Allerton and Axtell

by Gary Lee Martinson

  They kissed once again quickly before she left for her Aunt and Uncle’s home. The two old friends left their hearts floating somewhere in the sky above that marvelous old willow tree.

  Chapter Six

  Stable Mates Go Head to Head

  The Fourth of July races, were for the local owners to race against each other. The recent events concerning Allerton and Axtell stirred up a great interest in racing at the local level. Anyone in the county who had a trotting horse entered their horse in the races. The intriguing ambition of horse owners wasn’t just to win the race, but to earn year long bragging rights.

  The citizens were in a buzz, excited in anticipation of seeing the two colts of Mr. Williams. Businessmen would portray their business performances using time comparison’s as a rating system. When they were asked on the street how business was they would reply, “Oh, about two-forty,” or they respond with, “Two-thirty,” or if things were going very well, “Two-twenty.”

  All the hotels were full, and many of the townspeople took in overnight borders. Tents sprung up in every park and many backyards to accommodate the thousands of people from around the surrounding communities. Many families were planning to have picnics, but for those who didn’t, there were pigs roasted over barbeque pits through the night to have them ready for the next day’s festivities. Ice was transported from ice houses along the east side of the river to Rush Park and other places in need of ice. There were hundreds of gallons of pink lemonade being made around town. There was corn on the cob boiled in kettles and barrels full of fresh watermelon.

  The parade would proceed down Main Street from the east and turn north on Chatham Street toward the Illinois Central Railroad station. The parade route was lined with people of all sizes, shapes and ages. The women were dressed in colorful dresses with flowery hats of many sizes and shapes. There were flags and patriotic banners displayed on the streets everywhere.

  The parade had most of the competing horses paraded in it. Some of them were pulling sulkies others were led by their owners with flamboyant, colored blankets, feather plumes on their heads, and flowery, colorful collars. Other participants in the parade were businesses that decorated carts, wagons and buggies of all sizes and designs. There were the city fire wagons from Independence and surrounding communities freshly polished. There appeared to be an undeclared competition between them to see who could get the cleanest fire truck. There was a planned competitions between the different fire departments later at the fairgrounds.

  The Independence fire wagon was being pulled by four Clydesdale horses that had burgundy blankets with gold lace draped over their backs. The horses were huge, and they had a very lively step. The firemen riding on the wagon would spray the crowd with water once in a while. It was a hot day and many were delighted to be sprayed. Even the manure cart was decorated and manned by clowns who appeared to be enjoying their work. They were making comments on their work, which entertained the crowd.

  Fireworks were popping regularly startling the crowd from time to time. Mr. C.E. Purdy had his store cart in the parade with the advertising picture he had of Axtell posing as if to pull his wagon. The slogan, ‘The Fastest Deliveries in The West’, was painted on the wagon. Independence Mayor Howard was riding in a buggy with a sign on it ‘Axtell for Mayor’. He was wearing a poorly made plaster of paris horse head that resembled Axtell. There was a cart carrying the employees and owner of the new Axtell Laundry. There was a cart with the statement, ‘The Axtell Hotel opening soon.’ The slogan on the side read, ‘Stay in our stalls and sleep on feather beds.’ There were people wearing homemade, decorated shirts with phrases referring to the local favorite horse, Axtell.

  The town had the appearance of being, ‘horse crazy’. It was so different from past years that it hardly seemed to Gilbert to be his hometown. He heard people talking wondering where Axtell and Allerton were. He overheard one lady comment that it was rude not to have them in the parade.

  Gilbert spoke up immediately, “They are both very tired from the trip to Minnesota, and we do not want to jeopardize their health unnecessarily.”

  The lady responded curtly, “I didn’t realize that, sorry.” That particular lady’s comment was not the only one he heard. There were others who were asking each other where Axtell was. The parade was winding down as a band wagon went by playing, ‘Oh Susanna’. The crowd around was singing along joyfully.

  Before the parade ended, Gilbert strolled over to Clara’s aunt’s and uncle’s home on Chatham Street where Clara had told him to find it. Clara was on the porch with the Morton’s watching the last of the parade go by.

  She was sitting on a porch swing with her four year old cousin Betty. She had pale skin and blonde curly hair. Her bright blue eyes were wide open while she and Clara swung lazily on the swing. “Clara,” Betty said in a squeaky voice, “let’s get a drink.”

  “I’m thirsty too,” Clara replied. Clara picked Betty up in her arms, and they went into the house. Clara put her down as she opened the ice box door. The ice box was especially cool since they had just put in a new ice block the day before. A brief fog of cold air flowed out of the ice box as she reached in and grasped a pitcher of lemonade. She poured lemonade into two small glasses. Betty drank her’s down right away. “Would you like some more?” Clara chuckled.

  Betty wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, “Yes, please.”

  Betty ran to the swing and sat down waiting for Clara to sit next to her. As Clara came out the front door she spotted Gilbert. He was standing on the corner near the house, mingling with the crowd. She could tell he wanted to tell her something. She sat with Betty to pass a few minutes talking to her. She continued to look over to Gilbert making sure he was still there. They caught each other’s gaze.

  Clara excused herself from Betty politely. She went back into the house and went out the back door of the house. She strolled into the crowd and ended up next to Gilbert without him knowing it.

  “So, did you want to talk to me?” She asked quietly.

  Gilbert said quietly so only she could hear without looking at her. “Meet me at noon at the north entrance of the big barn.”

  “What big barn?”

  “The big barn at Rush Park,” he stepped away. “It is the one furthest to the north.”

  On the Morton’s porch stood Eva, who had spotted the sneaky Clara in the crowd along the street. She noticed Clara conversing with a young gentleman. The gentleman looked familiar to her, but she could not place him, at first. Then she smiled and began to chuckle silently. She was noticed chuckling by Mrs. Morton, “Eva,” she said, “what is it that tickles you so?”

  The clowns were going by the house picking up the horse left overs as she spoke in her Irish flare. “The clowns, misses, they are so funny.”

  Clara returned to the front porch. Eva edged her way next to Clara as the parade ended. She quietly spoke to Clara, “So, the young lad pops back into your life does ’ee.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t believe anyone saw ’im, miss,” Eva comforted her. “Let me know if you need me ’elp. I like the young Mr. Fenny. Ee’s a good man.”

  Clara was not sure if she wanted to confide with Eva in regards to her relationship with Gilbert. She wasn’t sure, but since it was Eva that had told her that Gilbert had written to her. She had not heard anything about Gilbert from any other source. She decided to deny the situation, “It wasn’t him, I just wanted a closer look at the parade.”

  Eva understood Clara’s actions, “’ow is the lad?”

  “He’s fine,” Clara answered reactively. When she realized her blunder, she pleaded with Eva. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

  “I certainly won’t,” She held her right hand up.

  The wind was blowing lightly from the west, filling the air with the aroma of roasting pigs at Rush Park. It was attracting many people to make their way fo
r lunch. The races wouldn’t begin for several hours, but there were several activities going on at the park throughout the day. The races were going to begin later than usual, because they wanted to shoot off fireworks afterwards.

  Clara slipped away from her family unnoticed. She waited for Gilbert at the big barn, being careful not to be noticed by people she knew.

  Gilbert was delighted to see her waiting. Without a word between them he opened the door to the barn and gestured for her to go in. They walked past many horses and a few people taking care of them. Gilbert would tell her the name of many of the horses and some of their history. They proceeded out the south end doors toward the three individual barns of the famous horses, Allerton, Axtell, and Barnhart. The stylish barns with rails and copula were built earlier in the spring. The first barn they visited was Allerton’s.

  Gilbert opened the smaller walk through door. “This is Allerton,” he proudly presented his favorite horse.

  “Oh, really,” she said with half interest, “He is very handsome. Can I see Axtell?”

  “You don’t understand, Clara,” he laughingly said, “Allerton is the horse you should be watching. He will do better than Axtell eventually.”

  “You really think so?” She said without much belief.

  “Yes, I do,” then he continued to go on, “Mr. Williams and I feel he has developed slower because of his personality. He just isn’t as dedicated as Axtell yet. When he gets older and more mature, he will be the greatest horse ever.”

  “Isn’t that what Axtell is?”

  “Well, right now he is, but just wait,” he said. “Take a good look at Allerton and remember you were a fan of his before his time.”

  “If you say so,” she said without much enthusiasm.

  Gilbert then showed her the great Axtell. He could see the excitement in her eyes for Axtell. It actually amused him to see her react that way. He couldn’t blame her for thinking what everyone else was thinking.

  He then took her to the main barn. “I have a surprise for you.” He said with great delight. “I want to show you my horse.” He pointed to a stall next to his room.

  Clara squealed with excitement, “Ginger! You bought Ginger!”

  “Yes,” he said, “I wanted to collect everything I could that was once our life.”

  Clara looked at him with sincere love. “You really did miss me, didn’t you?”

  “I thought about you every minute of every day,” he said. “I found myself fantasizing you were here, and we would brush Ginger and ride her like we used to.” Gilbert thought about how that sounded. “You probably think that I am losing my mind. Especially since I am telling you this.”

  She responded quickly, “No, I think it is telling of your true heart, it’s sweet.”

  “Well, don’t tell anybody I am sweet. A guy could get beat up for that.”

  “I certainly wouldn’t tell anyone,” she didn’t want him to get beat up. She had reason to be concerned since Gilbert was such a small man.

  They strolled around the grounds so overwhelmed with each other’s company, they had forgotten not wanting to be seen. As they strolled the grounds, Gilbert noticed Mrs. Williams with the twins Rush and Park. She was pushing her twins, in a stroller specially built for two.

  Gilbert greeted her, “Mrs. Williams, how are you today?”

  “I am just fine, thank you. And how are you both?”

  “Just fine,” Gilbert and Clara said together. Clara knelt down to address the boys.

  Mrs. Williams said, “It is very nice to see you again, Clara. I had trouble determining it was you. You have grown up to be so beautiful.”

  “Thank You, Mrs. Williams,” Clara responded. “Your boys are so cute.” She reached in to tickle one of the boys, they smiled and gave a hint of a giggle. “Are you boys having fun today?” She asked them in a baby voice.

  “They say very few words,” Mrs. Williams said, “hard to understand. Grandpa translates for them, but I think he just makes up what they say.” They all laughed.

  “Where is Ross?” Gilbert asked.

  “He is with grandpa right now.”

  “They are so cute.” Clara blurted out in excitement once again. She looked up briefly to see her uncle entering the gate to Rush Park. She looked to Gilbert flushed by fright, “We better get away from here.” She politely said, “Please excuse us, it is nice to see you again.”

  “It was nice to see you.” Mrs. Williams said. As they slipped away, Mrs. Williams noticed their apprehension to be seen together. She decided to run interference for them by getting Mr. Morton’s attention and engaged him in conversation. Gilbert and Clara went to a secluded spot in a barn to sit and talk. An hour later Gilbert had to leave to prepare the horses for the race and Clara left to find her family.

  Gilbert noticed a group of men looking at Dunton’s, ‘Spirit of the Turf’, weekly news magazine. “Listen to what they say,” said Byron W. Tabor to the group including his father Dr. P. Tabor, Mr. Z. Stout and Mr. W. H. Morse. “What can he do, no man can predict with any degree of certainty, but he is the greatest colt that has been foaled thus far.” They were, of course, referring to Axtell.

  Independence was flooded with 8,000 people, on that day, and there was not a soul in the downtown district that afternoon. They were all attending the race at Rush Park.

  When Axtell emerged from his barn there were resounding cheers from the people outlining his path to the track. When he entered the track, he was presented with a beautiful blanket from the city if Independence. Mr. Williams trotted him around the track proudly a few times. Gilbert removed the blanket given him and the exhibition race was started with Axtell prominently displaying his beautiful natural gait. The crowd was on their feet the whole race, screaming in excitement. Axtell did not disappoint them. He trotted his half mile track time in 2:20 ½. The celebrations were capped off with a great display of fireworks.

  In St. Paul on July 13th, Allerton was entered in a race against six other, older, horses. It was a dark and gloomy day as Allerton was able to win the best three out of five races in three straight heats. He trotted the second heat in 2:23 and the third heat in a heavy shower in the time of 2:24 3/4. This proved to everyone that he could trot with the best trotters in any weather.

  Axtell was raced in his exhibition race in St. Paul to try and beat his record he had set in Minneapolis. Mr. Williams had to prove his horse time after time to re-earn the respect the majority of horsemen around the country. Axtell put forth a great effort equalling his best time at, 2:15½. The bragging rights between Minneapolis and St. Paul would continue without a conclusion.

  There were publications from all over the country having articles concerning Axtell and his accomplishments. Robert Bonner from New York offered Mr. Williams $65,000 dollars for Axtell. Mr. Williams as usual, politely turned down his offer. He wanted to take Axtell even further, because he knew he could go much further.

  The performance of Axtell was not only bringing fame to Mr. Williams and Axtell, but to Independence and to the state of Iowa. Iowa bred, speeders were increased in value by the performances of Axtell and Allerton. They were an inspiration to this small humble city in Iowa.

  The racing campaign went on with an August 1st meeting in Cleveland.

  It was very evident in Cleveland that there was an increase of resentment, among owners who had spent most of their lives breeding and racing horses, toward Charles W. Williams. Many had never achieved the success he was having with not just one horse but with two. He was joked about as being, ‘Lucky’ to have stumbled across two world class horses. Many felt that his success was too good to be legitimate. They could not comprehend the unorthodox manner he used to train and raise his horses, could have produced such good results.

  Allerton trotted two exhibition races, in Cleveland, in times of 2:20 ½ and 2:19. Allerton found great support from the cro
wd that cheered him enthusiastically for his efforts. Allerton’s exhibition was to set up the big exhibition race of Axtell’s. John Splan was to ride a chestnut thoroughbred runner in hopes to push Axtell to perform better.

  The race against the 2:15 ½ time was started on the fourth score. Mr. Williams had not seen the start flag until he saw the thoroughbred closing the distance on him. He urged Axtell to trot harder. His trotting pace was true and hard to the first quarter mark timed in 33 ½ seconds. The delayed start didn’t seem to be an issue. The spectators were able to calculate the pace would achieve a final time of 2:14. When the half mile mark was passed his time was,1:06 1/4. The crowd sensed a record, cheered and chanted.

  Splan drew the thoroughbred runner closer to Axtell pushing him to fight for the lead. Axtell maintained his composure and did not falter or show any signs of distress. As they came down the final stretch Splan brought the runner on hard and reached Axtell’s wheels. Without any lose of concentration Axtell brought it to the wire in a new record time 2:14 3/4. beating his own previous record by three-quarters of a second. The crowd let out a deafening cheer.

  There were several reporters present to talk to Mr. Williams after the exhibition. Gilbert heard Mr. Williams telling them, “This was the easiest mile he ever trotted with him. He could shave another six seconds off this time by the end of the season.” Gilbert smiled at his mentors statement. He had been hearing Mr. Williams confident bold statements for years, believed his boss.