The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

Ed c.Pop'D Geers. king Of the relns-
men who has pulled AZ many trotters
and PAGERS across the line to victory
as any living person, started in Mobile
on his route TO fame.
Twas away back In the days Of old
the summer Of 1878 to be exact-that
Geers FIRST made his bow as a success
full manager OF the equines.
In those good old days Mobile held a
State fair each season, the attraction
drawing horses from all sections of the
country, the prizes being worth the ef-
fort of any horseman-
Geers went down from Tennessee and
brought with him q beautiful specimen
of horsenesh. Scottish Chief. tall, we'll
groomed black gelding. was Pops" prize
horse for the 2:40 trot. the chief event OF
the day. and in 1s7s $40 was some go
ing for an animal.
Mobile was then a member of the
American Trotting Association, and the
judges of the race course were the late
C. E. Tuttle. Dan E. Huger. deceased.
and Fred s. Cox.
The horses were lined up for the go.
and Scottish Chief was made favorite
and as they left the wire Scottish Chief
was OF to a good start. and, seemingly,
held commanding position. but as they
neared the home stretch Chief seemed
to dwindle on to nothingness. His speed
failed him entirely, and the horse was
closely scrutinized by the judges as he
was sent TO the barn TO cool down be-
tween heats.
Looked Good.
The second heat brought Chief out
with bright red nostrils, a high head.
and fresh as could be desired in wind.
on to the start. Chief showed a fash
to the first quarter OF a mile. and Geers
kept him in nice position for the final
sprint down the stretch When the final
drive home started, Chief again failed
to show anything like speed, and barely
got inside the distance fiag
1t looked too strong for the judges.
and Pop" was lacked upon the carpet
by them. They informed him that, in
their opinion, he was pulling his horse.
and a repetition of his actions in the
third heat void result In his being sus-
pended, vital sentence when imposed
on an association track
The third and last heat was a repeti-
tion of the two first, and as Pop drove
his entry to a saluting position he was
ordered to the stand.
He was severely reprimanded and as
his turn came to speak. he made this
proposition:
Gentlemen, I am a green youngster
from the hills of Tennessee. and am try
ing hard to make a living by driving
horses One thing. gents, I will at ali
times be honest, and ] am cut to tn.
quick at having been censured by you
for something i honestly cannot help.
Scottish Chief. erstwhile my pride
horse. has completely failed me. Why,
he should win with the greatest ease
in the company In which he is travelling,
but i am unable to get him to his gait
He Is an awful high-strung animal and
my opinion is that he will not go when
in company. To prove this, gentlemen.
give me a chance tomorrow and I'll
drive Chief by himself to a mark At
least five seconds faster than the best
winning heat to-day"
The judges considered his-case, and
informed Pop" that he would be given
a chance to vindicate himself by driving
Chief an exhibition mile the following
morning at II o'clock.
The Judges the following morning sent
Chief of on his speed tour. Geers UP.
and when he was clocked for the finish
of the mile the watches read 2:3s. or
eight seconds faster than the swift heat
of the race the previous afternoon.
That test proved the speed OF Chief
alone, and he was later sent out on a