St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-03-26
RECENT DEATHS.
Brock.

has been sick in bed six weeks and unWcl
for over year. Throughout his sick
ness he has shown remarkable grit and
determination, driving his famous horse
Barney last season when most men would
have been in bed He was born in West
Barnet. He lived there until about
IS years old, then he went to Boston and
later to New York. He returned to West
Barnet IA years ago. shortly after mar
rying Kate d. Gilman oil Barnet. who
with one child, Elsinore, 13 years old,
survives him.
He came here from West Barnet ten or
twelve years ago, where he has since
lived His last work on the turf was
last season, making a wide and success
full circuit with Barney. Funeral and in
terment here tomorrow. -
The following account of Mr.. Brooks
life is taken from the Boston Globe:
There were few better known horse
men in New England than Ham" Brock.
Thirty years ago he was hand in glove
with the leading horsemen in Boston.
Noted as good judge, a frst-class filter,
a good driver and man of the highest
order of courage and resolution, he was
always counted in the big matches.
Hamilton Brock was born in West
Barnet, VT, and came to Boston shortly
before the war, and soon became ac-
quainted with Boston's best known
sporting men, among his ntimates be-
ing Michael Carroll, best known as
Careless Boy" who kept sporting
headquarters and barroom in the old
"hatiron" building now occupied as an
apothecary store at the junction OF
Portland and Merrimac streets.
Careless Boy" was one of the best
Jumpers OF his day, and his big stature
aud strength rendered him a central fig
ure among his confreres. The late John
Stetson about this time was coming into
prominence as q sprinter, and a strong
attachment sprang up between him and
Brock. This mutual friendship was con.
tinued to the last days OF Stetson's life
Those were great days for horse racing
at Mystic and Beacon, where Brock
Carroll, Charley Haley, Paddy" Camp
bell and host of kindred sports wer,
prominent.
When the war of the rebellion broke
out, Brock opened a sporting place or
Merrimac street, near the corner of Char
don street. almost opposite the old Ma
tional theater, which was on the present
site Of what is now a mammoth horse
mart on Portland street.
Brooks place became favorite rem
devious ofsporting men and theatrica
men from every part ol the country.
With the war over, Brock prospered
His place continued to be not only the
headquarters for sports in general, but it
also had an attraction for travellers from
every quarter. Military officers from
the front on furlough found pleasant mo-
ments here, and business men daily
dropped in to see them. There was nc
safer place of the kind in Boston then
and Boston's staid business men felt that
where Ham" Brock ruled there could be
no danger to either person or purse.
After the old National theater had been
destroyed by fire, Brock moved to more
convenient and luxurious quarters or
Court street. For several years he kept
public place at 105 Court street, and
later opened old Bowdoin hall, on Bow,
doin square. The latter place was the
leading sporting headquarters in Boston
for many years. Here pools were made
on every kind Of sporting event.
With the enactment of stringent laws
prohibiting betting, and the consequent
decline of a number of professional sports
business began to drop off, until finally
Bowdoin hall was closed. For time
Brock then gave his whole time to tn,
turf, and drove one or more OF his horses
over the various circuits throughout tn,
country.
A dozen or more years ago he returned
: to Vermont and settled down in st
: Johnsbury
Her returned to Boston about eight years
ago and started training horses. Thei
) he took the saloon in the Globe theate
building and attended to his bushes
, during the winter months.
Ham Brock was a man who alway
] did as he agreed in things large or small
| He was generous to fault, and thoug
: he made large sums of money he neve
e accumulated any savings.
n Brock always made money with an
horse he had but the first really goo
r one that ever fell into his hands was tn
r gray PAGER, Gil Curry. His old trient
S Charles Haley, put the money in, an
l., soon Ham earned him out and owne
r halt of him.
n A difference of opinion made Haley bu
It out Brock interest, and the seller bougl
|. the PAGER Barney. This horse is livir
n proof of the ability the driver had, {,
5, from being an erratic runaway, he w,