The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-05-25
H. NJ. Bean of Camden.
The Veteran Horseman of Knox County.
Turf Farm md HoIne ]

for but few men have been better known
upon the Maine turf for the past quarter
century than has H. M. Bean of Camden.
In fact Camden's hero scarcely needs an
introduction to the readers of any jour-
nal, for his fame as builder Of fine
sailing ships has brought his name into
national recognition. Associated with
the business nearly all his life, first as a
day laborer and finally one of the largest
contractors in the trade, the Camden
man has gained reputation second to
none of his craft. That Mr.. Bean is a
self-made man and giant in his day, we
need only be reminded that when he first
threw off his coat in Camden shipyard a
broad axe is said to have constituted the
extent of his capital.
But it is of our veterans exploits with
the speed horse that the writer has to do.
While not professional horseman in the
truest sense, Mr.. Beans steps upon the
harness turf are plainly marked and
hardly page of his equine history but
shows sturdy craftsmanship. The most
remarkable thing about his turf career
is the beginning, which was purely acct
dental. Mr.. Bean assures US that he
had no intention of entering the game
until, in scouting about for horses to do
Ills III ~ llIS5 liO HcEPShSN w 9eSAAAohS NPoiA
what proved to be trotters.
The first horse of this kind was Nc
Lane, which was bred by the late Mr..
Alvin McLane, named after the old hero.
Mr.. Bean bought him of Captain A F..
Crockett for $3.50, very modest sum in
deed for a future free-for aller, which
the horse turned out to be. In his new
owners hands, he rapidly improved IN
speed, and was campaigned by him for
several seasons, winning many races and
obtaining a mark of 232 1-2, fast time
for those days back in the eighties. One
feature of this horse, and trait which
has distinguished nearly all of Mr.. Bean S
pupils ever since, was his stamina; when
the heats were split McLane always won.
Our shipbuilder's most notable tran
saction of the kind occurred in Bangor,
when he bought large brown gelding
afterwards known as Romulus. This
horse was by Judge Advocate, and pur-
chased ostensibly for driving purposes;
but like McLane he, too, began to step,
and soon was heading the swiftest trot-
tiers of the day at the wire. After prov
ing victorious on nearly every field, and
gaining a record of 2.23 IL, Romulus
was sold for very large price. AL
though this impressive going trotter
failed to make good after leaving quiet
Camden by the sea- his memory still
fingers with those who knew him here.
Some interesting stories could be told IN
connection with the racing of these
horses, and sometime we may have the
pleasure of placing some OF those old
time scenes before our readers.
We will here say that, about 1898, Mr..
Bean had the great misfortune to lose his
son, Willard Bean, young man Who had
driven his fathers horses IN their races.
The writer remembers "Milly Bean, as
he was called, and how his skllful work
behind McLane, Romulus and other
horses had made him one OF the most
popular reinsmen OF the time.
Somewhat over twenty years ago we
see our Camden man vending his way
southwark to kentucky, that nursery of
the harness horse and when he returned
he brought with him the Wilkes colt
Venl Wei q came, conquered,) horse
that was aptly named, and the gamest
trotter that ever disputed heat in
Maine. Game, Veni Wei! Those who
never had the pleasure of knowing this
horse may wonder at the lndellble prefix
attached to his name; but those who have
seen him race never question the title,
and even of the latter only few are
aware Of the tremendous odds against
which the courageous horse struggled.
Could Ven Wei have been the real Veni
Wei for which he was ordered, no trot-
ter that ever lived within the confines of
Maine could have beaten him in 6 race of
heats And the writer makes this broad
assertion only after having seen and
studied nearly all our fastest trotters of
the past twenty years.
After coming to Camden it seemed
that all the evil fates had combined to
down Veni Vic for eternity. Serious
accidents and physical ills followed in
succession, until it looked an impossible
lty for him to ever race. While his re-
doubtable owner never gave up and kept
the horse in more or less training, it was
not till 1895 that he was considered fit
for a trip down the line. And what
trip it was! Thirteen times that season
the kentucky-bred trotter engaged our
strongest fields, and ten hard-fought vic
tories he nailed upon his owners stand
ard In SO and 97 the stout-hearted son
of Prophet Wilkes played an important
But navicuiar disease and other ills which
had handicapped him at his best, proved
migntier in the end than his rivals on the
track; and this bright star of the turf
had to be retired from the scenes in
which he seemed to revel. In 1899, we
think, the game old horse, while enjoy
ing the freedom of the pasture to which
ne had been turned broke his leg and
had to be destroyed. Thus passed Veni
Wei, the greatest horse Knox county
ever knew, and one which will never be
forgotten until the last man has passed
away who ever saw him step.
Veni Vici's mark was 2.2l IA, obtained
in 1895, and could his value as a sire been
realized before he joined the ranks of
geldings, and his life been spared, his
progeny would have proved of inestimable
value. He got four colts, and they were
all trotters, Camden Boy, the fastest
record trotter ever bred in Knox county,
was a sterling race horse, one that asked
concessions from none, not even from
hoppled PAGERS. At the time of passing
from the writer's hands no trotter in
Maine could take his measure, ard his
mark of 2.19 IA, obtained in a winning
race at Rochester, was only an index to
the little gray's capacity. Camden Girl
was also trotter of no small repute, as
her mark of 2.21 IA, in the sixth heat of
winning race we'll indicates; besides she
also bears an accredited trial of 2. l3 over
a mile ring. Mountain Boy, descending
on the maternal side from the Drews,
with only little work, obtained mark
of 2 % IA, and was then cut down at the