Smyrna times., 1904-07-27
FORDS TRO1TING OSTRICH
WILL EXHIBIT At SMYRNA
WILL BEA FEATURE AT MATINEE PAcRS
AT BELMONT PARK SATURDAY

Pet Ostrich Is Owned By William W. Ford
FOrmtrly OF Dover, and Can TrOt TO
Pneumatic Wagon 10 the III Class.
The rare sight Of trotting ostrich
on Belmont Driving Park race track
OutdOing the fastest horse flesh in this
vicinity, will be witnessed next Satur-
day afternoon at an interesting mat
inee, arranged by John F. Colds
borough of this town. The latter
visited Dover yesterday and succeeded
in getting Mr.. William W. Ford. for
merly of this vicinity, now one of the
owners of large ostrich farm in
Florida, to enter his bird in the races
The bird can trot close to the two
minute class and is unusually we'll
trained. In addition to this, there
will be some interesting heats between
some of the best and fastest horses in
this vicinity and with brass band to
discourse popular airs, the matinee
promises to be unusually attractive.
The races will begin promptly at one
thirty o'clock, and the management
have arranged to accommodate as
large a crowd as possible at the popular
admission price of % cents. Con-
corning the ostrich, the Morning NeCs
has the following interesting story:
Bird is Feet Inches Tall, is Worth $1,000.
W. W. Ford, former citizen, who
arrived in Dover for stay of two weeks
among relatives, created a sensation
Monday by bringing to Dover trot-
ting ostrich which he drives to a four
wheel pneumatic wagon. This newest
and latest turnout probably attracted
more attention than all the automo-
biles or motor vehicles in the country.
The bird is feet, 4 inches tall, weighs
800 pounds and is 10 years old. It's
strength, endurance and heetness of
foot are really incalculable. Mr.. Ford
who is native of Rising Sun, this
county, went into the ostrich business
several years ago, removing to Jack
sOnville, Fla, where he became mana
ger of one of the two great farms of
the American Ostrich Farm Company.
The other farm is at Hot Springs, Ark.
Their business began about ten years
ago, when the first birds were imported
from South Africa. These ostriches
did not thrive because of the differ
n nIIpnofTool condition. I,,A
their offspring are now fully acclinated
and the industry promises to develop
into a most important American enter
prise. The bird which Mr.. Ford uses
to carry him around the mile course in
little over two minutes is valued at
$4,000, and is known as "Black Dia-
mOnd." He was visiting here when
number of his friends asked to have a
chance to see the trotting bird per-
form and Mr.. Ford sent for it. Black
Diamond arrived at Dover IN bagg-
age car at noon Monday "rubbering''
It's fourfo neck out of the car to see
Mr.. Ford. AS the trains were moving
about the station on its arrival, a hood
was placed over Black Diamonds head
so that it had to remain still in it's
mammoth crate cage. "The fellow
must not be scared too much, " explain
ed Mr.. Ford, ''for if he once kicked
out of there nothing on earth could
catch him. He can run faster than
locomotive and endure longer than any
pursuer. In fact these birds do not
realize their great power or they
would at once be beyond the control
of man."
Mr.. Ford Explains System Of Raising Ostriches
Mr.. Ford explained his system of
raising ostriches, each of which, when
IN full plumage, is worth $1,000. At
their Jacksonville farm sixty pound
birds were hatched this year and forty
have lived and bid fair to become
yearlings. All were hatched by the
natural process, under the old birds.
tell you gentleman" said Mr..
FORD, the ostrich affords us great
Lessons, particularly to the the mar
RED people of America. Ostriches
take long time to select their mate
Dut once they agree to mate with each
Other the agreement is binding and |
those two ostriches travel together and
alone until death does them part.
once mated they stay mated. "Then,
100 think of an American husband,
AFTER working all day, helping do
nousework and minding the babies at
night. Yet the male ostrich works all
uay Tor his living and then, in the
breeding season, he relieves his wife
oy setting all night long on her nest.
Requires AZ Days to Hatch Brood.
Ihefemale sets faithfully between the