THE SENSATION OF SEVENTY-THREE. 443 



distinguished relatives is not apparent at this 

 time, especially in view of the freedom with 

 which Mr. Bates had outcrossed the family 

 during his lifetime, except upon the hypoth- 

 esis that all skill and judgment in mating cat- 

 tle perished with the founder of the tribe. As 

 a matter of fact evidence was not wanting that 

 this very element of "purity" carried with it 

 the seeds of danger. At the time Gibson sev- 

 ered his connection with the herd* it was of 

 high average merit, but it had been culled 

 freely and handled with consummate judg- 



* Richard Gibson, speaking- of the sale, says: "The question of the 

 hour was not what the average would be but what would a Duchess bring? 

 Some were sanguine enough to place the figure at $20,000. In the morning 

 the tension was something terrific, and as the time to commence drew near 

 little coteries were beginning to bunch together, Kentucky's tall sons to 

 the northwest of the ring, the English visitors on the southwest, while the 

 others were promiscuously seated in the stand. Kello, the incomprehen- 

 sible, was alone away from all the rest, fearful to mix with these dreaded 

 Yankees lest they should steal not his purse but his thoughts and inten- 

 tions. During the forenoon W. R. Duncan had approached Mr. Campbell, 

 saying: 'I apprehend, sir, you are aware that Mr. Page can't sell this 

 bunch of cattle in one day.' 



"Mr. Campbell posted off to Page and said: 'I hope you will not at- 

 tempt to sell all these cattle in one day.' 'I shall,' replied Page. 'Then, 

 sir, I shall consider that you are sacrificing my property,' was Campbell's 

 rejoinder. ' May I take the bids as fast as they come? ' asked the auction- 

 eer. 



" On a watering trough in the center of a ring Mr. Page took his stand. 

 The proverbial pin could have been heard to drop. The excitement at this 

 moment was intense; not noisy or boisterous, but for two or three days 

 the tension had gradually been increasing. There was the keenest anxiety 

 as to what the Englishmen were after, and a determination to prevent them 

 from taking all the best. Mr. Page gauged the feeling of his company. 

 They had not come, some of them over three thousand miles, to hear a lot 

 of Cheap John spread-eagleism, but for business. He said: 'Gentlemen, 

 please give me your attention and I will read the conditions of this sale.' 

 The 2d Duke of Oneida was brought into the ring while he was reading 

 them. 'Will anyone make me an offer on the bull?' were the opening 

 words. 'Ten thousand dollars,' came the answer from the Kentucliians, 

 and so the sale began." 



