The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-20
SALE OF JOHN R. GENTRY.
The Famous Horse Is Sold 10 Lewis
Tewksbury for sl9,9OO...A Sen.
satiOnal Auction.

New York, Nov. 19.-Before the larg-
est crowd ever seen at a horse sale in
this country, and after a most sensa-
tional auction, John II. Gentry. the
champion harness horse Of the world.
passed into the hands Of Lewis u.
Tewkesbury, of this city, for $l9,9O0 at
Madison Square Garden tonight. 1t
was $50 O'Clock when the band which
was stationed over the main entrance
of the garden struck up Hail to the
Chief" and Gentry WAS with difficulty
brought through the crowd to the front
of the auctioneer's stand. The whole
section of the west side of the garden.
boxes and reserved seats. were as full
as they could hold, while inside the
ring and on the miniature track the
throng of people were pushing and fall
ing over each other in their efforts to
get good glimpse of the pacing king.
Thirty-five hundred was low esti-
mate of the number present.
When the horse was fairly in front
Of Auctioneer Ban, of Lexington, KY.
who sold him here last February, when
William Simpson was the purchaser
at $500, the band ceased playing. 1t
was not. however. until the assistance
of the police was called that space was
made barely sufficient to allow the
horse to move around. A cheer went
up from the crowd. and in few well
chosen words the auctioneer called Tor
bids for the champion harness horse of
the world, who had paced the fastest
three heats ever accomplished, FOB.
2.O3A, 2.O3A: had lowered the harness
record to 2.Ol1a, and to crown his glory
and indelibly stamp himself lord and
king of the turf. had covered mile
against time in 2.OOla, second faster
than any other horse ever accomplished
the distance In harness.
Bids came in with such rapidity that
the auctioneer could scarcely keep track
of them. Four, six. eight, ten and
eleven thousand dollars We're offered
from different parts of the house with
scarcely breathing time between. But
the real battle of bids was to come
when the struggle narrowed down to
two, Louis w. Wormser and Lewis G..
Tewkesbury. both of New York. Mr..
Wormser came into the battle at $l2.-
0OO his bid being delivered in loud,
clear voice, and the crowd applauded.
Promptly Mr.. Tewkesbury went $500
better. Thus the battle waged be-
tween the two with scarcely moments
hesitation up to $l6,5OO. which was
pause. followed by round of hand
capping from the audience who were
by this time worked up into state of
excited admiration. The applause
greeted Wormsers jump to $lS,OOO
Scarcely had 1t died away when the
other came back al him with his rise of
$500. There was another short pause
and Wormser shouted $l9500. No re-
ply followed for a moment and then
tension could be felt. What is bid"
asked Mr.. Tewkesbury.
19.500," was the reply.
Then l raise it $500. The auctioneer
turned to Mr.. WOrmser expectantly
There was no reply and on the three
the auctiOneers gavel fell. The gal
liant son of Ashland Wilkes and Dame
Wood, who stood, like the thoroughbred
he is. the pressure of the crowd and the
strains of the band. became the prop
erty of the owner of Robert j.. the only
horse that had shown himself a dan
gerous rival to the king, who will in
future be his cOmrade
With Gentry, Robert j.. t2.01 Icy and
Mascot COO, Mr.. Tewkesbury has a
stable of phenomenal greatness.
The rest of the horses sold TODAY
brought fairly good prices