The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26
BEST H0RSEMAN IN MAINE.
ATTENDANCE AT BILL WlLKhRS
FUNERAL SHOWED mrs WORTH.

FnERDoM, Nc, Nov. 25.--Ncarly two thou
sand persons drove their horses through the mud
and rain in order to attend the funeral OF BIZ
Walker who was buried in Freedom cemetery
last Sunday afternoon. They became drcnched
with rain and spattercd with mud in order to
show their respect for the abilities OF Walker as
horse Jockey aud a Christian gentleman There
have been some other men In Waldo county who
understood how to trade horses to advantages ana
other men have lived who know how TO train
horses. and still other mon have been familiar
with the ways Of driving horses, but for allround
horscmansbip for training as well for trotting.
and for dring to win Bill Walker was the best
man that ever lived In Maine. lilo was horsey
from his hcetaps TO the brisiling gray scalp
lock that tufted the top Of his head. Men who
knew him best and admired him most called
him tho "Centaur," a term which in Walkers case
was converted into high compliment Strangers
who traded horses with him for tho first time
called him rascal which pleased Walker i'm
mensely. and advertised his business more than
any words Of praise.
The success Of Walker did not come until the
Civil War was well under way. Before the war
he had snapped horses. bought and sold oxen
and bet on scrub races wi h varying results, sci:
dom getting q new dollar u Ill he had parted
from the old one and becoming so accustomed
TO debt and poverty tina he ways felt lonesome
when tao Ter Il dl Int call around to see him
two or three umcs week, During hot poliu-
cal campaign in 1858, Wal er supported Tucker
OF Lincolnyo Tor sheriff an did such, good
work that his man was elected. wheroupon Walker
was appJ.ntoi deputy As a reward for his ser
vices ine horse Jockey aucd into his new duties
as perfectly as stopper fits a Jug. Having
dodgci sherfis With success for dozen years
he reversed his well-adj listed machinery and DO
came the most Wig orous and mosi dreaded oflcer
advantage 10 him in swappii g horses. the profits
In auade being much greater while iravs Hing on
been when he was obliged to foot the bills out OF
his own po, ket His, physical and I'm al
prosperity was the talk Of two coun,les; lie
built new stables and bought carriages s-d hsr-
ness iNings until his dooryard looked like tho
suburbs Of some, great racing park Meantime
face rounded out and blossomed like rose
Remembering his old days OF financial stress
Walker was never severe with men who made an
70 him he was terror, eSnc,ing the last cent and
pursuing his victims with ferocity., Most Of his
he had lodged in Jail Having put a man behind
bars for trivial debt augmented by heavy costs
less horse. and putting il into a shining harness
debtors family. where he held a sympathetic
very sad for the unfortunate prisoner II nearly
broke his heart TO take him 70 jail, but duty was
debt was nothing, everybody ran in debt sooner
9, Later, but The disgrace Of going TO Jail was a
was only one course Of conduct that would wipe
away the stain and make the debtor free and
honorable man When the wife asked what her
Let him enlist and go to the war His term
In lai will be forgotten and forgiven when his
patriotism l. known When marching beneath
traitorous foe, your husband will be called hero
In few months the war will end and your hus,
drawing pension that will support you and
him for the rest OF your lives
After hearing Walker talk the wife would sign
Transferring In 10 hour
money 10 Walker, whercupon Walker would
give her his horse and carriage out Of pure sd;;
miration for her loyalty Then he would call
on the debtor in jail and say:
2es here v MY ,a ne SS0yfy your jig is Up and
she won't mortgage, thing to get you out Il
you stay in here I'LL you rot Your father and
brothers have all they can do TO look out for them
selves You're IN here until Doomsday unless
YOU enlist and turn your bounty money over
10 me for getting you out of bad scrape After
YOU are mustered in and get your uniform YOU
can have two weeks al home To ride around with
%our wife The war won't last year, anyhow.
straps on your shoulders, medal on Your wcsEtt
and pension OF $40 month as long as you live
What do You til nix Of that eh' Better than
In the end the debtor enlisted and signed of
his bounty g Walker in payment for services
20 more than 81. 200. Walker felt we'll paid for
his kindly act, while the debtor finding a new
turnout awaiting him when he went home with
his unliorm, believed that Walker was the kindest
and most charitable man that ever lived. Inside
OF two years Walker cleared more than $50 900
by hbe.atng prisoners from jail and getting
them To enlist But prosperity brought its tempta.
lions Walker, who had never been teetota!ler,
3, began gan to drink heavily going from dram:shop
when his horse would take him homo As soon
as Walker had recovered enough to DO able u
arrest OF every man who had sold liquor " him.
II the dealers would pay Walker 500 costs in
hand, all proceedings would be mol pressed. otheI
Wise every man must go 10 Jail and await trial
When confronted with dilemma Of this kind
the men were not long in making choice They
paid Walker the hush money and were not dis
turbed again for year, when the vigiant deputy
around and levied another assessment
Al tho close of the war heavy drinking and
high living had begun 10 tell upon Walker He
grew fat and short windcd and was prone to pick
a quarrel at slight provocaton. Ono night in
face pounded to q Jelly in a barroom fight in Burn
ham This row lost him his job az deputy sheriff
he broke out again he abused his wife, who was
PEELED to interfere, and Walker wen, away and
did not come home again until called to attend
his wiies funeral he friends and kindred
OF the wife were already assembled at tho house
when Walker drove into the yard behind speedy
horse and fell from the wagon. lie admitted
that he was drunk, but begged for a scat at the
head Of the colin promising to conduct himself
d the town Waller rode behind The hearse Win with
bis bro,hcr.in.law a wild young fellow who
loved horse race better than anything else
As tDe procession CLIMBED long NIL In the middle
OF a cool autumn afternoon Walker looked back
at his brother in law and said:
That's sleek looking horse Of yours"
Il think so" was the reply.
Go any"
Some"
Bet you $40 get 70 the grave bofore you do =
Tho words were hardly out before the brother
nlaw had hit his horse with whip. cut out into
the ditch and gaoped past Walker and the hearse
Seeing he was likely 70 lose his bet Walker whipped
his horse into a gallop and went up the road
leaving the funeral procession far behind. They
raced up and down hill for two miles Sometimes
tho two horses ran neck and neck for half min
uto Then one would fall behind, and tho leader
would go for a space in undisturbed possession
Of the road The horse OF the brother in law
had the advantage until they struck long level
road that led 10 tne cemetery. when Walker
horse, which was gaunt from long training. came
up aud passed the leader which was short wndcd,
having lust come up from pasture Walker
drove up to the open grave two lengths ahead
OF his brother in'law, winning $40 and u reputa-
lion thai lasted him through life
The "a orm Of Walker dates from the day OF
his " ic's funeral lie never took another glass
Of liquor, but signed the pledge as soon as he
became sober. lie proiessed religion and Joined
the church after a years probation. Though
Walker became a model Christian, he never lost
his interest in horses Thirty years ago he i'm.
p'rcd P"rcheron and Clydesdale stock from
Europe and bred them on u large scale, telling
lhem TO the farmers on easy terms aud offering