The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-22
cnts Rnics ,in Rnrlington Ronte.
Race rock and
Stable Gossip

are lnulSSuluBly DDund up luSetiiei.
If the roster of pioneer turfmen mad
not held the names of Buford. black
burn, Harper, Alexander, Swigert Kin
kead and Ford, and II they had not
played their mighty parts on the breed
ing farm and at the race track. the an
nalsts Of the American turf would nave
"a different story 10 tell.
These men raced horses in the days
when they were run for glory, and when
the bookmaker had not been invented.
of this school of turfmen Frank -.
Harper. now in his 18th year, Is the last
survivor in Woodford county, and one
Of the most illustrious Of them all. He
is nephew of John Harper, who died in
1873. and who laid the foundation Of the
great thoroughbred nursery at Nantura
farm many years ago After OWNING
and racing number of celebrated
horses John Harper's career was
crowned near the close of his life by the
successes of Longfellow, who was foaled
in 1867. He bred Ten Brock, but did
not live to see any Of his performances.
Frank b. Harper was associated with
his Uncle John from childhood. and It
Was under Franks regime that Long
fellow won many Of his greatest races
and made his wonderful name in the
stud and that Ten Brock made the
world ring with his exploits ON the
track
The Harpers have been in Woodford
county for over 100 years. The records
OF the Woodford county court show that
In March. 1895. jacob Harper, ST., the
grandfather OF the present owner of
Nantnra farm, purchased from one An
drew Lewis $50 acres of land for the
sum off912, lawful money"
"Nantura" took its name from the
great race and brood mala af that
name. the dam OF Longfellor The es-
tate now includes within is northern
boundary the old Ned Blackburn place,
oEce famous as the home of Boston ard
American Eclipse, and where ex-senator
Joe Blackburn first saw the light some
| thfeescore years ago. 1t is 4 mngnih-
cent tract of LOO acfeF, studded with
| grand old trees Of black walnut, ash,
| hard maple. burr oak. hickory, elm ami
| now and then "a honey locust ana hack
| berry
| Mr. Harper is a heavily-huilt, white
| bearded old gentleman of the utmost
simplicity of manners and life. lie
| knows few greater pleasures than 10 sit
/ or the front porch of the little one-and-
-half-story cottage, part log and part
/ brick OF five or six rooms, which con-
stitutes his home. and TO talk With deep
| feeling of the noble animals whom be
has loved with an affection rarely given
| by man to man, and almost unheafd OF
between man and beast. This quaint old
cottage, besides being a historic spot in
| the annals of thoroughbred breeding,
| possesses a weird interest Of another
kind Its ancient walls could tell, IT
| walls had speech of two fearful muir
| ders In the family of its owner. one OF
| them the most mysterious which has
ever occurred in Kentucky, and not the
/ slightest clew To which has been mad
down To the present day, Adam Har-
per. brother of John Harper, was the
first victim. He was shot to death dur
| ing the war in 1864, by members OF Sue
i
to prevent them from taking his thor
oughbred stations. The second tragedy
enacted there occurred on the night Of
Sunday, March 10, 1871, When another
brother. Jacob Harper, aged "a. and his
sister. Miss Elizabeth Harper, several
years older, We're brutality butchered and
murdered in their beds. John Harper
and his nephew. at the time the murder
was committed We're in Lexington With
IongfellaN. who Was to start next day
in a race against The great Enquirer. an
event that had been advertised far and
Wide The old people We're alone in the
house the servants being in n cabin
some distance away. Jacob Harper had
visited Frankfort the day before. and II
was cufrentlyreported that he had drawn
a large sum of money from bank 10 bel
ON the race nj Lexington. Robbery II
supposed To have been the motive for
the crime The assassins effected an en-
trance To Jacob Harper-s room through
a window. and With 4 dull ax hacked Il
death Harper and his sister as they lay
sleeping In their beds, The bodies Were
discovered next morning by the servants
Although the best detectives in Gincin-
matt weie engaged in investigating thu
case. the perpetrators Of the fonlt deed
Mere lever discovered and the cele.
biated murder Of jacob and Betsy Har-
per has always remained "A mystery.
Mr.. Harper Is bachelor The quiet
. / nal Ia I'm al MI hsa.
always led, is remarkable in a man u
such means, amply able To crafty every
wish which his heart could conceive. 4
very fair index of his character was hi,
famous and oft-repeated injunction (.
: his Jockeys to run his horses from ..eent
To eend" Ii we'll illustrates his opet
and straightforward nature.
With the death of Ten Brock an
Langfellow, his most dearly loyas
equine companions Mr.. Harper has los
all interest Iii The turf, and indeed.
think great deal Of his interest in life
The passing away of Jils johnson. TIL
great son of LongfellaN. "A few days ago
WAS not 50 deeply maurned by MIR liar
per, and he stated 10 the writer that il
moi his intention Ia place Il monumen
over him. Those Mere glorious days IL
The old man when l4ongfellaw and Te
Brock were both On exhibition at Nan
tu1a farm, aud mad visitors from A
| over this continent and Europe.
Imported kossington and Patton Al
the present stations. but while they al
constantly earning money for the
master, they have not IN the least II
suagea his grief for the dead heroa
Ten Brock AMI LangfeloN. lmnorta
Rossingtnn who Is a half brother 10 Il
great 0fmanae tnnI sold Tor Sio0. 90
WAS purchased uy Harper at public au,
ton in Lexington in 1SS7. Al 1 years al
Il paid $4,000 for him, SAID MIR HI
per 10 me. during my visit the 9th,
day, and now he doesn't owe ma
cent. / believe. III fact. that | have hes
~ liz debt f4r several years Rosslui
ton tTad II successful 4-year-uids, an
all Told. about l6 winners out last Yea
one Of thr hest OF Which is the 2-yea
old Traverse. out of Betsy Brooks. /
Ten Brock, h. having recently W.
several good races III San Francis
Patton i years old by Ten Brosc
has teen in the stud only four year
aad has produced some good and