The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-09-24

rale Limerick Tor thruppence IL give We
Z penny for wun.' 60 to blazes, you Irish
clod; Id have to teach you to smoke it if
I'd give 1t to you"
Such were some Of the sounds that saluted
the ears in any one Of the numerous crowds
that dotted the course. Preparations now
commenced for the business Of the day.
Before the steeple chase were one or two
Hat races Of no particular interest, although
one Of them was not without ludcrous
incident one of the horses engaged in the
race, and called by his owner "lmpOster,'
lin consequence Of his unreliable qualities,l
having bolted from the course through "a
party seated on the sod at lunch, knocking
over champagne bottles, &c, but, strange TO
say, injuring no one.
II was now about three o'clock when the
bugle sounded for the great race Of the day.
Through the kindness OF friend | had OBJ
tanned access to the enclosure where the
horses were sadded, aud thus had an oppor-
tunity of seeing them stripped. There
were six horses ia all to 90 out of dozen
entries and rivals. "Whalebonc" and Peep
o day Boy were clearly the best of the
lot. To a critical eye neither of them were,
"
both entirely too high" and were jumping
out Of their skin for want OF sufficient exer-
else. Through some oversight neither of
the horses had arrived on the course until
within half an hour of the time for starting,
When got inside the enclosure | saw Mr..
st. George talking earnestly to the groom
who had "Whalebone' in chargc, CHANGING
:" uiH-rsiiy fiyst tirnc t0 time at tire horses.
Presently saw faint smile chase away
the tr0wD upon ST. George handsome coun-
tenance, and inwardly conjectured that he
had hit upon some plan Of getting pre-
paratory gallop before the race, although
how this was to be accomplished, knowing
the well known punctualty Of 10 d Howth
in starting the horses, could not imagine.
Meanwhile, "Whalebone seemed to
treat all this anxiety about him with the
greatest contempt, laying down his ears
ominously when anything approached him,
and being SO particularly active with his
heels that | made an inward vow 10 give
him u wide berth on the course Peep
o Day Boy on the contrary, appeared
good tempered slob Of horse, apparently
filter for q brewers dray than for four
mile dash at racing speed, over one Of the
stiiiest countries in Ireland. At last the
bugle sounded "to saddle" and at ten min
utes to three the horses left the enclosure.
! They all submitted to be mounted readily,
save Whalebone,' who reared, plunged,
and dashed out in all directions, much TO the
danger Of his rider, and all but preventing
him from getting into the saddle at all 49,
When there, greatly to my surprise, instead
OF adopting the soothing system, with
his horse. st. George struck him sharply
three or four times with the,spurs, irritating
the horse nearly to madness, and causing
him TO rush through the gate with the
speed Of a whrlwind, nearly overseeing the
other horses and their riders. The only
control st. George appeared to exercise
over him was to turn him away from the
stewards stand, and he pursued his way
down the course, literally flying over the
ground.
The course, which was admirably kept by
troop of the Scots Greys who were then
quartercd at Kilkenny, fortunately afforded
no obstruction to his terrible career. The
widest excitement prevailed among the peo-
pie on each side of the ropes, and such cries
as "Oh. great SAVIOR or the world. he'll be
kilt" "Be the Grass Of Cashel he's dead
man" rising into shouts Of admiration AS he
was seen seated unialteringly in his saddle
his horse taking every thing in his stride,
without touch or mistake. Nearly half
the course was thus gone over, st. George
still apparently passive, when, TO the horror
Of some and the astonshmcnt of all, upon
approaching the most difficult leap Of the
whole, he was seen to gather up his reins,
take pull AZ his horse, and turn his whip
upon him with all his force. The jump be
rode at, being one OF the most dangerous
sort at high rate OF speed, deserves II pas
sing description. IL was what il called in
Ireland "boccen - iagHc6. a lane gener.
ally uso,i Us IA cart road from ole part %
farm To another, or as short cut Ia the
high-road, and having almost invariably a
high thorn fence on each side, with double
gripes or bitches 20 carry Of the water, the
distance usually from side TO side being from
twenty-five to thirty feet and is generally
crossed in hunting 10y jumping into the lane
on one side, and from il into the field on the
other. To SEE u man. instead Of slackcning
his speed, increase it, seemed almost like in
sanity, especially with what seemed a runa-
way horse, The horse, upon receiving the
blow Of the whip, could b. seen. even from
the distance was, literally bounding from
the earth with rage and pain. III rushed
toward the lane with speed Of a cannon
ball. and when within four feet o. il, rose in
the air, AMI, incredible az it will appear to
some, cleared the whole space w.thou, touch
ing twiy or unhorsng bis gailaD, rider
People drew their breath more freely. AMI
gave vent TO their suppressed feelings 10 a
cheer which must have been heard hy -
George. who WAS s.en 10 a few minutes ear
teriug hack towards the starting point. him
self aud his horse covered with team and
Precipitation, but the latter apparently PER
fNcty sobcrel, As almost every one mag.
inci his horse bad run away with him. few