Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-01-17
Race with q Bull.

We find the following capital yarn in the
November number Of the Knickcrbocker Maya
zine 1t is more or less rich -
Some forty years ago, the members of race
course near Brownsville, on the Monongahela.
published a notice Of a race, ono mile heats, on
particular day, for Il purse Of one hundred
dollars, free for anything with four legs and
hair on
man in the neighborhood named Hays had
a bull that he was in the habit Of riding 10 mill
with his bag Of corn, and he determined to en-
ter him for the race. He 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 pref
ty we'll, and would keep the right course. He
rode with spurs which the bull considered par
tcuarly dsagreeabe, SO much SO that he al
ways beloved when they were applied to his
sides
On the morning of the race, Hays came upon
the ground on horscback-on his bull. Instead
Of a 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 a short
lin horn in his hand. lie rode to the judges
stand, and offered to enter his boil for the race
but the owners Of the horses objected. Hays
appealed to the terms of the notice, insisting
that his bull had four legs and hair on, and
there fore he had a 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 he was entered nc
cordingly
W hen the time for starting arrived, the bull
and the horses took their places. The horse
racers were out of humor AT being bothered with
the bull, ami at the burlesque which they sup
posed was intended, but thought it would be
over as soon as the horses started.
When the signal was given, they did start
HAYS gave a blast with his horn, and sunk his
spurs into the side of the bull, who bounded of
with a terrible bawl at no trAing speed, the
dried OK hide tapping up and down and rat
Ting at every jump, making combination of
noises that had never been heard on race
course before The horses all dew ;he track
every one seeming to be seized with sudden
determination to take the shortest cut to get
out OF the Rodstono county, and none Of them
could be brought back 10 time 20 save their dis
tancc The purse was given to Hays.
4 general row cnsued but the fun Of the
thing put lhe crowd on the side OF the bull
The horsemen contendtd that they were swim
died out of the purse, and if it had not been for
Hay', horn and OK hide, wtho~ lao ought 49,, In
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 how, and if they
would put up one hundred dollars against the
purse he had won, he would take oft the OK
hide and leave the tin horn and run fair race
with them His offer was accepted and the
money staked They again took thor 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 memberns the dreadful sound, thought
all the rest was coming as before. Away they
went again in spite Of all the eSertioos Of thcil
riders, while Hays galloped his bull around the
track again aud Won the money.