Allerton and Axtell

by Gary Lee Martinson

  “Our relationship reminds me of the story of Wapsie and Pinicon.” Gilbert said softly.

  “I heard something about their story when I was a child. Tell me about it.” She said excitedly.

  He smiled and sat her down and started to tell her the Indian love story. “Many years ago there were two warring tribes of Indians that settled in this area. Wapsie was a brave of the Sioux Indians and Pinicon was the daughter of a equally warlike Sac Indian chief. Wapsie and Pinicon met by chance in the forest and fell in love. When the warring Indian tribes discovered the relationship, there would be no peace for Wapsie and Pinicon. Both tribes strongly objected to their relationship. So the couple met secretly as often as they could. One night they decided to elope, and live in another area secluded from all human inhabitants. It was an area with great beauty Wapsie had heard from an old Indian. On the night they planned to elope, Pinicon’s father came back from hunting early and caught the two together. He verbally chastised the two and sent Wapsie away. Pinicon later that night ran away to find her beloved Wapsie in the bright October moon. They embraced each other and ran away together to Wapsie’s secluded lodge in the north.” Gilbert paused for a moment to kiss Clara passionately.

  “This is so romantic, telling me this story like this.” Clara said excitedly, “Go on, go on, please.”

  “He had gone to talk to her, as a good father would and discovered her missing. He gathered three braves to accompany him into the forest to seek out his daughter. Well, the two lovers sensed the approach of Pinicon’s father and when they discovered her father and braves approaching, they fled to the river nearly a mile to the west. They ended up trapped at the river’s edge. As her father and the three braves approached them, they both jumped into the river. The rushing water swept them away and were last seen by her father embracing before going under the water. Her father grief stricken joined them in their watery grave.”

  Clara was silent as she absorbed the story. “Well, that was very interesting,” Clara got a scared look on her face. “I really don’t feel like drowning, Honey.”

  “It’s just a myth,” he said casually, then raised an eyebrow, “Maybe.”

  She took a deep frightened breath before changing the subject, “I get to stay the rest of the summer to help the restaurant for the big meeting.” They both smiled silently.

  When the last of the fireworks were set off Gilbert leaned to Clara and gave her a long loving kiss. Gilbert lit a lamp and the pal light helped them make their way back to the entrance of the barn. There was a last quick kiss as they approached the crowd of people leaving the grounds. Their fingers clung to each other until Clara disappeared into the crowded night.

  Preparations for the August meet began as the festivities for Fourth of July ended.

  The entry list of horses from around the country was 225 with an estimated value of horse flesh, $1,000,000. Mr. Williams had informed the Racing Park Commission and the Mayor that they could expect nearly 15,000 people attending the races.

  This was a six- day race meet schedule, with $40,000 of purse and stake money being offered. This was the largest amount of money ever offered for a meeting in the state of Iowa.

  The track had been promoting as the ‘Fastest Track on Earth’ and anyone who had a fast horse would not want to miss the opportunity to break records on it. It had already drawn a lot of attention because of the highly publicized unique kite shape. It was predicted in horse periodicals, that the track could be expected to be two to five seconds faster than any other track in the world. The track in some circles, was already referred to as, “The Fastest Track on Earth’ before it had even proved it.

  The Racing Park Commission in Independence, proclaimed that a community effort was needed to pull off this meeting successfully. They asked for assistance for room and board for the many people coming from great distances. Notices were put out to sign up if you wished to open your home to racing enthusiasts from around the country. Anyone willing to take in boarders was to leave their name with the city clerk Rufus Brewer.

  A month before the races, Allerton was taken to race in the Detroit Great Expectations Stakes established four years earlier. He was entered in the Four-year-old with four other outstanding horses. There was, Baroness sired by Mambrino, Navidad sired by Whips, Margaret S. by Director, Allerton by Jaybird, and Sir Walter Scott, by North Star.

  Margaret S. and Allerton were a confused favorite by the betting pools. Margaret S. would eventually carry the odds making her the favorite to win. It was considered by all, that either horse could take the race. Both horses had made good times in their last appearances. Allerton’s time on July, 4 was 2:16 ½ and Margaret S. in Saginaw had finished the third heat in 2:17 ½. The fact Allerton’s time was done on the new unique shaped track in Independence as an exhibition, and that Margaret S. did it in a race on a standard track, gave odds makers fuel to prefer Margaret S.

  When the word was given to start the first heat, Margaret S. burst into the lead by the quarter mile mark by several lengths. Allerton broke at the turn and fell well behind her. Margaret S.’s driver McDowell continued to drive her hard past the half post in 1:08 ½. The field was in danger of being distanced, which would end the race in the first heat. McDowell urged her to finish strong in a time of 2:18 ½. She was able to distance all except Allerton who passed the distance flag by a neck. The crowd thought she had distanced all the horses and after the judges interrogation of the distance Judge, who was firm with his ruling, allowed Allerton to continue the race. The announcement was made that Margaret S. had won the race and Allerton took second.

  The second heat was started as storm clouds began to overtake the track. Margaret S. sped out for a two- length lead to the half mile marker in a time of 1:09 1/4. Allerton began to inch up on the fast paced filly. It took Allerton well inside the distance marker to catch the heels of the filly. Both horses looked steady and strong as they approached the wire. Allerton was able to steadily gain on her and flew under the wire to win the second heat by a half length.

  It was a grand heat for the crowd to witness and they showed their enthusiasm for the horses with cheers of respect and excitement. The race was done in a blistering time of 2:16 ½, even though it was felt by many, that the track was at least two seconds slow. Mr. Williams spoke to McDowell after the heat, telling him he had a grand horse.

  The third heat was canceled when a severe thunderstorm hit the track scattering the crowd. Within minutes the track was a sloppy mess. Allerton impressed the bettors and was selling for $50 to Margaret S. selling for $16. What made it such a surprise to many that Margaret S. had raced so well in the first two heats and she was racing Allerton, who still showed signs of his injury from the previous year.

  The next day bloomed bright and sunny. The track dried well, but stayed slow and clumpy. Mr. Williams studied the track intensely, to recognize areas he wanted to avoid. The third heat was started and Margaret S. like in the other heats took a solid lead of three lengths at the half mile mark. Mr. Williams urged Allerton and he responded with an increase of speed. McDowell secured the inside rail position around the final turn. The track happened to be thick with mud there and Margaret S. began to tire. Williams had taken Allerton to the outside, where it was dry, and gained significantly on the mare. Allerton was again able to push on for a victory by a half length in a solid time of 2:18 ½.

  Between the heats rain clouds moved in quickly to drop a soaking rain on the track. The fourth heat was started again with Margaret S. brushing for the lead. McDowell held her back to save a brush for the end of the race. Allerton caught her and looked as though he would win the race when McDowell sent Margaret S for the wire and she responded by heading Allerton at the wire for a grand finish. The race was run fast considering the muddy track in a time of 2:23 1/4.

  They went into the final heat tied with two victories each. The last heat would start with the crowd excited and o
n their feet, ready for another tight hard fought race to the finish. The last heat was started as all the others had been with Margaret S. taking a lead. Just before the first quarter mark Allerton broke stride and was unable to regain his trot. The race was over by the half mile marker. McDowell drove his horse to the end finishing in a time of 2:20 3/4.

  The townspeople of Independence were solemn when they heard of the results, but they did not lose confidence in Allerton and his owner.

  Gilbert and Clara took a Sunday afternoon, a few weeks before the big race meeting, to sneak off for a buggy ride around the county. Gilbert hitched Ginger up to one of Mr. Williams buggy’s. He drove the buggy into town to meet Clara near the main street bridge. They traveled northwest of town through the small town of Otterville. They had stopped for a picnic in a nice grassy area near the river in another small town called Littleton.

  They laid on the grass looking up into the beautiful blue sky with scattered puffy white clouds. Gilbert said, “How did you get away from your aunt and uncle?”

  “Eva suggested they let me go with her and Mr. Jaworski to a play in Jesup I forgot to tell you we need to be in Jesup around five.”

  “Oh, bless her heart.”

  Clara chuckled, “She has been a great friend.”

  “Well, I am glad of that. She seems to be able to influence a situation.”

  Clara turned over on her stomach and looked seriously at Gilbert, “Gilbert, why don’t we elope like Wapsie and Pinicon.”

  “I thought you didn’t want to drown. We don’t want history to repeat itself do we?” Gilbert asked her.

  Clara thought for a moment, “Well, could we skip that part of it, and not drown.”

  “Fair enough,” Gilbert said before he clarified his position. “I have thought about it, but I want to finish school and hopefully win your father’s approval.”

  “I told you, we will never get fathers approval.”

  “Don’t you want to finish school?” He asked.

  “Yes, I do,” she grudgingly admitted. “All right, no more talk about it then.” Clara rolled back over onto her back.

  Gilbert’s hand inched over toward Clara’s until he touched it. She clutched onto his hand tightly. They both smiled and laid on the ground silently looking into the sky. Once the sun started to leave the midday point, they decided to start for Jesup. Gilbert pulled out his watch and confirmed they needed to get rolling.

  They had unhitched Ginger so she could graze while they had their picnic, together they hitched her back up. Soon they were off down the road headed for Jesup. They arrived in Jesup well before the play was to start, so they hung around a small park next to the Illinois Central railroad tracks. Soon a train went through town without stopping. They counted cars in the train. Gilbert counted twenty-one and Clara counted twenty, which caused a very friendly argument. Gilbert had counted the engine.

  The play ended and they met Eva and Mr. Jaworski as they left the building. Eva spoke out as soon as she saw them, “Well, if it ain’t miss Clara and ’er nice young man.”

  “Hello, Eva,” Gilbert greeted her with great exuberance.

  “Hi, Mr. Jaworski and of course my great friend Eva.” Clara added.

  “Good afternoon Gilbert, Clara, it is good to see you both again.”

  Eva took control of the situation speaking in her Irish accent. “Well, let me fill ya in ’bout the days events. So our stories match up good. Tell’s ya while your young lad drives us home.” Gilbert assisted Clara into the buggy. Eva started to follow her as Gilbert reached over to assist her up as well.

  Mr. Jaworski spoke up obvious surprised Eva was planning to ride with Gilbert and Clara. “Aren’t you going to ride with me?”

  Eva merely shouted back at him, “Well, I can’t give Clara the story if I ’ave to shout it at her from one buggy to another, can I?” Eva found a soft heart to explain. “I must fill Clara in on what the play was about. My ’art will be in the buggy next to ya!” She didn’t think he understood. “I can see ya any day. These two can only see each other once in a great while. I told ya ’ow it was.”

  “All right! All right!” He nodded his head in agreement.

  They arrived back in Independence as a beautiful romantic sun set behind them. Eva transferred to Mr. Jaworski’s buggy and they departed for some private time. Clara and Gilbert went to Rush Park. They sat together in the stands at Rush Park as darkness hid the city to the east. They could see a few lights flickering in town as lamps showed through windows of houses on the west side of town.

  “I hate having to hide our relationship,” Clara said.

  “I am too,” Gilbert squeezed her hand gently.

  Clara looked at him, “I’m not ashamed to be with you, I never have been. I am proud to be your girl. You’re actually like a celebrity being so involved with the horses.”

  “Oh, stop, you’re making me blush.”

  “I mean it though. Father should be happy I am being courted by you.” Clara shook her head, “If he wouldn’t fight us so much, we wouldn’t be alone so much. It’s me being alone with a boy that bothers him the most, I think.”

  Gilbert suddenly got a concerned look on his face. “What are you trying to say.”

  “Well, once at a dance Johnny and I left the building to get some fresh air. Father came out and lectured me about being in his sight when I am with a boy,” Clara said.

  “And, who is Johnny?” Gilbert asked curiously.

  Clara moaned, “I was,” she paused, “I went to a dance last Christmas.”

  “Yeah, you went with a Johnny. Now go on, I want to know.”

  “It’s no big deal, he was there, we danced and he asked me to go out and get some air.” She said trying to portray there was nothing for him to be upset about. “It was really hot in the ballroom.”

  Gilbert looked at her blankly, thinking about how he should react. “Huh,” he grunted softly. “I wish we had a better way to write to each other. Maybe you would have told me about this Johnny fella.”

  Clara delighted to change the subject jumped at the opportunity, “Oh!” She said excitedly, “I talked to Katie, and she said she would be our mail-woman.”

  “Mail-woman,” Gilbert chuckled, “where did you get that.”

  Clara shrugged her shoulders, “It is just something some of us use to curve our frustration that women don’t get treated equal too men.”

  “That sounds like something Eva put in your head.” Gilbert said jokingly.

  This thought put a smile on Clara’s face, “I never thought of Eva. She might join our little club.”

  Gilbert chuckled shaking his head, “You have a club?” He quickly recanted his question. “I don’t want to know anything about this club.”

  “Fine,” Clara said simply.

  The two of them sat quietly together as the half moon rose slowly over the trees to the east of the track. Once the moon lost it’s orange cast and turned a bright white he suggested they end their day. He drove her within a block of her home.

  Gilbert helped her out of the buggy and she fell into his arms, nearly knocking him over. “Wow,” he recovered, “I promise someday we will never have to say goodbye like this.”

  “Gilbert, are you proposing we get married?” She said teasingly.

  “Of course we will get married someday. As soon as I am sure you’re over Johnny.” He said jokingly.

  Clara knew he was only kidding, “You just can’t let it go, can you?”

  The two chuckled, before his facial expression turned serious. “I love you, so very much. We will live our lives together, someday.” Their lips slowly moved together for a very long loving kiss.

  “Good night,” she said as she stepped back away from him. She turned to walk the last block to her home looking back from time to time.

  The hospitable residents of In
dependence prepared spare bedrooms, cleaned up attics, cleared spaces in barns or allowed an isolated camper to use the back yard. The grounds at Rush Park were expected to be used for tent campers, for those who have horses competing. There were city parks also slated to be used as main camping areas.

  They were asking for donations of money to add more electric lights to both sides of main street during the race week. They also wanted to set up a sprinkler system for refreshing stations. Several band stands were put up around town for various entertainment performances.

  Restaurants around town would be expected to serve hundreds of people for each meal. Organizations around town, organized concessions to assist in the feeding of such a large number of people. There were several former war veterans using their experience to assist in the planning of feeding the masses. The menu they planned to serve would certainly be more delectable then what the troops received during the war.

  Large buildings with good sized rooms were adapted to feed the visitors. There were orders for food from nearby cities, such as; Dubuque, Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids, to be shipped in.

  The sheriff went around town and area’s around the county to recruit men to increase the policing forces for the meeting week. There was a request for more volunteer fire fighters from around the county as well. Medical aid stations were added around town and certainly the infirmary at Rush Park was readied for increased use. With high level racing came high level gambling and pick pockets could be expected to be roaming through the crowds. There could be many who would try to corrupt the races and some precautions were taken in an attempt to derail the corruption.

  The farmers around the county brought grain and hay to the track to be sold to the horse owners. Many wagons and horse teams were assembled to transport the many visitors from place to place around town.