Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-10-22
HARRY BASSETT.
His Defeat or the Jth by Nfon-
archisf.

I
goes there? Why. pardon, but you
should know without the asking
There is only one chesnut in the
world with such proud and lofty car
riagc, with such graceful, easy,
springy stride. and that chesnut
sports the blue and red of Mcdaniel
and is called Harry Blssett. The
strength of Hercules repOses in every
limb and joint. swells IN every cord
and muscle. and yet the horse dances
as airily as Z feather. skins the turf
as lightly as swallow. Win? OF
course he will win. Monarchist is a
good horse. but he is no match for
the conquerer of Longfellow. 1t is
sheer folly to run the bay and give
out the hope that ne is able to beat
the chesnut. Know you that the
odds are twelve to one. and that bids
60 beeing at that? Why. then, do
YOU wish to stay here and look tame
ly on while Monarchist cuts his own
throat and Bassett galiops home for
the sake Of the money? Oh! you
wish to see Harry Bassett in action.
Well, then, have your way We
must forego the champagne for lit
lie while. but we viii enjoy it all the
more when we do hear the cork pop
and the wine fz and rush. Hear
once again. however. that the strug-
gle will be no struggle at all 1t will
be the tamest Of tame affairs, for
the chesnut will win in center
Yes. Monarch st is handsome horse.
and he has as good a pedigree as any
in the Stud Book. but then he is not
4 Bassett, and it is waste of time
to di'cuss the question. When a
king throws down the glove, none but
a king should pick it up. You say
the bay looks well by the side of the
chesnut there at the score. You are
right. but mark the flag is down, and
they are off. Still the race is scarce
ly worth looking at. But, heavens
see how Monarchist is cutting out the
work, He has set the pace fast. and
evidently means to fellow Uncle
john Harper's maxim of running
from 'eend to eend'. He is leading
around the bluff, but this is only the
beginning. and Bassett is simply
playing with him. a word from Roe,
aud he will leave him like the flash
Of light leaves behind it the report Of
gun. You never saw finer motion
than you now see in the chesnut-
Mark we'll the contrast. While B3S
sett's limbs play like oiled machine
ry, Monafchist pluuges forward with
desperate, la5orcd effort Aye. sit
as lightly in the saddle as you can.
Hayward. and throw your weight up
ON his strong shoulders, for You need
TO nurse his strength The place is
too hot for you to hold it long. You
are riding your horse into exhaustion
and death. They thunder down the
home stretch, and now you see the
chesnut draw away from the bay as
they go under the s-ring. A mile in
40 is terrible on such heavy track,
but then it is sure to tell most upon
monarchiSt, since the mettie Oi BaS-
sett has been tried on sterner fields,
and he runs without jar or friction.
But the bay haunts the chcSnut like
an avenging spirit. As they come TO
the bluff. Mcdaniel shouts to Roe,
Go on, and keep out of the way
and, Obedient to the command. the
jocky presses the horse to stronger
effort. Aud yet Monarchist grimly
at the saddle girths. Clearly he
means to fight to the bitter end
They come down tie stretch this
time at slower pace; still the work
is hard and earnest. The two miles
are finished at 3 :37k. Now you will
see Bassett shake OF his antagonist.
Mark with what ease he docs it,
True, he does not lead much. 1t is
not necessary that he should do so.
He can widen the daylight between
himself and his competitor whenever
Roe shall give him his head. 1t is
only child play for him to beat the
bay. You don't believe 1t? Well,
then, wait and see. All 4! MOnarchist
is again struggling for the lead. The
dark blue is dangerous sometimes,
but this is not one of the days in
which it scatters dismay, You saw
Preakness beaten by Tubman few
minutes ago Pray tell how can San
ford hope to bring the blue and red
under cloud when it rides with tn
champion of the New World? The
horses are now lost from view around
the turn. Be patient. You will see
Harry BaSsett show his heels to Mon
archist when they again burst into
sight. Mistaken? Yes. Roe has
felt the bay, and he knows that lie
can leave him at his pleasure Like
a bird he will fly away from him in
the final run down the homestretch.
See them come around the turn
Now. great and glorious Bassett Is
your time TO show Of what hollow
stuff your preSumptuous rival is made.
But. God of Abraham! Great JehO-
vah the king falters! His stride
shortens. He is laboring. The ma
chinery clogs The tail goes in the
air. Roe does his best but the ches-
nut wavers. and the despised Mon
arch>t is making for the 'front.'
Must we believe our eyes? The
champion is beaten. The dark blue
is riding straight to victory. and
two thousand men have gone mad
with excitement. Even the stern
placid face OF Sanford is aglow with
emotion. The iron resolution finch
es not under crushing defeat, but it
melts away like snow beneath an
April sun with the prospect OF SO
great victory staring him IN the
face. Blanched cheeks are on all
sides, for the defeat Of the iavorite
carries disaster to the pocket. The
odds so recklessly laid aust be calmly