The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 4, 1895, Page 1

S50 LUME LXXIX.—NO. 4. The borse show is a success, because so- ciety approves of it. The Horse-show Association of the Pacific Coast opened yesterday morning, with full stables, and the Mechanics’ P: ion was filled with the odor of tanbark and the neigh of the best horses that ever gath- ered together for the inspection and ap- proval of the judges and so As is usual at such rings, the dorning and afternoon of the first day wore away with the burden of preliminary arrangements ana the saddling and grooming paddock was sprinkled with lit- second annmal exhibition of the | | tle else than “those who had an eyefor | horseflesh”—and those who thought they | had. It was merely a congregation of that | class of fanciers who are sure to be on | hand whenever the horse is. | They roamed in and around the stalls | looking over the sleek animals with a technical eve and frequent soliloquy re- garding ‘‘the creature’s pose, his contour and general apoearance.” At 10 o'clock nme began, and the ringmaster assistants, together with the judge: moved around in the center of the tanbark ring speculating on the attendance of the first night. By noon a few people came in, and the immense hall arranged with chairs and private boxes became sparsely populated with a little flutter of gay dresses and an occasional bevy of young people. There was an atmosphere of disinterest oer it | all, and the horses came into the ring for | inspection as though they were rehearsing | for a grander occasion, and so they were. { Painfully the afternoon wore away and | the programme dragged in unison with the slowness of the judges. The park po- | lice wakened up the spectators with an ex- hibition and the four-in-hand tournouts | succeeded in generating a round of ap- | tors went right on preparing things for a . | hour admiring the pets of the hour, plause. The Shetland = ponies attracted some considerable attention, but at 5| o’clock the attendants and owners were chilled with the dampness that arose from the saturated tanbark, and soclety’s small delegation went to their homes with but half-approving expressions. Those who knew what to expect said it would be all right in the eveningand that society would be present. The direc- big attendance and the grooms lost no time putting a shine on the coats of the horses. They seemed to scent something stupendous—and it came. Adfter society had dined and the lights | began to appear in the Pavilion the whole | scene changed. The gay colors of bunting | stood out boldly from the pillars and the | air seemed to grow warmer. Promptly at 7. M., at which hour the evening’s pro- gramme was arranged to begin, Ringmaster Richard Graham entered the ring and the orchestra tuned up its instruments. The attendants from the different stables | hurried around the stalls and horse-own- ers began to appear dressed in the proper style. Several carriages drove up to the entrance and ladies in fall furs and rich dresses stepped lightly up the stairway. | Inside, the ushers were standing statue- | | like in the aisles, but by 7:30 they became aware there was something to do. A great many arrivals, instead of going immediately to their boxesand seats, went | round among the horses and spent half an | Ladies petted the massive Norman horses | and old gentlemen commented on the fine points of the thoroughbreds. The buds gathered around the stables of their | gentlemen friends, while the ever-present | chaperon stood conveniently by to see | that nobody was kicked by impolite horses. PRICE FIVE CENTS. discharge their consignment of beauty and | youth. A steady stream of men and women filed into the promenade, and a happy, buoyant string of visiting couples | and small parties went down the line to | congratulate friends on their appearance | and to exchange opinions on the event. Gentlemen - in faultless evening dress mingled with the box occupants and San Francisco's social element found itself sur- rounded by friends. It was a veritable | conclave of the upper ten and the buzz of | voices and expressions of surprise and sat- isfaction at the magnificent opening indi- | cated that they approved of 1t all. When the gates were thrown open atthe ends of the ring and the proud and mag- nificent horses danced and strutted into the inclosure the women craned their necks and the men gathered nearer the rail. There was nothing else talked of and horse prattle took the place of all other top For once society forgot that it had other irons in the fire and everybedy dis- cussed the horse show. Afternoon teas, season dances, party calls and other social affairs were buried in the chaos of opinions regarding the ever beloved and worthy equine. Society simply changed its god and the horse crowded out the individual. Entire families were there, from the college- clothed youngsters to the staid and de- mure parents, and they one and all mingled in the conversation that tended to enlighten them in matters pertaining to horseflesh, and slight inflections of | an Anglomaniac character were put upon | the words. Those who had been to the New York and Philadelphia horse shows | made comparisons and told willing listene ers that San Francisco should be proud of her display. The time was ripe for a vast amount of home patronage in a conversational way, and the native-born were loud in their ex- pressions of assurance that the East would finally come to us for pointers. The pre- viously initiated jestingly pointed out slight breaches of technique in the dress of grooms or drivers, and the traveled man i told how it should be done according to | foreign methods. The great majority, however, were de- lighted at the spectacle, and the matter | Suddenly from the center of the im- mense building a bugle call rang out and died away in the tri-colored rafters. A | burst of music came from the direction of | the orchestra. The effect was magical, | and the people who had already collected around the stalls began to pour into the promenade walk. Slowly the spacious hall filled itself with a thousand colors and by 8:30 o’clock a sea of faces stretched | around the ring. was finally reduced to the belief that the | whole affair was remarkable for the fact that it was but the second of the kind ever given west of Chicago. | While there were a great many opinions | put forth by both San Franciscans and strangers, or visitors, the gentlemen who | had come all the way from the proper | horse-cultured East nodded their heads | approvingly and said, ““Well done.” From 8 o’clock to nearly 11 the kugle FOUR H UNDRED OF SOCIETY ADMIRING THE FOUR HUNDRED [Sketched yesterday by a “Call”? artist.] OF THE EQUINE WORLD. P2 gates flew open to admit all kinds and classes of stately and magnificent animals, whose owners had entered them to win. Throughout it all there was a pronounced, but good-natured rivalry, which resulted in the horsemen putting up the best animals they had to contest for the prizes. | Each new arrival on the tan-bark ring resulted in a burst of applause from all parts of the pavilion and the gentlemen coach and tandem drivers were showered with praise by their friends and admirers | when a graceful turn or a neat piece of driving was introduced. Handkerchiefs and fans fluttered in the air for a moment to attract some prize-taker and then the gloved hand that raised it swept by as the equipage passed on. There was something more than mere cash prizes to win. There was something more than approval of the judges to some of the horsemen, and the look of content- ment that came in some other persons’ eyes told the tale. Every contestant was urged on to do his | very best by a thousand friends and for this approval some risked their necks. It was a game played in earnest, but with good feeling. Everything tended to en- liven the participants and the successful ones were heaped with congratulations. The clanking of chain harness and the steady ruff, ruff, of the horses’ hoofs, was the only music that seemed in harmony. It was nothing but horse, horse, horse, and the very best horse at that. Henry J. Crocker found himself con- stantly in the midst of congratulations from all those who were fortunate enough to run across him during the evening, and the night closed over the best begin- ning any horse show ever had in this City. It was certainly a most commendable performance, and, as the week progresses, will improve. Society has placed its stamp of approval on the whole affair, and those who care to educate the people up to the highest standard of horse-raising cannot fail to recognize the following gen- tiemen as the prime movers 1n that com- mendable work: Bourd of directors—Henry J. Crocker, John Parrott, J. L. Rathbone, George Almer New- hall, Joseph D. Grant,J. B, Crockett, Frank Hicks, Maurice Casey, M. Theodore Kearney, George A. Pope and J. A. Donohoe. Officers—Henry J. Crocker, president; John Parrott,J. L. Rathbone, vice-presidents; George Almer Newhall, secretary; Obed Horr, assist- ant secretary. Honorary vice-presidents—W. Mayo Newhall, W. S. Hobart, A. B. Spreckels, C. de Guigne, | William 8. Tevis, C. Worden, W. F. Banning, Peter J. Donahue, J. M. Cunningham, C. A. Spreckels, P. E. Bowles, Fred R. Webster, C. P. Huntington, John F. Boyd, C. H. Hastings. MORNING PROGRAMME. How the First Events Came Off Before the Bevy of Judges. President Crocker and his ubiquitous assistants, Horr, Tuttle and Bennett, were on hand in the early morning and saw that everything was in good order and so well arranged that their burdens would be light. General Barnes was the first visitor, not an exhibitor, who paid his way in. He arrived before 9 o’clock, even before Jo Grant and Hobart appeared, and took a stroll through the stalls and watched the | Lorses exercising in the ring ior an hour or two. By 9 o'clock everything was in readi- ness for the opening, and at that hour Ringmaster Graham in high hat, top boots and breeches took charge of the arena with half a dozen ring men in gray suits and caps. There were few visitors except the ex- hibitors, but the place was soon lively enough with attendants, catalogue-boys and stablemen. At 9 o'clock Captain Thompson entered the arena with his crack squad of mounted park police, who began practice with their lariats. While they were on the tanbark a number of saddle-horses were ridden in by their Eng- lish grooms and the easy, graceful Western riding of the men of the park, each of whom seemed a part of his horse, was in marked contrast to the stiff seats that are considered good form at horse shows in New York. But, then, probably some day they will take up ‘‘good form’” and ride stifly enough to satisiy the most fas- tidious. g The park police were followed by Troop A of the National Guard, a dozen men under-Captain Sime, for practice. Jo Grant and Walter Hobart and Herr- mann tried their four-in-hands, and later Hobart drove in the first tandem. Chief Sullivan came in early to install a chemical engine in the building, where it will remain ready for duty during the show. The Fire Department has entered engines 2and 12 for competition against the one that isto come over from Oakland. The Oakland people are going to make an effort to win the blue ribbon. They pur- chased a team Monday for the engine they are to send over. Of the San Francisco engines William Culligan will be engineer and John Haydon driver of No. 2and Lewis Keel engineer and John Little driver of 12. In honor of the opemng President Crocker and thedirectors gave an elaborate luncheon at 12:30 in the cafe upstairs, where covers had been laid for 125. Mr. Crocker presided, flanked by tke judges and directors. An excellent lunch was served by Si Green. It was altogether an informal affair; without any speeches or toasts, and went off very smoothly until Herrmann, the magician, who was pres- ent, brought some of his black art into play. The invited guests were as follows: Mayor Davie of Oakland, George B. Sperry, William H, Crocker, C. F. Crocker, H. E. Hunt- ington, W. H. Symmes Jr., Thomas Kelly, J. C. Johnson, George R. Shreve, Alexander Herr- mann, C. C. McIver, J. O’Kane, A. W. Foster, The front doors were thrown wide open | sounded out its call to the horsemen at | John F. English, W. F. Drake, A.L. Stetson, R and hundreds of carriages drove up to |intervals, and almost immediately the | . Tobin, Harold Wheeler, J. O'H. Cosgrave, F. | W. Marriott, W. H. Thomas, G. H. Fox, T.J, Flynn, William Murray, C. Lathrop, A. F. Wainwright, J. C. Kirkpatrick, R. F. | Timothy Hopkins, Lloyd Tevis, R. B. | Charles H. Chase, J. ) | General Forsyth, De | 1ansbee, Dr. Hugh Tevis, Captain Rogers, Charles Crocker, Alexander Forsyth, G. Tut- | hill, G. L. Bennett, D. M. Bevins, R. E. de B. Lopez, John Mackey, James B. Ferguson, H. A. Mayhew, Lot D. Siocum, Judge W Greene, Licutenant-Colonel S. B. M. Youn, Seventh Cavalry, U. S. First Cavalry, U. 8. Murphy, J. D. Horan, L. Taytor, A. L. Whitney, James McNab, W. F. Eagan, Dr. C. Masaero, Dr. E. J. Creeley, J. Talbot Clifton, R. P. Doolan, Rodney Kendrick, Henry | Root, J. H. Culver, W. 8. Leake, Edward Corri- gan, Joseph Ullman, E. H. Hamilton, T. T. Williams, Charles M. Shortridge, Wells Drury, M. H. de Young, John P. Young, Hugh Hume, Alfred Bouvier, W. M. Bunker, Fremont Older, W. Mayo Newhall, Thomas H. Williams, Moses Gunst, A. M. Allen, Samuel Walter Taylor Jr., F. T. Underhill, R. F. Carman, H. K. Bloodgooa, Henry J. Crocker, John Parrott, J. L. Rathbone. George W. Newhall, Joseph D. Grant, J. B, | Crockett, Frank Hicks, Maurice Casi G A. Pope, Obed Horr, W. S. Hobart, A. B. | els, C. de Guigne, W i . Worden. | W.F. Banning, P. J. Donahue Cunning, ham, C. A. Spreckels, P. E. Bowles, Fred R- ‘Webster, John F. Boyd, C. H. Hastings, M. The. odore Kearny, . Greenway, Charles Bald- win, Clarence Waterhouse,W. 0'B. Macdonough, Frank Van Ness, William Corbett, Russell J. Wilson, C. A. Durfee, J. Green, Frank H. Burke, Harry J. Agnew, Gilbert Tompkins, John A. McKerron, O. F. Willey, O. Morosco. James W. Sperry, Captain Sime, Major Bates, J. Naglee Burke, A. S. Hallidie, George Cum- | ming, Grove P. Ayers, Will E. Fisher, H.C. | Holmes. Most of the boxes were filled by their owners during the afternoon, and there |was a good crowd in attendance at 2 o’clock when Noah Brandt's band struck up a march from “Tannhauser” and the bugler announced the opening of the regu- lar programme. The first thing was a parade of all draft horses. These great elephantine | beasts made an impressive show. First | came Pointsman Jr., 2300 pounds, George McNear’s Clydesdale from Napa, the big- | gest horse in the show. Then there was | Ironclad, a Norman yearling, that weighs 1440 pounds, which they say gives prom- ise that he may become, when full grown, the biggest horse in the world. There were only twenty-five of these animals, Normans, Percherons, Clydes- dales and English Shires, but they filled up the arena and looked asif they weighed as much as all the other horses in the show put together. Two of the Perche- rons from A. W. Foster's ranch, Eugenie and Mariette, were led by Thomas Long- _more, who raised them and is very pround of his pets. The trotting stallions came next, and included Mc¢Kinney, Guy Wilkes, Silver Ban, Diablo, Boodle and Tombro, all with great records. Hdrsemen are wondering what the judges are going to do when they come to decide between McKinney and Diablo. These two horses were at the last i State fair and the judges divided the first prize between them. The nextevent in the programme was a parade of the hackney. pony and coaching stallions. One was led around by a groom in a high hat witn a cockade. “That is like a man coming out in full dress at a morning function,” said Samuel ‘W. Taylor Jr. of the Rider and Driver, who | knows all about horse shows. “A servant | in the ring should have on stable costume, and then no coachman should wear a | cockade unless his owner is 1n the army or navy or diplomatic corps.” The judges of saddle-horses, H. K. Blood- good and R. F. Carman, took their places in the center of the arena with Ringmaster Grabham and his bugler, for the next event | on the programme was judging of class 56, 1which included saddle mares or geldings i over 14 hands 1 inch and under 15 hands, four years old or over. There were fine | entries, three by Walter Hobart, two by John Parrott and one by his brother-in- aw, C. de Guigne. The horses were put through their paces, walk, trot and canter, and looked over carefully for some time by the jndges. It was not exciting, but intensely interested were the society people present, who wanted to know whether the first blue | ribbon of the show would go to Prince | Fortunatus or to the house of Parrott. | Finally the judges called for the ribbons, and the blue soon decked John Parrott’s graceful chestnut mare Stella, the first prize winner of the show. C. de Guigne's cream mare Bessie gotthe red ribbon, and Hobart had to be content with the white ribbon for Stamboulite. Promptly at 4 p. M. the four-in-hand ex- ! hibition began, and four coaches rolled out into the arena. First came Walter Hobart with hisnew team of well-equipped ,nnimnls. He was followed by his driver, | who handled Mr. Hobart’s old team, the one he loves so well. Next came Herr- mann the Great with his four-in-hand, which he carriesaround the country in his special car. The last to enter was Joe Grant, and the picture of four well-equipped coaches dashing around the inclosure for the in- spection and approval of the audience was very pleasing to the eye. While the judges had no varticular part to play in that exhibition, society decided that Mr. Hobart's new team was by far the best adorned and the best handled. Mr. Grant drove exceedingly well, as did also Herr- mann, but it was apparent from the fum- ble Herrmann madethat he is not an artist ——————————————— J.F. T. Landis, General P. W. Visiting-cards $1.50 a hun- dred at Crockers’. Too much ? Not for Crocke ers’ work on Crockers’ card. 227 Post street 215 Bush street