The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-05-16
Race With a Bull.

q race course near Brownsville, on the
Monongehala, published a notice of race
one mile heats, on particular day, for
purse of $lO0, "free for anything with
four legs and hair on" A man in the
neighborhood, named Hays, had bull
that he was in the habit of riding to mill
with his bag of corn, ind he determined
to enter him for the race. He said moth
ing about it to any one. but he rode him
around the track number of times, on
moonlight nights, till the bull had the
ground pretty we'll, and would keep the
right course. He rode with spurs,
which the bull considered particularly
disagreeable; so much so that he always
beloved when they were applied to his
sides.
On the morning of the race, Hays came
upon the ground on horseback-on his
bull. Instead of saddle, he had dried
an OK hide, the head part of which, with
the horns still on. he had placed on the
bulls rump. He carried short tin horn
in his hand. He rode to the judges
stand, and offered to enter his bull FOR the
race; but the owners of the horses that
were entered objected. Hays appealed
to the terms of notice; insisting that his
bull had flour legs and hair on"
and therefore he had right to enter
him After good deal of swearing,
the judges declared themselves COM
PEELED to decide that the bull had the
right to run; and was entered accord.
ingly.
I When the time for starting arrived, the
bull and the horses took their places
The horse racers were out of humor al
being bothered with the bull, and at the
burlesque which they supposed was ilten
ded. But thought that it would be ove1
as soon as the horses started.
When the signal was given, they die
: start. Hays gave blast with his horn
and sunk his spurs into the side of th'
; bull who bounded off with terrible bawl
at no trifing speed. the dried ox-hid
faping up and down, and ratt!ing q
= every jump, making combination o
noises, that had never been heard on
: race course before. The horses all fey
: the track. every one seeming to b
seized with sudden determination +
take the shortest cut to get out of tn
Redstone country, and none of then
: could be brought back in time to say
their distance. The purse was given t
g Hays
: A general row ensped; but the fun {
:. the thing put The crowd all on the side {
. the bull. The horseman contendcd tha
;. they were swindled out of the purse, an
~ if it had not been for Hays horn and OK
hide, which he ought not to have bee
permitted to bring upon the ground, th
+ Is thing wonld not have turned out as
70 did.
= = Upon this, Hays told them that b
% bull could beat any of their horses an!
/, how, and if they would put up $40
= = against the purse he had won, he woul
- take off the ox>hide, and leave his ii
; horn, and run fair race with them.-
- - His offer was accepted'an the mone
- stAked.
.S .s They again took their places at Il
% % starting post, and the signal was give
:. Hays gave the bull another touch VII
70 his spur, and the bull gave tremendo'
:" below. The horses remembering IL
:, dreadful sound, thought all the rest WI
~ ~ coming as before. Away they we
:" again, in spite of all the exertions of the
- - riders, while Hays galloped his bull
- round the track again, and won the mo
~ - ey.