The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
SUPERSTITION AMONG
RACE HORSE OWNERS
Strange Fatality Among Men for
Whom Race Horses Have.
Been Named.
SOME TRAGIC DEATHS
Has Caused a Change in the No
menclature to Be Chosen for
Yearlings.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Dec. 19.-Strange and
unaccountable fatalities which followed In
the wake OF horses named after prominent
Memphians and Western folk I'm general
and the sudden and sometimes tragic death
OF half a dozen wealthy residents Of this
city for whom horses had been named has
caused a change in the nomenclature to be
chosen for the present band of Juveniles
which are 10 be ehristened with names for
their 1904 campaign.
j. w. Schorr, the wealthy local brewer,
was first 10 abandon the plan to honor good
friends and customers with thoroughbreds
bearing their initials. names or part names.
During the first few years horses ne named
for Memphans and st. Louis people were
winning performers. as the feats OF Sam
Phillips, winner of the St. Louis Derby of
this year: Eddy Busch Lady Schorr. Alard
scheck Watkins Overton, w. Overton. F.
w. Brode. Joe Frey, winner of the Califor-
MIA Derby, and many others will testify.
There came a change in quality OF the
horses bearing names OF Memphians. how
ever. later on, and while the outside world
RAY never have heard of Pat Carlin. Mike
Carlin. G. w. Mohr. Fred Breens. Joe
Mancini and others named after local men
OF business. the local following knows that
they were thoroughbreds with blue blood
IN their veins. but barren of usefulness on
race track: and many were the jokes
hurled at the gentlemen whose names the
horses bore, usually trailing in far behind
their fields
Main street and other business thorough
fares In this city might a good
every few yards there is the name OF the
men or firm for whom some stake horse or
selling platter has been named.
Things have. changed now. Merchants
with any special brand OF cigars drugs.
chill cure whisky are not clamorlng
with owners to christen their young stock
other names for their two-year-oids.
The cause OF Ii all Is that several prom
fnent men have suddenly become deranged
or met death under unusual circumstances.
George Arnold that good son OF Sir Dixon,
that was killed In a railroad wreck and
for whom his owner received verdict for
$4,000 In court, was first Of the Memphis
named horses TO meet death. and the man
Tor whom the horse named followed
shortly afterwaro, although up to a few
weeks before Death he had enjoyed good
The horse w. Overton was a kind OF
/ Hindoo at Washington Park and 81. Louis
during the meetings of 1899. but when he
was retired TO farm for winter rest near
st. Louis w. 0verton bled to death from
entanglement with a barb-wire fence. Wat
families In the State and the party for
whom the horse had been named. Is gen.
orally supposed to have taken his own life
IN his residence by sending bullet through
his brain
One of the most expensive yearling in
vestments J. w. Schorr ever made was in
q son or Hanover, which was subsequent
ly named Fred Hessig. In honor of his old
time friend, who was once a member of the
famous ChicaSaw Guards in their cham
pfonship days. Fred Hessig proved a dis
appointment. and being sold to other
parties the horse was relegated 10 a life
OF drawing an Arkansas pillow, and when
last heard from he had been kicked to death
In his stall by an angry mule. Last Mon
day the news was brought here OF the death
OF Fred Hessig. the namesake. in Paducah
KY Hessig had been demented for several
months and died lunatic.
For this and other reasons owners are
not anxious to name their horses for Mem
phians and Memphians are not making
Inducements to owners to have any par
ticulariy richly-bred youngster named after
them