The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-04-14

RACE WITH BULL.-Some forty years arc
the managers of race course near Brownsville
| on the Monongahela, published notice Of race,
one mile heats, on particular day, for purse Of
500, Free for any thing with four legs and hair
on" .s#..s
A man in the ne;ghborhood named Hays had
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. He said nothing about it to
any one, but he rode him around the track q
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 disagree
able; SO much so that he always beloved when
j 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 ox-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 the
notice; insisting that his bull had sfour legs and
hair on" and that therefore he had q right to
enter him. After good deal of swearing, the
judges declared themselves compelled to decide
that the bull had the right to run, and was en-
tered accordingly.
men tne VINE lot stirtihS arrived, the Dull
| and the horses took their places. The horse
racers we're out of humor at being bothered with
the bull, and at the burlesque, which they sup
posed was intended, but thought that it would
be over soon as the horses started.
When the signal was given, they did start
Hays gave blast with his horn, and sunk his
spurs into the side Of the bull, who bounded off
with a terrible bawl, at no triAing s2eed, the
dried ox-hide Tapping up and down and rafting
at every jump, making combination of noises
that had never been heard on O race course be-
fore.
The horses all few the track, every one seem
ing to be seized with sudden determination to
take the shortest.cut to get out of the Redstone
country, and not one of them could be brought
back in time t. save their distance The purse
was given to Hays
A general row ensued; but the fun Of the thing
put the crowd all on the side of the bull The
horsemen contended that they were swindled
out of their purse, and that if it had not been for
Hays horn and ox-hide, which he ought not to
have been permitted TO bring upon the ground,
the thing would not have turned out as it did
Upon this, Hays told them that his bull could
beat any OF their horses any hew, and If they
would put up hundred dollars against the purse
he would take of the ox-hide and leave his tin
horn, and run fair race with them. His offer
was accepted, and the money staked.
They again took their places at the starting
post. and the signal was given. Hays gave the
bull another touch with his spur, and the bull
gave . tremendous below. The horses remem-
bering the dreadful sound. thought all the rest
was coming rs before. Away they went again,
in spite Of all the exertions Of tneir riders while
Hays gallopped his bull around the track and
won the money.