Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-19


lssce between fonng Girls % =
Western fs'r-A hider on 2 hare'
back steed- ses lg. % slel go y
From tho Correspsndencs Of the n. x. World
DECArUR, ILL, October 1.-The most
exciting horse race that ever took place
in America, and probably in the world,
came of very unexpectedly on the
grounds of the Illinois State Fair Asso-
citation, at Decatur. last week. Four
premiums of $50, $40, $50 and $40 each,
had been offered for the best lady's eques'
| trianism, and at 4 O'clock twelve ladies
putin an appearance, ell mounted on ca-
parisoned aud mettled steeds. The ex-
hibition commenced by the ladies riding
to and fro in front of the grand stand dis.
playing their skill and management, Of
the horse before Q delighted audience
numbering nearly thirty thousand per-
sons. Q As each displayed some peculiar
skill she received rounds OF applause and
this urged and nerved the others to
greater exertion. One young lady. Miss
Sallie Wilkinson. OF 1Nyantic, Macon
county ILL.,, not content with having
already received more applause than any
other, dismounted and bad her saddle re-
moved, and mounted the bare back OF
her black horse from the ground with the
ease of q circus rider The cheers OF
the multitude had already produced its
effect upon the riders, causing an aban-
don and recklessness peculiar to the sex
under such circumstances. While the
confusion and excitement was at Its
apex, one OF the track marshals, with
more lungs than discretion, shouted out
at the top of his voice: Go clear
around the track 60 all OF you,
60 gol 10 an instant every norse was
under full run, the ladies' were applying
the whip, and the air was flled with hats,
ribbons, laces, and "hxins which have
no place on race track. On they dashed,
four leading the GROVE, and running as
near neck and neck as could be. at
the start the black steed, with the MAID OF
Nyantic on bis bare back, was about one
hundred yards in the rear, as no such
thing ss Q race was contemplated but
she leaned forward like regular Jockey,
gave him the whip, and soon passed the
rear horses, and tnen tne Mode group,
and was IN the act OF taking me lead wnen
her horse stumbled ana feil upon +tne
grass at the edge OF the track. she was
up before him, however, and had hold OF
mis- bride, whes !os: Q. t'e mes sprang
over the guard and held him while she
again mounted from the ground: Inc
Nyantic girl sgaip applied the whip Wig
orously, and was soon sssrIng the racers
in front. Coming in on the last quarter
q gray horse had the lead oy length, ana
now every whip was in full play every
horse, with heightened neck, straining
every nerve for the lead As the horses
were nearing the grand stand the history
Of the track fails to.furnish parallel to
the intense feeling and excitement,
heightened and intensified by the frail-
ness and recklessness OF these daring
lady riders, Ihey cut tne ar
with such swiftness that thslr long
skirts Aosted over the backs OF the horses.
For some distance now no change had
taken place, each doing her level best,
except with the Nysntic maid, on che
bareback steed, who quickly took sdvan-
tage of the clear space on the pole side,
and rapidly passing one after another
came under tbs string neck and neck
with the third horse, and only alesgth OF
the lead. IL tafanoemoDium nhu orohen