The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-22
SQUIRE ABINGDON DEAD.
PNEUMONIA CUT HIM DOWN IN
TIE PRIME OF LIFE.

He Had Cut Out Lively Pace on
Reaching New O=leane-Took Cold
on the Night of the Fight-Dlssipa-
ton Had Undermined Els Strength.
his Career.
The MORNING NEWS In its dispatches
last Saturday announced the death of
Squire Abingdon at New Orleans. He
died sc the st. Charles hotel.
His death created something of a sensa-
ton here, as ir had not leaked out that he
was so seriously i'll. When the squire went
TO New Orleans from New York with the
Hall and Mitchell party he was in the
very best Of spirits and in splendid health,
With quick, elastic step aud bright, rudy
face
He found New Orleans very fast in a
sporting sense, and he cut out a pace that
al who we're with him had to follow.
George Alexander Baird, best known
throughout Europe and America as esquire
Abingdon" under which name be ran his
horses, is said to have been the richest COM
moner in England, bis annual income being
variously estimated at $500, GOO to $3.50 900.
He spent his income furiously, soys the
New FORK Times, and with both hands, but
it is said that il he had converted every
thing into money which he was by law per-
mitted to so dispose OF and had spent every
shilling of it, be would still have been in
receipt of an income Of $3.50, QUO year.
He was devoted patron of the turf, the
best known gentleman" jockey in Eng
land, a systematic "angel" and protector of
the diyinities Of the music balls-with
occasional higher fights-and of recent
years strong hacker of pugilists.
His death will come as grievous blow to
n
Mitchell, Jim" Carney, Jack" Burke, the
Msrchipness of Aiesbury, (oace Dolly
TesterJ Agnes Hewitt, tom" Cannon,
Mrs Langry, and many others known to
Tame IN pugilisdc, turf and artistic"
circles, have been able to count on the
squire as sure reliance in time OF financial
trouble. and who, as his familiar friends,
have been his benelciaries in very large
sums Of money.
His vast estate will undoubtedly 60 to his
cousin, Douglas Baird.
Squire Abingdon )" who has died in the
sd year of his age, was a member of the
Baird family of Scotland, and his father
left him his enormous fortune, which had
been amassed in the coal and iron trade.
ne squire was also partner in the firm OF
Baird Bros, ironmssters of Glasgow. His
great income was largely derived from these
interests. which included. besides the smelt
Ing works, valuable properties in coal mines
In the south of England.
Added to this were his winnings upon the
turf, where he was exceptionally lucky. He
tossed away vast sums upon Jockeys and
trainers. making them Independently rich
at his within. When he bought horses he
paid big prices without counting cost, pro-
vlded he wanted what was for sale. No
price was high enough to brighten him.
When he first went upon the turf, In
1850, his colors were cardinal jacket and
Cambridge blue cap. Since that time he
has changed to the green jacket and plum
colored cap, which have become famous
upon every great course in England.
be won heavily on all the great races. At
the sale Of Lord Falmouth's stud the squire
raid $44, 900 for the 3-year-old flly Busy
body, and with her won the Oaks and the
observation-disclosures stake. His horse
Merry Hampton won the Derby for him in
1857, and the same horse came near wins
ming the st. Leger. When 1.-THE squire" set
about hiring a jockey he gave his fancy the
same rein. He hired tom Cannon on q
three years contract and gave him the
whole payment in advance, about $40. 900.
Bedford Lodge, his training Establish
ment. is one OF the finest in England, and
last summer he bought a farm near New"
market, as an addition to 1t, for nearly
$4,000
Ee was an enthusiast about riding, and,
tnoeRh heavy man, he made good
mount, training down savagely, denying
hi1self necessary food in order to weigh in.
Once he hired a special train in order to
reach race course in time TO ride in SELF
Ing race. He was catholic in bis sporting
taites, and while horses pleased him best,
ne was not blind to the beauties Of good
deg fight, and was fond of that diversion.
Within a few years be developed fond
MSS for pugiists. and he spei.t much of his
TINE as well as money in the society OF
Iugiljsts.
THE squire" always paid all the bills, and
consequently his following WIS large and
faithful Tied" Prt3hard, tie champion
middle-weight of England, was n.s tav orite
I protege up to the time when he took his
stand behind "Charlie" Mitchell. Prltchard
whipped all the men in his class aud thea
tbrashed "Jemn Smith, the heavyweight,
and challenged John L. Sullivan.
These exploits endesred him greatly 70
the SQUIRE" who retained him as per-
sonal companion when he went into the
In1o1okmakiug business for short time
when Pritchard met Jim Hall, the Austria