Mr. Purdy interrupted the oration to make a statement. “The next thing you know, people will be coming here from around the country just to see the colts.”
Mr. Morse took the opportunity to sip his coffee before continuing with the reading. “This week they will be exhibited at the county fair at Independence. Next week they will go to Des Moines, and while the state fair is in progress they will live in glass houses erected at a cost of several thousand dollars. Mr. Williams had intended to go to Detroit, where he had several rich stakes at his mercy. And when the manager of the Iowa State Fair heard of it he was heartbroken. In fact, it looked as if the horse department would peter out until Mr. Williams promised the colts would be on hand. Every farmer and breeder in Iowa who has a mare representing the Wilkes family and sufficient money to procure the service of either Axtell or Allerton, has forwarded to their owner the guarantee money, which means that in a few years Iowa will be the home of some of the grandest trotters on the earth.”
He threw down the paper on the table with a smile, “Well, isn’t that interesting. And I might add that it didn’t take me twenty minutes to read it.” He looked at Mr. Purdy and laughed.
“My article was much longer. At least twice as long as the one you just read.” Mr. Purdy explained in good humor.
“You are probably right,” Mr. Morse agreed. Everyone was happy as they finished their breakfast and went off to their respective businesses.
Gilbert was in town picking up supplies from the mill along the river, when Byron Tabor called out to him, “Gilbert, may I have a word?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied. He was seldom addressed by such a prominent businessman so he felt awkward in the conversation.
“I wish I had time to tell Charles himself, but since you are here,” he paused for a moment. “We just heard that Sunol has broken Axtell’s record. She trotted two-thirteen and three quarters, yesterday in Fresno.” He shook his head and continued, “Tough luck.”
Gilbert finished his business and headed back to the Williams home to inform Mr. Williams. He debated about how he should tell him. He was certain Mr. Williams would take the news as a new challenge rather then a set back.
Gilbert stepped up to the door and was greeted by Mrs. Williams who had seen him approaching the front door. “Well, hello Gilbert, please come in?”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Gilbert entered the house and looked around to see baby Ross was sitting in a high chair with a tremendous mess of food in front of him. Mrs. Williams stuck a spoon full of mush into his mouth, he hungrily started to gnaw on it.
“Have you eaten, Gilbert?” She asked. “You’re very welcome to eat with us.”
Gilbert knew deep down he wouldn’t be offered the mush Ross was eating, but he didn’t get an appealing appetite from the thought. He had often eaten at the Williams home for lunch and it had always been a good meal. “No, I have other plans, thank you.” Gilbert responded. “It is so very kind of you to offer. I can’t tell you how much I am indebted to you and Mr. Williams.”
Mrs. Williams stopped and looked at Gilbert, “Honey, you have meant a lot to us over these past few years. I hope someday you will feel more like part of the family.”
Gilbert felt she may have said that just to make him feel better. “Thank you,” he responded kindly, “Is Mr. Williams at home?”
“Charles is out back in the barn with the twins.” She pointed with Ross’s spoon in her hand out the back door. “You sound serious. Is one of the horses ill?”
“Nothing that bad.” He said, “Sunol has broken Axtell’s record.”
“Oh,” she said in disappointment, “He will be anxious to go somewhere and get the record back.”
“You’re right,” he responded, “Thank you, ma’am. Have a nice day.”
“Goodbye Gilbert, you have a nice day as well.”
Gilbert went out the back door and walked to the barn. Before he even entered the barn, he heard the voice of Mr. Williams lecturing his sons. “It is very important to care for your horse regularly and with feeling. If the horse senses you truly care for him, he will return the dedication to you.”
“He go faster,” said one of the twins.
“He will go faster,” Mr. Williams corrected his son. “It isn’t just to get him to go faster, but to get him to trust you, and follow you wherever you may take him.” Mr. Williams noticed Gilbert entering the barn. He could sense right away by the look on Gilbert’s face that he had bad news. “One of the horses?”
“Oh, no sir,” Gilbert shook his head hard to quickly dispel any notion of that. “Mr. Tabor told me to tell you, that Sunol trotted two-thirteen and three quarters yesterday in Fresno.” He then dropped his voice to a more somber tone, “Sorry, sir.”
“Don’t be sorry, Mr. Fenny,” he responded jubilantly. “It just means we don’t have to keep beating ourselves.”
“That’s the spirit sir.”
“That’s the only spirit. It doesn’t do any good not to have it.” Mr. Williams thought for a moment. “I think I’ll send a telegram to see if we could get our two horses together this winter. Think of the foal we would have. Sunol would probably break all kinds of records next year if she were in foal.”
Gilbert left Mr. Williams with his thoughts and went back to work in the stables. They were preparing for the Buchanan County Fair and both horses were ready for their first unofficial/official head to head race against each other. He was also excited that Clara may be returning to town for the fair.
As the days approached for the Buchanan County Fair, arrangements were made for a balloonist Professor Simms to have an exhibition. They contracted him to make a balloon ascent to several thousand feet, and then parachute out of the balloon. When it was discovered Professor Simms had broken a leg in a descent in Iowa City earlier, the exhibition was canceled.
The half mile track at Rush Park was the site of a sprinting match between two humans. A local Independence man Will Brown was to sprint against a professional sprinter, originally from Sioux City, Iowa, C. A. Dodson. The one hundred yard race went off with both men running an amazing time of 10 ½. seconds.
It was a fine sunny morning in the middle of August for the Buchanan County Fair. The crowd was large for the races that day the festivities included a last attempt by sprinter Dodson to break the world record of 9 4/5 seconds for the 100 yard dash. He dashed his first attempt in 9 2/5 seconds for a new world record, with great support from the crowd.
It was after five before the two colts came out on the track to warm up for the big event. Both horses had grown up together and have never raced each other formally. For this reason Mr. Williams, Mr. Hussey and Gilbert were not sure just how the race may end. The crowd was sure that Axtell would win, but if there was a colt that could give Axtell a race, it would be Allerton.
Mr. Williams would drive Axtell, and Mr. Hussey would be behind Allerton for the one heat exhibition race. Gilbert felt either horse could win. He knew Allerton was certainly capable, and with Mr Hussey driving, he could do it. He felt it would eventually be determined by how well the horses felt going into the race. It would also depend on which horse could get the inside pole position on the turns.
The two drivers shook hands and tipped their hats to the crowd. The crowd responded with great cheers. The two men flipped the reins starting their horses to score up for the race, Allerton had the pole position. They approached the start together in a fierce pace. Mr. Hussey did not want to lose the inside rail to Axtell. The pace to start the race was certainly going to be fast as Mr. Williams was matching the anxious Mr. Hussey’s encouragement for his horse. The judge gave the word to start the race. The crowd cheered so loud that the few people in town would be envious.
It was a truly exciting sight to see the two horses speeding down the track neck and neck. With Mr. Hussey’s encouragement Allerton, was able to pull ahead to keep the pole as t
hey approached the first turn. Mr. Williams pulled in behind Allerton through the turn. As they were rounding the corner of the first turn to enter the back stretch, Mr. Williams pulled Axtell to the outside and began to catch Allerton. When they passed the first quarter mark, they were neck and neck in a time of 33 3/4 seconds. The two horses stayed close together, their perfect gaits mirrored one-another. It was a truly beautiful sight to see, the crowd wasn’t disappointed. They remained close for the next half mile Allerton maintaining the inside track around the turns.
Coming around the final turn Allerton continued to command the rail with a half length lead. Mr. Williams directed Axtell to the outside and pushed him to the limit. Mr. Hussey encouraged Allerton and was able to increase his lead to a full length when they entered the final stretch. Mr. Williams sent Axtell to the outside and began to gain significantly on Allerton. When they were fifty yards from the finish, they were head to head. Both horses in their strongest strides.
Their manes were fluttering wildly in the artificial wind they created. The horses were stable-mates, but they appeared to be the fiercest of rivals coming down the stretch. Fire seemed to flare from their nostrils. John Hussey sensing a victory, encouraged Allerton with a light whip. Axtell appeared to be overtaking Allerton. But the fleet footed Allerton found just a bit more speed at the very end to nudge Axtell at the wire by a nose.
The crowd cheered the effort of both horses as they jogged around the track before presenting themselves in front of the crowd. Mr. Hussey was so excited about the performance of Allerton, when he got off the sulky he tripped trying to throw his hat in the air. Mr. Williams was jubilant with the fact he had two of the greatest racing horses that ever lived. A few people were disappointed to see Axtell lose to another horse, but they couldn’t have chosen a better horse to lose to. The two colts had trotted the half mile track together in 2:22. A respectably fast race time for any half mile track.
The town never stopped buzzing about the two world-class trotting horses right in their little town. The townspeople gave the horses gifts of all kinds. Anything the horses wanted they could have, if Mr. Williams allowed it. Every conversation in town involved the two horses in some manner.
Axtell had a quick race engagement in Cedar Rapids on August 28th, to race against time at the half mile track for a $1,000 purse to beat the time of 2:27 and Axtell did his mile in 2:23.
Even a simple exhibition in Cedar Rapids was drawing great crowds and news reporters. It was exciting to people just to see the great Axtell. People would line the railroad tracks to see the train that carried Axtell.
Chapter Seven
Terre Haute
After Allerton and Axtell had raced in Cedar Rapids, Mr. Hussey was in charge of the return of the horses by train. Mr. Williams had traveled back to Independence earlier to spend time with his family. The train transporting the two famous horses home from Cedar Rapids was leaving early the following morning, before daybreak.
The sprinter Mr. Dodson, had trouble sleeping, so he decided to take a walk around town. He walked behind Mr. Cobb’s big barn near the Burlington Cedar Rapids Station, when he overheard a conversation between two men. He did not recognize the voices as they walked along the tracks. They talked about Axtell’s train due from Cedar Rapids early the next morning. Mr. Dodson interested in hearing anything about the train and the horses, continued to listen. The two men spoke of derailing the Axtell train. Dodson was astonished at what he had heard, so he decided to tell authorities. He tracked down Marshall Kandy who relayed the message to Sherif Iliff. The three men went to see Mr. Williams at his residence. It was getting late at night and the three men regretted calling so late at night.
Marshall Kandy knocked softly on the front door. There was no response, so he knocked much harder. Mr. Williams got up and answered the door after he had straightened out his dressing gown and patted down his hair and put on his hat.
He opened the door and the Marshal removed his hat and spoke quickly and quietly. “Mr. Williams, sir, We hate to disturb you at this late hour, but this gentleman,” he nodded toward Mr. Dodson, “overheard a conversation of a plot to derail the train that your horse Axtell is on.”
“Have you captured these men or do we know who they are?” Mr. Williams asked quickly.
“No sir, we, well Mr. Dodson just overheard them talking.”
“I see,” Mr. Williams grabbed his coat and threw it on over his dressing gown, he didn’t bother to put on shoes. He was wearing the slippers his wife had made him for his birthday last winter. The three men followed him. Mr. Williams stopped. “Do you have transportation?”
“I have a carriage,” Marshal Kandy said.
“Take me to the rail station.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied and they all piled into the carriage. Kandy whipped the horse into a nice trot. They arrived at the station quickly, Mr. Williams leapt out of the carriage and went into the station. He walked right through the desk and into the telegraph office. He looked at the clerk. “Are you set up to send to the Cedar Rapids Station?”
The clerk was stunned at Mr. Williams barging in on him wearing an overcoat and slippers. Mr. Williams started to repeat his question somewhat irritated, “Are you set—”
“Yes, sir,” he answered. He then noticed the Marshal and the Sheriff had followed him into the office.
Mr. Williams, who was an excellent telegrapher when he was employed by the Illinois Central Railroad as a young man, flipped two switches and began to tap on the telegraph. The ‘clicking’ of morse code resounded around the room. The clerk in the office listened intently as the rest of them stood in silence.
The clerk relayed what Mr. Williams was sending as he tapped. “Hold - Axtell - train - from - Cedar Rapids -stop. Rumored - sabotage - stop.” The clerk looked at the other men in bewilderment. “Proceed - after- light - cautiously - stop. Please - confirm - stop.” The room remained silent as Mr. Williams sat down and waited for a response. His hand kept moving nervously as he waited. There soon was a confirmation tapped back to them. The clerk then translated the tapping for all. “Message - received - and - under - stood - stop. Holding - train - till- dawn - then - pro - ceed - ing - slowly - stop.”
Mr. Williams tapped back, “Thank - you - good - luck -stop.”
The tension in the room lightened. Mr. Williams thanked everybody and turned down an offer for a ride back to his home. He wanted to walk and enjoy a bit of fresh air.
The next morning at daybreak the train traveled slowly back to Independence from Cedar Rapids. Gilbert stayed close to the horses in case something happened he would be there for them. Mr. Hussey was up front with the engineers watching the tracks for any sign of danger. The trip was successful, nothing happened. They did discover a log set off just to the side of the track that looked suspicious.
Later that day Allerton was raced against time, 2:23 at Rush Park for a purse of $500. He was able to achieve the time of, 2:22 on a half mile track.
Time for rest at home was short for Allerton. He traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, on September 3, in a stake for foals of 1886. He wins the first two heats easily, but during the third heat while leading the race Allerton suddenly broke and limped badly to a quick stop in the middle of the track. The crowd was stunned by the sudden change of events. They remained silent as Allerton was surrounded by men looking him over carefully. Mr. Hussey was trying desperately to keep Allerton from moving. His leg was wrapped while a horse wagon was brought out onto the track. The rest of the days events were canceled since this was the last race of the day. Most of the crowd did not leave until they saw Allerton being carted away on the wagon.
Axtell made the trip to Des Moines not to race, but to be put on display in a glass stable. He was viewed by thousands of excited spectators. Axtell came down with influenza after a few days.
Allerton had to remain in Des Moines with John Hussey caring for him for three weeks
before he could be moved. When he was allowed to walk, it took him an hour to travel a half mile. It was a sad time for all associated with the horse including the citizens of Independence who had become accustomed to embracing the two horses with all their hearts. The one most concerned was John Hussey who had been most involved with him from the very start of his life. This certainly ended Allerton’s activity for the year and there was a good possibility he would never race again.
Mr. Williams had been receiving offers from all over the Midwest to appear with Axtell to trot against time for good purse amounts. They could not make all the appearances, but they did accept an appearance in St. Louis on October 4th. Axtell wasn’t feeling well when he trotted the mile there in 2:19. It was disappointing to the crowd that had hoped to see him perform a new record time.
They left St. Louis and traveled directly to Terre Haute, Indiana in plenty of time for preparations of the racing meet there. Axtell was again expected to trot against time to beat 2:16. He was feeling much better and ready to go. Mr. Williams expected he could beat 2:16, but after his illness he didn’t expect much better than that.
Gilbert was able to go to St. Louis and Terre Haute to care for Axtell since he had been feeling poorly in Des Moines. Gilbert was rubbing Axtell down, when he heard a voice he recognized. He wasn’t sure so he turned around to see who it was. He had thought he heard the voice of the female reporter Miss Timms. But when he turned around to look, he didn’t see her.
He went back to brushing Axtell, when he heard her voice again. He heard her saying, “I would love to stay and chat, but there is a young man I see over there that I have been dying to talk to.”
Gilbert knew that this had to be the lady reporter Miss Timms. He turned around again and sure enough she was coming toward him with a grin on her face. “Gilbert,” she said. “What a difference a year makes. I have had particular interest in following your two horses over the last year.”
Allerton and Axtell Page 18