The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-12-07
NUMBER G..
A RACE WITH A BULL.

Some forty years ago the managers OF
race-course near Brownsville on the Mononga-
hela, published a notice of race, one mile
heat, on particular day. for purse of 500
-" free for anything with four legs and hair
on it," A man in the neighborhood, named
Hayes, had bull that he was in the habit of
riding to mill with bag of corn, and he was
determined to enter him for the race.
He said nothing about it to any one, but he
rode him around the track number of times,
on the several moonlight nights preceding, until
well, and would keep the right course. He
rode with spurs, which the bull considered dis
agreeable; so much so that he always beloved
when they were applied to his tanks.
On the morning of the race Hayes came
riding upon the ground on horseback-on his
bull Instead of a saddle, he had dry ox-hide,
the head part of which, the horns still on, he
had placed on the bulls rump. He carried
short tin horn in his hand. He road to the
Judges stand and offered to enter his bull for
the race, but the owners of the horses objected.
Hayes appealed to the terms of the notice.
insisted that his bull had four legs and hair on
it, and that he had a right to enter him.
After a good deal of swearing, the Judges
declared themselves compelled to decide that
the bull had the right to run, and was entered
accordingly. When the time for the starting
arrived, the bull and the horses took their
places. The horse-races were out OF humor at
being bothered with a bull, and at the bur-
lesque which they supposed was intended, but
thought 1t would be over as soon as the horses
started.
When the signal was given they did start.
Hayes gave blast of his horn and sunk his
spurs into the sides of his bull, which bounded
off with terrible bawl at no trif1lng speed,
the dried ox-hide tapping up and down and
rattling at every jump. making combination
of sounds that had never before been heard OH
a race-course The horses all flew the track,
every one seeming 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 to save
Their distance The purse was given to Hayes
A general row ensued, but the fun of the
thing put the crowd on the side of the bull
The horsemen contended that they had been
swindled out of their purse, and had 1T not
been for Hayes horn and ox-hide, which he
ought not to have been allowed to bring on the
ground. the thing would not have turned out
as it did Upon this Hayes told them that his
bull could beat their horses anyhow, and if
they would put one hundred dollars againstthe
purse he had won, he would take off the OK
hide and leave the tin horn, and run a 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 again. Hayes
give the bull another touch of the spurs, and
then the bull gave tremendous below. The
horses remembering the dreadful sound, thought
all the rest was coming as before. Away they
went again in spite of the exertions of their
riders, while Hayes galloped his bull around
the track and won the money.