Animals: Dog Mart

Fredericksburg, Va., is the place where George Washington is supposed to have tossed a silver dollar across the Rappahannock River. On a drizzly day last week, 7,000 people and 642 dogs from Washington, Richmond, and the surrounding countryside gathered under the 400-year-old oak trees in Fredericksburg’s city park for the 239th renewal of Fredericksburg’s famed dog mart. According to tradition it; was founded to pacify warring Indians who had no need of the usual peace offerings of beads, muskets or rum, but who coveted the colonists’ fine dogs. It has evolved into a meeting where all comers can auction and buy dogs of all varieties.

Shortly after noon, venerable Auctioneer Nathaniel Bacon Kinsey, clad in frock coat and beaver hat, climbed a platform, whanged a bell, started knocking down dogs. A farmer wanted $50 for his wire-haired “or keep your mouth shut.” Another owner demanded “$100 or nothing” for a bird dog. Neither got it. “I am damned tired of these high-valued dogs,” hollered Auctioneer Kinsey. “Get me some dogs I can sell for fifty cents. Bring them up here.” Setters went for two or three dollars each. Ragged farmers who needed the money tearfully parted with prized hounds (see cut). Children put pets up for auction, tremblingly saw them sold, burbled as they received them back from laughing purchasers. Lowest price of the day: fifty cents for a mongrel. Highest price of the day: $55 for a pointer. (One dog, however, was sold privately for $250.) Biggest thrill to Auctioneer Kinsey: selling to Radio Announcer Larry Elliot for $7 a dog on which its owner had placed a value of $2.