The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-11-13
HORSE RAGING ~ GEORGIA.


lighted bar room Of the best hotel il
the town of Rushton, in the state o
Georgia. The appearance of the
whole group was that of horse Jock.
eys, not only in their dress, but il
was indicated, also, by that sort o
staggering gait and restless air
which is always observable about
this class of persons. Seated at the
head Of the table was a parsonage
with cigar in his mouth, and glass
of strong brandy and sugar on the
table beside him, from which he oc-
casionally slipped during the pauses
in the conversation. His dress was
somewhat peculiar. He wore a pair
of old fashioned brccchcs, of fine
cloth, reaching only to his knees,
and with two rows Of silver buttons
Oh each side, reaching only to his
Wristbands. On his feet he wore a
pair of long iockey-boots, meeting
his pants, with gold tinsel tassel
OH the top of each. His vest was OF
a green baizc with silver buttons
this was partly uEbuttoncd and
thrown back, displaying his nicely
irilled shirt bosom, and a diamond
bosom pin of large size. His coat
was of the finest quality of scarlet
broadcloth, with buttons formed of
half eagles. Around his neck was
a massive guard chain of gold, to
which was suspended gold repeat
cr, studded on the back and sides
with small brilliants. 1t was evil
dent from the Difference which was
shown him by the whole party, and
the sort of patronizing air which he
sometimes assumed, that he was a
person Of no small importance.
The little town of Rushton had
one of the bestracc courses sustain
ed within mile of tin the state
of Georgia. For this reason it had
become the resort of a set Of black
legs and sharpers, Of whom this per-
/ son-whoSe name was Parkc-was
a leader, lie had been very sue
cessful, and had acquired large
property, and also owned some Of
the best horses in the state of Geor-
gia.
The conversation turned upon the
subject of the arrival in, and depar-
ture from the village, of person by
the name Of Van Ransc. This indi-
yidual was native of the New Eng
land States, and had been making a
sort of a tour of the Union, with two
or three of the best horses in the
United States, visiting all of the
race courses, and winning money in
every place where lie could get up
a race, until he gained such name
by the time he reached Rushton,
that even Parkc was afraid to run
with him, and Van Ranse was obi
ged to leave the village without win
ming any money.
lie had now been gene about a
week, but still the subject was oc-
casionally referred to. They were
still talking upon this subject, when
a loud "Hillo," was heard. The
landlord hustled out, and the same
voice was again heard
"Say, Mr.. Landlord, | want YOU
TO put my horse in the barn and give
him a good lot of hay, cause he's a
fust rate boss, and | want him well
taken care on"
"Certainly," said the landlord
'herc, Tom, take the gentleman's
horse around"
Two or three of the group on the
inside rose and walked to the win
dow, and by the light of lantern
which the landlord held, they could
see shabbily dressed, yankee-look-
ing parsonage, dismount from as
shabby looking a horse, with his
name and tail cropped of, and his
hair standing Seventeen ways for
Sunday This was all they could
distinguish by the light of the Ian
tern, and with some Jest on the ap-
pearance of the Yankees "hoss"
they resumed their seats.
A few minutes afterwards the
landlord came in, accompanied by
the Yankee, who had a pair of sad
dle-bags thrown over his arm. These
he entrusted to the care Of the land
lord, with many injunctions to put
them in safe place. Price, and
one or two of the blacklegs exchan-
ged glances, and then resumed the
conversation. The Yankee drew a
chair up to the table, and sat down,
resting his chin on the palm of his
hand, and gazing at the different
speakers with kind Of vacant stare.
He sat thus for half an hour, with
out saying word.-A pair of snuff
fers, which lay within his reach, at
tracted his attention. lie took them
up'and turned them over, examined
them very carefully, and apparently
could make nothing of them. At
length he opened them, and looking
| in thcm for about n minuto IA, end