Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-12-06
The Ostrich Contract


Ford, the owner, for terms and
at the same time asked if he
gave a guarantee for appearance
at the fair. In reply they re-
ceived the following:
Jacksonville, Fla, April nth, 1906.
A. ]. VanAntwerp,
Broker Bow, Neb.
DEAR SIR:
Your kind favor received and / en-
closed duplicate contracts for your in
spection. We have never put up any de-
post to guarantee our performance or
presence as contracted for and have new
er failed to keep our contract OH time.
Once did not get to town where was
to drive until the day we were contracted
for but we were there and III good time.
In order to satisfy your people we will be
there, ETC., l can refer you to fair as
sociations at Fonda, Hudson and Middle
ton, N. "; Dover, Milford and Smyrna,
Delaware; Carthage, Columbus aud
Cincinnati, Ohio; Armada and Cass City,
Mich; Marion and Gresnup, H.; Plain
field, N. j.; Trenton, Tenn; and many
| others.
We can not afford to fail to keep our
contract with Fair association and
therefore have never given any deposit
as guarantee. If the enclosed contracts
are not satisfactory why write me and
we will add anything you desire within
reason. have added that we guarantee
the driving and racing as we omitted to
have, that emphasized in the wording of
the contract by oversight, when printed.
We try to get to each place one or two
days ahead of the days we are scheduled
! for, SO that it becomes generally known
| that we arrived. We will want two
stalls on the Fair ground, back of or
near the grand stand, if possible. We
must have the track kept clear of every
one but those that are needed on the
track to assist with tie horse and the
: officials. This is necessary TO insure
/! quick start and to get all the speed out
OF the bird. l have made the price no
| more than for our engagements where
we have short jump, and shall be az
great expense to make SO long jump,
do it however as you have selected
Thursday and Friday which gives me
chance to make all engagement i'll Iowa
| possibly for Monday and Tuesday, and
give me Tuesday night and Wednesday
morning to travel to Broken Bow
Write me on any point that is not clear
shall be pleased to advise you fully.
Yours truly, a
VIM. w. FORD, Mgr.
Enclosed with Ford's letter
were duplicate contracts. The
letter caused President George
and Secretary VanAntwerp to
believe Mr.. Ford would perform
his share of the contract, just as
he had done at the places to
which he referred, and as the
secretaries of the associations at
these places stated that Ford
had been there with the ostrich
and that the performance was
all and more than claimed for it,
the contract was signed without
further demand for guarantee
of appearance. The contract
reads as follows:
CONTRACTS:
The Ostrich Farm, Jacksonville, Fla,
agrees to race Jacksonville, Jr." the
celebrated trotting ostrich, two half mile
races daily, on the Fair Grounds of the
Custer County Agricultural society, Bro
ken Bow, Nebraska, on the 27th and 18th
days of Sept, 1905, for $4,000.
The Ostrich Farm does not guarantee
to make any specified time, but aims to
do 2:3o or better. The Ostrich Farm
guarantees to drive and race the ostrich
in harness.
The aboae amount, viz: $4,000 to
be paid at the conclusion of the perfor-
nance on the last day contracted for.
The above mentioned society agrees to
keep the track cleared while Ostrich is
being raced each day.
Signed; The OSTRICH FARM,
WIN. w. FORD Mgr.
CUSTER COUNTY AG'I,. SOCIETY,
al w. A. GEORGE, Pres.
A. J. VANANTwERP, Sec'y.
Witness
M. {. G. FORD. MYRTLE LYELL.
When the day arrived for the
appearance of the ostrich and il
( had not arrived, kilograms were
sent in an effort to learn the
cause of its non.appearance, anC
the evening of the last day o
4 the fair the following Telegram
8 was received:
4 New York, N. ",
a Sept. rs, 1906.
q A. ]. VANANTWERP, Sec'y.,
a Broken Bow, Nebraska.
4 Serious accident prevented keepin
g contract. Ostrich dead, myself just r,
& covering. Will endesvor to make r,
3 paration. VIM. w. FORD.
"a These facts would have bee
q given the public ere this, but tn
B fair managers hoped to hea
Is more from Mr.. Ford. The
have, however, been unable t
locate that gentleman for whor
3 they are still searching and
3 found, what he has to say in r,
2 gard to his failure to appear {
z the fair will be published later.
q The letter from Ford and II
q contract show the fair Poop
q were sincere in advertising IL
u ostrich race and it was n,
u through their fault II did NOT n