Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-09-27

a the night dc0SE0oso0 Tor the contest nc
stole very quietly into the stable. and, muf-
fling the horses feet, led him to the track.
The judges were then posted, the riders
and the homes Wsss eG Il ~
: single straight dash Of mile, and both
horses were put 10 their spssd, and kept
constantly down to their work from the
word go" But, % they approached The
"coning out" placs, the sssanes horse b.
gan to gain little upon bic antagonist and
q this moment Of interest and excitement
70 oil parties concerned, il looked - Il the
deacon's horse VAS to DO beaten, when sud-
denly from beeind broad fence, near the
track, Jumped up Deacon r. himself,
who, in . very loud and excited manner,
screamed out, "Put the whip to him. Mar
Tin put the whip to him, tell you'll" Mar
tin Was perfectly astounded and almost psr>
Gy xed At this unexpseted apparation, but,
with nervous desperation, he make several
vigorous and we'll timed applications Of his
whip, which caused the horse to rcdouble
his efforts and win the race by half length,
1t which the deacon, IN the excitement Of
the moment, took of his hat and gave .
lusty cheer tut, instantly afterwards recol-
lccling himself, and considering the ludi-
crous role no had been enscting in this
somewhat favcical performance. he assumed
an indignant CIR, and approaching Martin,
Who wss holding the horse in great trepi-
datiGn, said "Nartin Scott, you young rep.
rebate, you have stolen my horse, sir, and.
unless you instantly lead HIM back . the
stable. and give him . good rubbing dswn.
IN report goo 10 your father, sis r.
A he was ploughing in the field one day
during the year 1914, the postmastse Of tLe
village brought him . letter marked war
adjutanl- generals Office" aud
directed TO Ensign Martin Scott. on opening
which he found commission for himself
- ensign in the United States army. He
had made no application fos the appsint>
ment and ito bsing conferred upon bin 80
. mystery which was never solved 20 the day
Of his death. He accepted the appointment
and forthwith Joined his company st Sacka
ctts narbor
lie VAS shortly afterwasd sent 10 the
western frontier, where he found ample
scope for the development Of his proclivi>
tiea % q sportsman.
lie reputation for accurate rifle and pis-
tol shooting Was well deserved, and am
not aware that he was ever excclled, il, in
deed, he Was ever equslled BY any of his
contemporaries.
One Of his performances with the pistol,
which have often heard vouched for By
officers who have witnessed it, and which
appears to me to require more skill in the
use Of the arm than any other feat have
heard If, was IN taking two potatoes, throw
ing them into the air successfully, and put
ting a pistol ball through both Of them 40
they crossed, one going up and the other
coming down.
Some Of his performances in rifle shooting
have Witnessed my self and for great accu-
racy must acknowledge that they exceed
anything Of the kind have ever before
seen. One Of the many instances where
have been present at his shooting will,
presume, suffice to illustrate this.
lie proposed TO me upon ono occasion
that W. should take n old fashioned United
States yager that he had. asd determine
which could load and fire three shots in the
shortest space Of time, and make the best
target. Accordingly, . playing card, with
= spot or bulls eye 10 the centre about the
size Of . dime, Was attached TO log Of
wood, end placed ct 75 yards from whore
We proposed 70 stand. Capt. Scott then
took the rifle unchasged, with the powder.
flask At hand, and Tho balls snd patches in
his mouth, and he made the three shots of
hand in one minute and % seconds.
then myself went to the target, and found
one round hole directly through the centre
Of the bulls eye. was surprised ct the
precision Of the shot, but observed to the
Captain that the other two had entirely
missed the target. He shook bis head and
called for an axe, when he split the bog, and
found the three balls in one mass, I'll hav-
ing passed through the same round apert-
ure directly in the centre Of the card.
Ats very early day. but few years after
the close Of the war Of 1914, he was attach
ed to the expedition under the command Of
Gen. Atkinson, which assembled the Missouri
river, and established . military post st
Council Bluffs, which At that time was very
(ar beyond the esmetest bor1ee settlements.
The var had not improved the mora.s Of
the army, and It's effects were stijl seen
.mong tho of!lesrs. many Of whom we're I'd
dicssd to cards and liquos. and nan Who
did not participate in these dieGpated pss.
times was considered ~ wanting in that
spirit Of social congsuiahty which, ascosi>
ng 10 their code. was indispensable to an
officer.
C.pt: Scott bed never 10 his lifs drank .
glass Of ardent spirits, played . game Of
cards, or used tobacco in any form lie was
liberal in his iotescousAe with his brother
Do1cers, but wae exesedIAoly paseimonious
. bic own psgDoaA e1peaooo, enot GOOD
ARE Of h,s oeuey. This vas not 10 accord
Nth the vieWo d the officers arouod hin, 4
Ind they seen gave vent to their feelings bv
petty slighss aad snnoyancss. and BY
gradual Withdrawal from HE society. This
3nally culminated BY I'll the o0cers. With
tree excspsine. p1asine hin h covcaty.
as submitted y their unjust persecution
IN insults ~ long q psss,bls, but q length
{ came 70 such pass that ~ oould endUrc
: % loDger, and b took sounssl, With biz
hree friends - to The course be should
'srsue. They were unanimous 10 the opio i
on that thsr' were but two alternatives In
o hs0; 80 wasl throw uptiDs commits.
hoo and leave ~ oevice & OF. aud The
'ther Vas to challenge the firot man who
lhould insult him. He determined to sooOt
he latter courss.
The eaRcsrs were 5000 apprissd Of wbet
had been decided upsn, and q Can't Scotf
sas . much better pistol shot than ant of
hem. tAsy did not EEL diapossd to risk an
encounter against such odds.
One Of bis friends, however. who vas
hen stationed u saother post, was cele>
mated shot, aud had brought down his an
agonist in several duels. They dispatched
messenger for him, and, on his arrival. he |
cok the first opportunity to insult Capt. |
5cOet ct the mess hbls, o6d . challenge i'm. |
nediately ensusd. The preliminasies were
'srsnged in due form, and the parties cane
,pon the ground. In giving me the history |
4 this affair, Capt. Scook sai1 yha1 40 I'D \
'lWays opposed dueliae from psinelHls. ond |
70 would not have belIsvsd TIT 9 cold. |
,ndsr any circumstance, hsve bsso 1r6Aoi
nto one. but here be was and he acknowl- !
dgsd that b IVES very considerably agitat
- ond bel determined to throw away bic |
hot oy 0rine into The dir, when be heard
10 antagonist remark that b he'd . verv
- on hnad tn mnuine.
DhioA vas 70 loot I'D YauheA fhis.
- said. rou6ed Bis indignatisn 10 The high-
= pieees aad aada him pssCsstly cool and
objected. and be firmly resolved to punish
, fhsy sosi shek pss,lisss anl arvk csa.l
'cott received eight 6ssh vsuud, but Sc
aveeeary ~ 70 ~ ground shes thsough
he 1oace H - sa6fied to ~ t1op(Sfs
nd ultimately sscovsred. L 10 mentioned
Coetooo QirCnmG1nnm TIA sanuix,a -