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THE HORSE AUCTIONS.CINCINNATI TUB tARGEiT MARKET IN THE COUNTRY.The Fifth Street Stables—The Auctioneer, Stable Boy, rations and Spectators— Nothing Too Poor to Sell.That Cincinnati is somewhat of a hone market will perhaps he denied by no one, but that the horse auction trade of this city is more extensive than that of any other city in the country is probably not generally known. Cincinnati has nineteen, horse unction stables, and five of these are located on East Fifth street, between Main and Sycamore. A stranger walking along the street about 10 o’clock in the morning would he at loss to understand what is going on. The sidewalks are crowded with men of all descriptions, each one trying apparently to talk louder than some one else. Vehicle after vehicle is drawn np close to the curb, leaving the center of the street clear for the trial of the animals put up for sale. Suddenly the bells begin ringing and the auction begins. The sprightly stable boys vault to the lack of the beasts and away they go. Mere is a fine looking animal, which the auctioneer declares to be “sound as a dollar.*' but, of course, his simple say so does not make it sound, and the men who wish to purchase examine the animal critically. The horse Is started, up the street and. the bidding begins. You look around for the horse and he Is lost in the crowd, and you then appreciate the fact that this portion of the city for a part of the day. at least, is given up to horsemen. Indeed, no other business could be transacted there. Men from all parts of the city and country are standing around, all eyes to drive a bargain, and talk* ing nothing but horse, horse, horse. It is generally supposed that a man can not deal in horses without being at least willing to be crooked, and whether or not this is correct they all believe in seeing and examining, notwithstanding anything that some one else may say. How business ia transacted there with any degree of satisfaction is a mystery to the uninitiated, for with the loud cries of a half dozen auctioneers, the clanging of the old gongs, the continual talking by everybody, and the yelling of the stable boys, an, outsider is almost driven out of his mind. This state of affairs is perhaps one of the reasons why green uns” are sometimes worsted iu purchasing a horse, for almost any one on the ground for the first time will possibly be unable to tell whether he has bought a mule or a horse without a few hours* time to gather his scattered senses.The animals, like the men, ere from everywhere and of all kinds. A man wanting a horse can easily he suited as to price. At one time the auctioneer can be herd calling off bids ranging from $6 and less to the hundreds. Some an imam offered for sale are but an excuse for a horse, and seem fit to be killed only. An expressman has perhaps almost worked and starved to death his beast aqd is compelled to buy another, and unwilling, probably unable, to loee a cent, offers the poor beast for any thing it will bring. It appears strange that an auctloueer will attempt to sell such an animal, but what is more singular, is that there is almost always a buyer. Indeed, a horse is rarely too poor to be sold.Thousands of dollars change hands here almost daily, though from appearances one would imagine that none but broken down men frequent the place. In the horse business every one dresses alike, and it is hard to distinguish between the stable boy and the owner, so that a person might be conversing with a wealthy man; and from, the odor about his clothes, and his appearance generally, it would he fair to presume his weekly salary was very small. As a class, horse dealers are a peculiar set of men, and on account of their roving business are almost a society by them selves. The outsiders know very little .about them, and judge them only by what they know. For this reason, perhaps. they are generally looked upon with something akin to distrust, and talked of as though their business was not a legitimate one. Be this aslit may, a person, unless brought, np among horses:, woulu probably pay but one visit to a horse auction, and then come away with no very great opinion of the affair.THE “BOYS** ABOUT TOWN,
Newspaper Details
The Cincinnati News
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Mon, Apr 23, 1883
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 28 Aug 2024
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