Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-09-18
Josh Silsbee at the Races.
by THOMAS THE RHYMER.

Rather dull work was there at the Metaire
races in lS4I, in cur opinion, what ever some
menmay say in the country--but one little incl
dent deserves to be rescued from oblivion.
intend to tell the story as il was told to me by
AN eyewitness, and 1 appeal to Col. Oliver,
Jim Valentine, Dan Hickok, and Yankee Sis-
bee, for its truth. II | have been sawed, I'll
own, and you may call on me for the penalty
the first time | set foot in the clover office"
Every body who has ever been to New Or
leans-at least every body who is any body
knows the parties | have named. The Col. is
as goo9 a lciiOw a. eveI CrgSleE' ms lvck non
the stand TO watch the looming ir," or took a
telescope view, through the bottom of a tum-
bler and about fair specimen of southern
.er as one would desire to meetr As for Jim
Valentino, he can sing agood song, and is, or
was at the time | write, Jolly, good looking
boy, tuiI OF run, spirit and whimsicality Dan
HicsgA, Avho now keeps crack horse ON the
shell road, at the lake end, was then engaged in
stcaIiT5 otting, and=eoud ATIgA tcTfScr yeA loud
er and gain pumpness qmcker-but I'll spare
Dams bushes. A dull day at a Spring meeting
TO three such, was an abomination; and when |
tell you that Josh Silsbee, who was playing an
eng cement at The American, was also in the
crowd, aided and abetted by Jim Jones, the
treasurer Of the theatre, with his managers,
Place and Stickney, you may imagine the gene.
raj horror, as the chances of sport We're not
likely to be diminished. A proposition was
made to get up scrub race; bat even that fail
ed. A feeling of ennui began to steal over the
party, and in the midst of an anxious debate, it
was discovered that Slsbee had eloped, aand that
no traces could be found Of the runaway.
Jim Valentine determined to have some fun,
cost what it might, and bantered French plan
ter, from up near the old Red Church. to run
his blood mare---a fine animal she was-against
Something or somebody. But Monsieur Hypo-
lite p'Anzac declared he had come for the pur~
pose OF seeing the reces, not to make them, and
therefore declined.
As they were debating the. matter, a0queer-
looking yellow wagon, drawn by rough coated,
but clean-lifnbed horse, drove up. The occu-
pant was at one recognized by his dress, no less
than his general appearance to be a red live
Yankee, one.of the ''greeneSt un'sp of his kind.
Valentine tackled him without delay, criticised
his wagon, made fun Of his horse and in the space
Of five minutes, managed to rile his customer to
his hearts content. %
,Leuky here yeoti I" said the Yankee, .'that
ere hoSs Of mine is clear grit-a hull race hoss
and nobackin' eout. | never rage hosses my
self; it's orlul resky business but LII bet the
old wagon, hose and all, that he could lick
that slck-leukin' mare there in a mile spirit
|areound this meddcr, in less timeot than yeou kin
say Beeswax when yer meouth's puckered.' That
critter yander's meouty nice for to leuk at, but
she cant run, no heow." So saying he pointed
. at the Erenchman mare with every mark Of con-
temp?
/ ''Ahap cried the Frenchman, not little net
tied, you tink zat re mare cannot run eh ?o-
INA tai! your dam ole bete, nevar overtake her,
sare!' % o5 zoo
s"Thats sf he drnt try, Mister, 'coolly replied
: No sare," said the Frenchman, .'eet ees not
trying. viii not run my mare 'gainst your old
opeilir horse, for should vim him and all your
mon0ay, by garE'
"Og, w.ell," replied the Yankee calmly, Il
diin'.ueln no qense.. If yeoure aleard to,make
a M ;oh, ibere ainf no h-a,ym done speoSe-"
. .S.rei" exclaimed he excited Frenchman, II
nol afraid, bui d. nG, Shoose to make re race,
duts olr %
sIsaIyise you moi to rug your mare, my
sell . sad Oliver, TOR thaJynkee horse has got
..B9 one." exclaimed D'Anzic contemptu-
oius All, our re bott9me Of his belc-rnos-
sing m..e."
Nos>ieur, d D'Ahzac'e E horse would walk clear
away RON him." said Valentine.
q In 20 you hundred on that, JIM said the
Colonel
..D,ne'' was the reply, '.and if Monsieur
D'AnZ. &c goes half with.mc I'll treble it,
Yes sare, will go you two, tree hundred, -
exclaimed the FrGnchman, now fully rorsed."
Hello" said the Yankee, '1posen you let
me mix in this hasty puddin' myself I've got a
little pewter for you to size on that question:
III stake a hundred on.old Jehosaphat by Jehu. -
The match was made, the horses were led out
to get ready. and the spectators began to make
their bets. As the Yankee declared he would
never ride horse,-it was against his principles
a negro boy of divers was appointed to the
responsible station Of Jockey. The Frenchman
insisted on backing his own mare.
Just as they were about to start Oliver said tc
Valentine -
See here Jim, | don't want to take youl
money. The Frenchman's horse viii beat.
III you want to draw out don't object, re-
piled Valentine, ''pervidcd you own up; but
otherwise I'm on hand"
GAS you please" replied Oliver.
d Old Jesse Smith had been looking on in the
meanwhile, and broke the silence with
I'm go any gentleman fifty or hundred Oh
that mare'
Done !" said the Yankee.
Me too, if you please" said Oliver.
Dan Hckok after looking at the Yankee
horse, burst into a tremendous explosion O
laughter.
@Chrisiopher Columbus never discovered tina
; beast !" cried Dan" how could he? He WASH
. born! I'll double that hundred, jesse if you
have the pewter to spare
Jesse had hardly ,ine to say yes, when at TN
word gol oil went both horses with whirr lik
arrows. The m IRE took the lead, and main
famed it during the first quarter. On the sec
onl the horse hpped her and kept there durin
. third Up to within hundred yards of tn
winning most, Won could hive coyerod both nn