Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-05-19
Sham Hayes and the Bull Race.

Some forty years ago the managers
of race course, near Brownviile, on
the Monongahela, published a notice
OF race, one mile heats, on q particu-
lar day, for q purse of one hundred
dollars, ''free for anything with four
legs and hair on.'
4 man in the neighborhood, named
Hayes, had y bull that he was in the
habit Of riding to mill with his bag of
corn, and he determined to enter him
for the race lie said nothing about it
to any one but he rode him around the
track number Of times on several
moonlight nights, until the bull had the
hang OF the ground pretty well, and
would keep the right course. He rode
with spurs, which the bull considered
particularly disagreeable, so much SO,
that he always beloved loudly when
they were applied to his sides. On
the morning of the race, Hayes came
upon the ground on horseback, on his
bull. Instead Of saddle, he had a
dried ox-hide, the head part Of which,
with The horns still on, he had placed
on ,he bulls rump. lie carried a short
tin horn in his hand. He rode TO the
judges stand, and offered TO enter his
bull for the race, but the oWncrs Of the
horses that were entered objected. He
appealed to the terms OF the notice, in
sisted that his bull had ''four legs and
hair on, and that, therefore, he had a
right to enter him. After . good deal
Of "cussin' and discussin," the judges
declared themselves compelled to de-
cidc that the Dull had right to run.
When timc for starting had arrived,
the horses took their places. The
horse racers were out OF humor at be-
ing bothered with the bull, and at the
burIosquc which they supposed was III
tended; bat thought that all would be
over as soon as the horses started
When the signal was given the horses
did start. Hayes gave a blast with
his horn, and sunk his spurs into the
bUlj's sides, who bounded off, with
terrible bawl, at no trifing speed, the
dried ox.hide Tapping up and down,
and rafting at every jump, making
combination that had never been heard
on race course before.
The horses all flew the track, every
one seemed to be seized with q sudden
determination to take the shortest cut
to get out Of the Redstone country, and
not one Of them could be brought back
III time to save their distance. The
purse was given to Hayes with great
deal Of hard swearing on the part of
the owners Of the horses. 4 general |
row ensucd, but the fun Of the thing
pat the crowd all OIL the side Of the |
lHii, The horsemen contended that
.hav were svindled out Of the purse, |
and if it had not been for Hayes horn
and ox-hida, which he ought not to |
have been permitted to bring OH the
ground, the thing would not have turn
ed out as it did. Upon this, Hayes
told them that his bull could beat any
Of their horses anyhow; and if they |
would bet q hundred dollars against
the purse which he had won, he would |
take off the ox-hide, bis tin horn he |
would leave, and run q fair race with
{hem.
His offer was accepted, and the mon
cy staked. They again took their
places at the starting post, and the
signal was given. Hayes gave the
bull another touch with the spur, and
the bull gave another tremendous bel
low. The horses remembered the ter
ribIe sound, and thought all the rest
was coming as before. Away they
went again, in spite Of all the exertions
OF their riders, while Hayes galloped
his bull around the track again, and
won his money.
From that time they nick-named him
Sham Hayes. lie afterwards moved
to Ohio, but his nickname ever stuck
to him.