“BARON O’ BUCHLYVIE.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 45, 6 February 1912, Page 2

“BARON O’ BUCHLYVIE.”

RECORD PRH E FOR A CLYDESDALE. cGENES AT THE SALE. No -ale bascriated s<> much interest in agricultural circles in Ayrshire ami Scotland generally than that of “Baion o' Buchlyvie,” the famous Clydesdale stallion, which was exposed at. auction recently in the Horse of Alessrs James Craig (Limited), the wellknown Ayr auctioneers. The proiiaeted li I mat i< m which recently terminated in the House of Lords added zest to the proceedings, and hundreds v. ere drawn by curiosity to the scene of the sale.

So great was the crush in the Repository that it was intimated that the sale would take place outside, cut to this course tlie joint owners. Me. K ilp-itric. k. Craigie Mains, and Mr Diinh-.p. Dentire Alains, demurred. One result- of this announcement was that many lost their places i;id w( unable to gain admission io the Imilding on their return. The • ■•Barca.’’ all Unconscious of the Fuss he was creating, walked about the ring, the cynosure of all eyes. He scetucd to carry his 12 years lightly, and these best able to judge described him as fit and well. Speculation has been rife for weeks past as to he figure he v.t.uld fetch, and many and varied have been the estimates. Ab- nt (.:ie c’ele-ck. the time appt in'rtd f- '• the sale. Air. Craig, who •'cC’.'pied the ri 4rum in person, intimated that lie had received word from the G. and S.W. Railway Company that a contingent of Englishmen were on the wa\ to see the horse sold, and asking that tlie sale might be delayed a little. Air. Craig stated that he would delay for ten minutes, but no longer. Within that shirt space of time many more pc' ple found their way to the Repository. and by the time the sale commenced the

‘’Baron” had Little Space left in which to show himself off. A brief space elapsed during the time Mr. Craig read oxer the conditions cf tl'.c ‘-’-le, which bore, inter alia, il-at the joint ow-ars reserved the r'mlit to purchase the “Baron, which would be sold without any warranty and could not be rejected I y a pm chaser.

Il ;s !-e >n at the cul.-et Hint the joint owners meant business. Mr. Dunlop occupied a. prominent place at Air. Craig’s rigid hand, and Mr. Kilpatrick was close beside the auctioneer on the left.

The sale lasted just 26 minutes, but- the memory of that Inief space, and tlie tense excitement of it( will be long remembered. Air Craig said be was not particular where they storied—he would take either £5OOO or £19,000 for a start. Mr. Rennie, Paisley, promptly responded with

A Bid of £3(lfi9, Which nonplussed tlie heiiftlor of (lie “ Baren." Hundred pound bids wei-o called tor by the auctioneer, and these were promptly forthcoming, A s r Dunlop and Mr Kilpatrick being among the bidders. Mr. Rennie was in at about £5OOO, and thereafter ceased.

A Stranger in the Gallery —a clean-shaven man wearing a light cap, and whose identity was unknown to almost all present-now made his presence felt, and at lenalh the sale resolved itself into a dml between Mr. Kilpatrick and him. £6001) was soon reached, and £7OOO, and. at each of these stages Mr. Kilpatrick was the bidder. At £BOOO, the expectant- crowd, following the

Duel vv ith Bated Breath, broke into loud cheering, causing the “Baron” to show his displeasure in a manner which was not appreciated by these in his neighbourhood. At L's-jdO Mr. Kilpatrick was still banging on, and many thought the youthful stranger was crying off when Iris next bid was £5O, but they prophesied too soon. £8909 was the next call by the joint (.■'■icr. a.m! the stranger came again. Air. Kilpatrick Promptly Levelled the Artiount, and another outburst greeted the calling of the £9OOO. “Hundreds” were again the order of the day, and immediately the first bid was made, M'Diceno relieved the tension by siioutiiig “Hauf-eroon bidsnoo.” At £|I3OO I he stranger in the gallery was still in the running, and the end camo sliorily ai’tcj-wards at £9500, Air. Kilpatrick being the runner-up. .All eyes now turned to the stranger, who seemed the least excited of the \ a l throng. Immediately afterwards Mr. Craig announced that the animal had. been bought on behalf of Mr. William Dunlop. Denure Alains. There was a wild scene of excitement, bats and sticks being waved by many agriculturists.

So <nded a remarkable sale. As to the \alue of the horse opinions differ. Al any good judges say the amount is tar beyond his value ; others again argue that the “Baron” lias many years of usefulness in fr; nt cf him. One thing is certain, die animal has gained for himself imperishable fame, for he has c? ip: <<i the previous record of Lle'ip paid for a Clydesdale by £f son.

Tne horse was purchased in J 903 as a thrce-year-old for C 750. A dispute al?.?? two years ago. Air. Duali.p, Dunuro Alains. Ayr. a.:-serting he has l.'rot'.g'hl tin (he ini erest of Air K ihiat rick. Craigie Mains. Kilmar-m-ck. Thb- v.-i;; disputed by Mr. bri!;'--; I' iek. and the cum’ went t li:'oi;gh t'ne (,’ouri c-f Session, and ultimately reached ilie House of L< :<|s. -.vhich decidedly that the anim-il was tin-ir joint property.