The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-09-13
n2WjonaiFeS Risk
Lives for Sport
New York Press)

New York Press.)
Viewed in connection with the recent
accident which befel August Belmont
while playing polo. the news that Colonel
John Jacob AstOr has sucCumbed to the
fascination of this most strenuous and
spectacular of games has had the effect
of drawing attention to the Hght-hearted
manner I'm which Vossessors of great
fortunes and managers of great enter
pTiSes are won't 60 imperil life and limb
by driving a little ball while their phorses
plunge and rear and dart ahead at fu-
TiOus speed.
Colonel Astor began practice at the
polo grounds I'm Newport last week As
all accounts agree that he.acQuitted him
self with credit. there is little doubt that
he VIII become deyOtee of the game
Yet Colonel Astor.s fortune is estimated
20 be anywhere between S58o0oe08 and
800. 10000. and the ownership Of all this
vast aggregat ton of wealth win lie at the
mercy Of uerest chance whenever he ven
lures out on the polo field.
And there is August Belmont. who mas
just has such narrow escape In ad-
diti0n 10 his Importance I'm the financial
world as "a banker and director of nu-
merous corporations I'm which millions Of
dollars are invested, Mr. Belmont Is the
moving spirit I'm one OF the greatest OF
modern entcrprises-the subway-in
which lie so o. speak, all the hopes OF
New Workers for rapid and comfortable
transit
Clarence IT. Mackay president of the
Postal telegraph and Commercial Gable
companies. is another chief of a great IN
dustry whose habit il is frequently 20
brsye the uerils of polo. and even more
devoted To- the game is George j. Gould
the handspring. as it were. of the huge
Gould system OF railroads. well the
Western Union telegraph interest 1t is
not pleasant TO reflect upon the effect Of
the sudden death OF Mr.. Mackey or Mr.
Gould would have in the financial world
but the remOteness of the contingency
IS lessened every time they find it neces-
sart I'm polo game TO cause their horses
10 wheel sharply in pursuit Of the bail
lf the horse. when he feels the pull to
turn. has his fore legs raised from the
ground preparatory so a jump. as Is often
the case. there is great danger. even with
the best trained Of animals. that he viii
get MS mind less crossed. and In that
event down win go the rider and the rid
cen I'm a promiscous heap.
But SO Ercat is Nir. Goulds sCOTn of
tnls danger. as well rs that OF a COssiHOn
between PLAYERS. that he permits his two
heirs. Master Jaw and Kingdom Gould
also 20 belong 90 the Lakewood Polo club.
Of which with the possible exception OF
tic member. Another of the millionaire
who belong 90 the lakewood club is MIR
Goulds brother. Frank.
the Meadow brook Polo club OF West
bury l. t. and In this organization are
many other men who find pleasure in
risking their uecks, despite the fact that
the possession or great fortune would
seem TO give them. every inducement TO
cling TO lire. Among these are Harry
Payne whitney. son ana helr ot william
G. Whitney and husband Of the former
Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt. Theodore A.
1Tavemeyer. who. i'm addition 10 his pres
ent fortune. tvill come I'm for many OF the
sugar trust miliionss r.. u. Morgan and
J. l. kernOchan, who are worth IN the
neighbOrh0od of N0O00O0O each.
The Country club of WcsChester Is q
close second to the MeadowhrOOk club in
the matter OF containing millionaire polo
players. To this organization belong
Henry O. HaVemeyer jr., another heir 10
sugar trust millions; J. Townsend Bur
den Arthur lselin and III. O.. Brokaw, w
Gould Brokaw, another man Of millions,