The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-06
PORTO RICO MIDGET
PUT ON PROBATION
Little Jockey Tells Story of His
Wanderings
ONCE USED AS MASCOT
Says He Was Stolen Away From Home
BY American Soldiers During the
Spanish-Amerlcan
War.

II was stolen away from my people in
Porto Rico by the soldiers" said a little
spaniard as he sat on the witness stand
in the police court yesterday. The his
tory of the black-eyed boy and his ex-
periences read like romance, while his
rowing characteristics are imprinted on
his countenance. The thread of his life
would make food for a modern novel,
He stands about five feet high, with the
bow-legs and inturned toes which mark
him Immediately as a jockey. When he
begins to speak this conclusion is as
sured, for no one but race track tout
could so fuently squirt the track lingo.
He is we'll clothed for fellow with no
money in his pocket, while his manners
are not Of the worst.
where were you born?" asked the
Judge.
"In Sandman, Porto Rico, twenty
years ago. 1 lived with my parents and
went to school with the other boys I'M
til 1 was fourteen years old. Then the
Spanish-American war came on and the
soldiers flooded the island. [ got to play
ing around the camps, and one day a
soldier picked me up and said I would
have to be his company's mascot, so he
| took me to his tent and they had a lot
of fun with me. 1 couldn't talk English
but they would throw me up and make
me ride horses and have a good time. so
that I came to like it.
Brought to United States.
when the troops were called back to
the United States I did not want to
come, but they wouldn't let me go home
to my people. A fellow named Claud
Myers stole me away and brought me
over on the ship. 1t was Company X of
the First Kentucky regiment, which went
direct to Louisville, but I saw no more
of the man who brought me away.
was left without any friends and could
speak hardly a word of English.
my name is Pedro Savro, but the po-
lice called me Ramona Franklin. They
turned me over to a priest, who sent
me to the Catholic protectory at Barge
town, KY, where 1 studied two and a
half years.
II got tired and ran away to Louis
vile again, finding work with Monte
domico in his bowling alley, but after
about three months they found me and
sent me back to school, Shortly after
ward 1 got a job with Ben Johnson,
president of the First National bank of
Bargetown, to work in his stables, where
1 learned to be a jockey.
Visits All American Tracks.
ED Corrigan signed a contract with
me for two years, and followed him to
almost every track in the United States
and went to all the state fairs, riding his
best horses. He took advantage of the
contract and would beat me and abuse
me in every way if | made a break on a
race or failed to win when he told me
to, but l escaped him in Chicago
TON Berk, the sheriff OF Chicago, put
me to riding his horses, which did until
few months ago. 1 then struck out
for New Orleans to get away from the
cold and to get license to ride in an out
law track across the Mississippi. Then
somehow the notion struck me to go
back to Louisville. I stopped in Bir-
mngham and liked the looks of 1t so
we'll that l put up at the Norris hotel
until my money gave out. Now I haven't
a cent.
Judge. if you will let me off this time
1 will go to work right now, and when
get enough money I'll go back to my peo-
pie in Porto Rico. | wanted to go back
before but somehow couldn't get away
from the races"
Puts Boy on Probation.
Judge Feagin put the boy on probation,
requiring him to report every Saturday.
Humane Officer Bonnie, who was conf
dent in his honesty. went on the bond.
The little jockey will probably try his
hand at shovelng dirt, unless the Span
ish blood in him gets the uppermost and
sends him off on further wanderings.
Good Roads Measure Coming Up.
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