Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-18
Bob" Kneebs, the Veteran Iowa
Horseman, is Near Deaths
Door.
Is Well Known to Every Old
Time Turfman..News Of the
Race Track.
Sporting Topics in General..Gos.
sip Of the Pues..Sham.
rock iii.


kneebs has been a racing man practi-
cally all his life, and has probably
skinned as many pool boxes and pro-
duced as many surprises as any horse
man in the country. When kneebs
campaigned he left behind him trail
of sorrowful hearts and empty pocket
books, and many sporting man who
had a sure thing to beat Kneebs has
borrowed the money for meal or a
drink after the sure thing went wrong.
The "reminiscences of bunch of old
drivers is never complete without
Kneebs story, and it usually rebounds
to the credit of Kneebs pocketbook and
the wallets of his coterie. His greatest
notoriety was attained, however, in
Germany when he was arrested and i'm
prisoned charged with ringing the fast
mare Bethel as Nellie Kneebs. He
cleaned out the German sports and won
a small fortune. A German nobleman,
Prince Schmidt, taxed him with fraud
and charged that he was ringing. Bob
promptly and most Enthusiastically,
knocked him down with a smash in the
nose and spread the royal blood over
the quarter stretch. When an apology
was demanded Kneebs sent the prince
word that if he would come around he
(kneebs) would hand him another
punch in the nose. The ringing case
was in consequence pushed against him
and he spent eighteen months in jail
and four years in litigation.
But old Bob" Is making his last drive
and is coming down the stretch behind
the pale horse. Many an old-time horse
man contemporaneous with Ed Butcher
and the older gang of sports will feel
pang of regret at the passing OF Bob
Kneebs.
Negotiations for one of the greatest
trotting events of the world We're closed
this week by Thomas w. Lawson. of
Boston. and f. r. Smathers and ]. j.
Scannell, of New York, who own three
of the greatest horses in the world, re-
spectively, Boralma, Lord Derby and
The Abbot. The final negotiations are
the outcome of Mr.. Lawson's original
challenge to trot Boralma (2:07) against
any horse in the world. MeSsrs. Smath-
ers and Scannell each posted a $4,000
forfeit, and as soon as Mr.. Lawson was
advised of this act he Immediately for
two checks for $1,000 to cover
his end The Boralma-Lord Derby race
and the Boralma- Abbott race will each
I .ldsS pus CT SInr ussMlaq pelloIl 90
and will be for $4,000 side. in each
case. Lexington, Ky, thru Secretary
Wilson of the Kentucky Trotting Horse
Breeders Association, has already
placed bid for either of the matches. |
Eastern turfmen are apparently after !
the American derby that is to be run on
The Washington Park. Chicago, track !
next June. Some of the best 3-year-
bids in the east are being nominated for !
the event, and a great effort will be I
made to capture the $4,000 purse. Will I
lam c. Whitney has nominated Endur-
lnce by Right, the great filly purchased t
asst fall from John W. Schoor, OF Mem I
ohis. also Gold Seeker Several other
good ones owned in the eastern states
nave been nominated, with a view of I
them In the derby and in some
If the other big stakes scheduled for the
Chicago meeting.
Many American horsemen think that
William K. Vanderbilt stands a good
nance of capturing the English derby
his season with his American bred colt.
3llsmere. The colt is said to be far
.bove the average ability, and in trials
llready made has developed wonderful
speed. j. B. Buchanan. California
ockey, is to ride for Mr.. Vanderbilt this
reason.
Pat O'Dea, the noted foot ball player
Ind drop kicker. who for years was
,aptain Of the Unworthy of Wisconsin
eleven. is lying in critical condition at
he Alexian Brothers hospital, Chicago,
from severe scalds, compli-
,ated with the effects of beating that
lie received at the hands of footpads a
ew weeks ago. O'Deas burns were re-
eived while taking a bath, in stepping
nto tub OF scalding water O'Dea is Y
IN Australian and has achieved a ma
ional reputation as member OF the
Wisconsin foot ball team.
Efforts are being made on the part of
Champion James ]. Jeffries, to bring
bout meeting with ex-Champion
Fitzsimmons is trying to
,et backing for $4,000, as a side bet.
,ut Jeffries announces that this Will not
be necessary, as he is willing to fight
without one penny on the
de. He is willing to make a seventy
hirty proposition. or winner take all,
ust as it suits the Cornlshman.
Tommy" Ryan and "Rube" Ferns
AVE signed articles of agreement. for
twenty-round bout, to be pulled off
before the club offering the best induce
nents The fight is to take place with
n the next ninety days, Qneensbury
ules to govern. Each man has depos-
ted $500, and the articles call for a
weight of $50 pounds at the ringside
rive ounce gloves are to be used, and
he winner is to receive seventy-five
,er cent of the purse. Propositions from
equitable clubs are open until Feb. 16.
1t is highly probable that Benny"
yanger will meet in a six-round con-
est on or about Feb. 3. rangers an
that he was willing to fight
ny man In the world from 122 to 126
,ounds was gobbled up in jiffy by 1
sullivan. who will meet him at the lat
err notch.
The announcement was made this week
hat Sir Thomas Upton has decided to
1t the contract for the building of
III to William Fife, of Fair
e-on-iClyde. The Flies have been