400 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



cost Walcott & Campbell an average of $5,500 

 each and the Oxfords $2,800 each. 



Immediately after this division of the herd 

 Sheldon began stocking up again and within a 

 year his stables were found full to overflowing. 

 He, of course, looked to Walcott & Campbell 

 to buy the entire outfit. He was playing the 

 Duchess game for all there was in it. The 

 New York Mills people declined to be baited, 

 however, in any such wholesale manner. They 

 were perfectly willing to take the Duchesses 

 and Oxfords, but this did not suit Sheldon. 

 The facts as to the deal which finally resulted 

 in their transfer to Walcott & Campbell in 

 1870 are set forth by Mr. Gibson in the follow- 

 ing language . 



"Sheldon had not filled his barn for naught. A deadlock en- 

 sued. James Wadsworth was nibbling, Col. King of Minnesota 

 was after them and so was Cochrane of Canada. A sale cata- 

 logue was then circulated and date arranged. Walcott & Camp- 

 bell's hands were forced and they were obliged to buy in self-de- 

 fense. The lot was taken, fifty females and fourteen bulls, at a 

 round $100,000, with interest at 6 per cent until paid. Now Mr. 

 Campbell, though born an alien, had confidence in the Govern- 

 ment's pledges to pay. Mr. Sheldon was a Democrat and guessed 

 otherwise. Gold was about 160 and the agreement was that when 

 the settlement was made it was to be on the basis of gold as 

 quoted on the day of sale. Result : $60,000 paid the original debt 

 of $100,000. Mr. Campbell could have paid at time of purchase 

 just as well as not, but preferred waiting under the circum- 

 stances and therein got a chance to 'even up' with Mr. Sheldon." 



"Duke" bulls in demand. Thorne and Shel- 

 don's European trade had served as a great 

 advertisement for the Thorndale and Geneva 



