The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-25

when things go right and when they
go wrong without being told, and be-
tween friends the embarrassing ques-
lions are avoided"
Double Incident.
Although reserved and always striv-
ing to keep out of the limelight, Geers
took a hand in an incident which
threatened to disrupt the National
Trotting association, when many an
other man would have said that it was
none of his business. The affair was
the celebrated Bud Doble case on the
old Fleetwood track.
During a race Doble struck "Knap-
sack" Mccarthy aeross the face with
his whip, for he charged that McCar:-
thy had repeatedly borne III on him
In an endeavor to crowd his horse off
his stride and thus lose the race for
Doble.
Mccarthy fastened to the judges
stand and put in his protest. 1t look
ed like getting ruled off for Doble.
Geers was in the same race and had
seen McCarthy's tactics. He went to
the judges and told them his version
of the affair and expressed his opinion
that the circumstances would warrant
any man losing his temper.
Geers had nothing to win or lose.
His horse was behind, and he was out
of the race, but he had been in good
position to see what was going on
among the leaders. When Geers told
his story he was paid one of the great
est compliments he ever received, for
Doble was not ruled off, and the in
cident was considered as closed by
the judges.
: This voluntary story coming from
a driver who did not have the con.
fidence of the judges would have car
ried little weight, but when Geers said
it, that was enough. Fair play won
the victory and incidentally Geers
had another argument for not carry
ing whip in his races.
One of the notable instances of
Geers' squareness was the famous
Croesceus Abbot race at Brighton
Beach in 1901. Geers said before the
race that Cresceus was the better
horse. but that he would do his best
with his charge.
Inseparably linked with the name
of Hamlin and Village farm is the
name of Geers. He drove all of the
good ones upon whose breeding the
millionaire lavished his wealth to pro.
luce winners. Geers was the origin
ator of the indoor track for training
purposes, and one was erected at Viii
lage farm for this purpose.
The Egg Record.
An amusing story Is told of the pro-
prietor of Village farm, which lies
about twelve miles Ebert Hubbard
ward from Buffalo. Hamlin had a
hobby of driving pair of roadsters
from the farm to the corner of Main
and Division streets in Buffalo in
something like half hour. Another
pride of Village farm was the strictly
fresh eggs produced there, and Ham
lin would drive in with basket of
them between his knees and see how
many he could keep from breaking,
for the roads were not always in tip
top shape.
Geers would listen to the accounts
OF the master of Village farm with all
due respect, when one day he decided
to "go after the record"
He picked out day which was just
right and drove the pair into Buffalo
in minute less than Hamlin had ever
done. Hamlin was waiting for him
at the corner. Just before Geers got
out of the light road wagon, he drew
from beneath the buster basket of
eggs, and not a single one was broken.
1t Is needless to say that Hamlin's
respect for Geers' handling of the
reins increased immeasurably after
that.
Three Abreast.
Strange to say the performance
which Geers considers the browning
achievement of his life is the one
most seldom thought of and one of
the very few Geers ever made any
impression of opinion about after it
was over. This was when he drove
Belle Hamlin, Justina and Globe, three
abreast, to an old-fashioned high
wheeled skeleton wagon for mile in
2:14.
This record has never been equaled
and in all probability never will, for
it will be hard to find a driver who
can handle three horses as Geers can
handle them; then, again, it will be
hard to get three which will work in
such perfect unison as this trio from
Village farm.
E. E. Johnson of New York had a
talk with Geers just before the ex-
hibitfon at Glenville was to be run,
and he gained wonderful insight in
to the judgment of Geers concerning
what horse could do.
MY boy" said Geers, never mind
what these wise bookmakers tell you.
will beat 2:18, and here is the
chance to pick up the railroad fare
back to New York If you care to take
the chance"
Johnson acted accordingly, and the
result justified his faith in "The ST.
lent Mans" judgment.
Thirty thousand persons were on
hand to see the trial, for Geers' nams
Is magnet of the first calibre when
1T comes to crowd-drawIng ability. The
day was perfect. Col William Ed
wards, white-haired, stood in the
judges stand and requested the crowd
to abstain from all demonstration UNI
til the horses had crossed the finish
line.
Here Geers received another COM
pliment such as is the fortune of few
to win. In all that vast throng not
a voice was raised as those three
horses turned into the stretch for
home and record, It was like watch
ing the working of delica piece
of mechanism which the slightest jar
would ruin. 81;
Geers drove past the judges stand
and told Col. Edwards that he would
nod IL he intended to get away: then
he drove up the stretch and turned
to score. The trio came down as one
horse without a slip. But evidently
they were not moving to Geers' liking,