I'm A fermenl rs nobody knew what WAS 10 be-
.,n,e of Monmouth Park The winter-tmck crowd
were ovcrjoyed at the prospect Of the dissolution
az so powerful an association. Mr.. Withers WAS 'he
president OF the Board Of Control and one OF the pillars
~ legitimate racing. When everything looked dark
est for Monmouth Park, Mr.. Walcott came TO me
| rescue AZ first the enemies Of Legitimate rachs
hogan TO dcride the idea that Mr.. Walcott could ~
snvthins 10 save the association. The GuttenourS
crowd said he would be powerlesS against ne pessus
ir,,cht 10 bear on Lon" By Dlnny.' Mr. NaHou
sid little but quietly secured control OF the properly
| of the Monmouih Park Association lie was eie', ,e
a member OF the Board % noIi,'n, Nliu D'a. a,,en
| nresdent OF the Monmouth Park Racing Association
Hi, first declaration was There WI De N er,bS
tur DAYS of racing at Monmouth Park. with or WIZ
oni betting with chances In favor OF bettiig. nu
| Srrond declaration was: II there i nght 10 w
| made against Monmouth Park hv other racing as
.m"intin. I'm Ncw-Jersey viii give them more nsnr
Inc than they wait" The result was that me hc 5
nSSuth p,ri, meeting one OF the most siccessiu
AVER hold There not a breath OF scandal Gunns
no .ntr. meeting. Certain owners who had hoisgo