Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1867-02-28
NUMBER Al

like the roar af a cavalry charge. MI
@. being a man of great muscular power
made several efforts to stop the headlon
career of his stalwart charger, but th
more he pulled the faster he ran; he fnal
ly hallowcd to Mr.. r. to stop -s'stop
that be conldn't stanI. it" but to all o
| his entrcaties he turned deaf car, anC
the only response he could get would bt
the bugle blast of Juba, far in the van
mounted on the mare Trifc, who hsN
through the air like an arrow. Every
time Juba blowed the trumpet the black
stud ran faster and faster, until the cor
pulent Georgian felt that all was lost.
But on they sped, until nearing the fiat
lands Of the Staunton river, when the cry
of hounds was heard. And to the left
Mr.. Crawford cast his eye, behcld an i'm
mense pack streaming around the hills
toward the Christmas riders. On came
the bounds, and on went the horsemcn.
Soon the Staunton river came in full view,
which for the moment, prou ised great
relief to Mr.. Crawford, of Georgia. Con-
sequcntly he watched Juba and the mare.
considerably in the advance, as they ncarcd
the turbid and foaming river. But as Juba
and the mare struck the river bank, to
the great modification and disgust OF Mr.
Crawford. in they went; then followed
Mr.. Randolph on the met;led bay stallion;
and finally, Mr.. Crawford felt that all hope
was now gone. and with secret reser-
walton to make one more desperate effort
to check the wild career of his mighty
charger, he pulled with all the power of a
giant; but it was not of the slightest con-
sequence, for the first plunge that the
black stud made he was in swimming
BY this time Mr.. Randolph's full pack
of hounds had caught the party, and were
swimming and -yelping as though they
were within fifty yards of wounded stag
or real fox. The current of the river;was
rapid, and tue water intensely cold and
while swimming and drifting TO the other
bank, the thought and hope struck Mr..
Crawford that the ride for the balance of
their trip would be at their leisure. Hence
it was that Mr.. Crawford watched again,
with no little anxiety, Juha and the mare,
still nearing the opposite bank, when, to
his horror, as the mare assembled tho bank.
Juba again brought blastor two on his
trumpet the mare switched the water
from her faxen tail, AMI on she went
Mr. Randolph second, and Mr.. G. and
the black stud third. The hounds hay ing
an even start from the south side of the
river, kept up with the Christmas party,
and in full cry as though they were on the
warmest trail. Soon second pack Joined
the first pack. and so on for every few.
miles new pack would join the chorus,
and on they went. Finally Juba and the
mare quit the road and Struck out through
the fields, f,ll"wed by Mr.. r. nnd MIR.
G, across gullies, bitches, over fences,
through briars, ponds, creeks, and every
thing that obstructed straight line.
At last relief came, for the party reach
ed Col. BarksdaIe's about one o'clock.
Mr.. G. was greatly exhausted, and his
pants having slipped above his knees, his
legs were scratched by the briars, bruised
by fence rails and saplngs, and cbafcd no
little by the stirrup feathers. The premises
were thrnnged with half dozen packs of
hounds that had joined the Christmas party
on the rouse. The distinguished guests
were received with much satisfaction and
great consideration. The old-fashioned
Virginia gentry were present in full force.
The first thing that greeted the visitors
on their entrance into the mansion, after
the usual solutions and introductions was
an immense silver bowl full to overaowing
with hot apple toddy. While Mr.. Craw-
ford enjoyed the warm, toldy, yet he was
suffering greatly from the terrible morning
ride; still, neither Mr. Randolph nor
any of the party made any allusion to it,
Dinner being announced, Mr.. Crawford
found muc, difficulty in getting to the
table, still there was no allusion made to
the morning ride After being seated
around the table for at least five hours,
and having eat and drank through a truly
Christmas course, and undergoing the
excitement of the rich food and viands,
discussions and speech making, in addition
to bis corporeal suffering from the ride,
suddenly the distinguished Georgian wish
cd to be excused. He informed Col.
Barkesdale that he would be glad to retire
But little sleeping was done, as the phan-
tom oftho black stud constantly aroused
the, great Georgian, who awoke himself
more than once by ballooing, "wo-wo,
sir!' and holding to the bed post. About
eleven o'clock on tho next day. Mr.. r,
went to the! room Of his friend, and said:
Crawford. if you go to Georgia next
winter. call and see me; good bye, old
fellow No allusion was made to. the
ride. a... (.
Senator Crawford never got away from
Col. Barksdale's for abaut six weeks
From Colonel Barksdale's to Mr.. Ran.
dolph's was forty-two miles. Such was
an old Virginia sleeplechass, more than
fifty years ago r,o.