Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-09
COLONEL walter G. MORRILL,, PITTSF|ELD;
J FAMOUS HoRSEMAN AND RACE PROMOTER
W
: HELD over $50 EvENTS--$ $50 PURSES

by women. This took place about
quarter of century ago and after he
lad advertised the race DR.. George
NJ. Twitchell, then at the head Of the
agricultural department of the state
begged him to call it off as it would
certainly be a failure. This Col.
Morrill, declined to do and the result
was a complete success. Not less
than $500 people paid admission at
the gates and the ladies proved to be
fine drivers and fast time was made.
In fact, so great was the success OF
the enterprise that the Colonel was
Immediately called to put the same
race on at Rockingham and there
still greater success was made. BY
this time the feature had become Ia
nous and he was engaged to go TO
Brockton, and there the race was wit
messed by one of the largest crowds
ever seen on those grounds. The
drivers in Col Morrill's ladies' races
were Mrs. Crosby from New Bedford,
Mass, and Miss Leota Elliot Of ORR
ent, Aroostook County. Mrs. N. r.
woodcock of Ripley, Me-. was an
other noted driver and Miss Esther
Prescott of Clinton was very nice
with horses.
Besides promoting all these races
Col. Morrill, has also owned Il diner
emit trotting horses. Some OF these
horses were very valuable ones and
won many races putting a good
many dollars on the right side of the
ledger for the Colonel. When they
didn't do as well he took his medi-
cine and kept right on fighting Tor
success. And THE Colonel was a
fighter and slayer too as can be
seen by his brilliant war record
which is given in closing this article.
Among the horses which Mr.. Morrill,
owned were Knox Girl, chestnut
mare; Camors, bay gelding 2.25A
by Dirigc; Aroostook Boy, a bay stall
lion 2.3Oh; Surprise, gray mare 2.2sA
by Gray Dan: Plumed Knight. brown
gelding 2.26A; Moantaineer, bay
gelding, 2.23A; st. Lawrence. bay
gelding 22SA by Gray Dan; Linnie
G.. brown mare 2.2O by Eolus: Ansell
W., roam gelding 1854 by Harbin-
ger; Action, bay stallion by Onward;
Elder Boone, brown stallion, 2.1SA
by Daniel Boone; Berdan, bay geld
ing 2.30 by Action; Charley Hughes,
bay gelding 2.27; Bolain. gray geld
ing, 2.19A by Bingara; Lancey. bay
gelding, 2.20A; Pat DeForest, brown
gelding 2.311z; Don Prescott. bay
gelding 2.27; Geneva w, brown
mare; Charley Ross. bay gelding
2.27A: Marvel c.. black gelding 2.22A
and John A. bay gelding 2.2SA.
Mr.. Morrill, has always at all of his
meetings admitted all members of the
Grand Army of the Republic abso-
lutely free, a feature that has made
many friends for him, the war veter-
ans approaching this recognition and
courtesy of their comrade. He also
has done a thing which practically
every other race management has re-
fused to do. He has always admitted
carriages and automobiles free as he
figures that the vehicles which bring
his crowds to him should not be taxed
an admission. The fact that he al
ways has big crowds shows the wis
dom of this feature.
The season Of 1921 was a good one
for Mr.. Morrill, and he feels we'll sat-
isfied with the seasons work. His
race meetings have been we'll attend
ed and successful and the two horses
he has raced have Jared well in the
purses.
Passing from Colonel Morrills
phenomenal success as horseman
and successful business man it would
be but fitting at this time to also give
his brilliant war record, which shows
how he won his medal of honor and
was cited for bravery. He is mod
est man and has never asked recog-
milton for his services as soldier,
but he has compelled recognition of
his worth by his sterling integrity
and energy as citizen and success
full business man. Col. Morrill, has
the distinction of having received an
invitation from the War department
to come to Washington to attend the
ceremonies attendant to the burial of
the unknown soldier which occurred
at the Arlington cemetery. Only two
men from Maine had this honor and
only thirty in the United States. This
honor was accorded only to soldiers
holding distinguished service medals.
While circumstances made it impos-
sible for Mr.. Morrill, to make the trip
to Washington, he was nevertheless
very pleased to have this recognition
from the government. The story of
Col. Moerill's war record reads like
extracts from some Civil War history
in it's most thrilling parts, but that is
all another story and the Journal will
take great pleasure in printing that
at later date. H-