Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-01-18

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General Wade Hampton. of South
Carolina, a gelding called Omar, bring
} ing him to TENNESSEE After recruit
ing his horse at Captain AIexander's.
near Hartsville, he went to Nashville
and offered Gen. jackson match for
81 900 side, three mile heats. accord
ing to rule This the General declined
offering instead the same terms as to
weight as in the former race, in which
he was allowed two years advantage !;
proposition which, of course, was
not accepted ~
Unable to get race in Tennessee,
Uncle Berry took his horse to Natchez,
Mississippi, travelling through the
swamps of the Chickasaw and Choctaw
nations, and entered him in a stake,
three mile heats, $500 entrance; but
his bad luck pursued him, and just
before the race his horse snagged his
foot, and he paid forfeit He remain
ed near Natchez twelve months, and
nursed his horse as no other man could
have done, until he was perfectly re-
stored to health, and in condition for
the approaching fall races of 1865
Writing to Colonel George Elliott, he
urged him to come to Natchez and
bring fifteen or twenty horses to bet
on Omar, and also TO bring Monkey
Simon to-ride him, which Colonel Ell
lott did.
Simon's appearance on the field
alarmed the trainer of the other horse,
who had known him in South Caro-
lima, and suspecting that Omar was a
bite, he paid forfeit.
As Simon was distinguished char
acter and made conspicuous figure on
the turf of Tennessee for many years,
it may be well to give some account of
him. His sobriquet of Monkey ST.
mon" conveys a forcible idea of his
appearance. He was a native African
and was brought with his parents when
quite young to South Carolina, before /
the prohibition of the slave trade took
effect. In height he was four feet six
inches and weighed one hundred !
pounds. He was hunch back with |
very short body and remarkably long
arms and legs. His, color and hair
were African, but his features were |
not. He had long head and face, a
high and delicate nose, narrow but 4
prominent forehead, and mouth in /
dicative of humor and frmness. 1t /
was rumored that Simon was Prince 1
in his native country | asked Uncle
Berry the other day if he thought it
was true. He replied, Il don't know
they said so, and if the Princes there
had more sense than the rest, he
must have been one of 'em, for he was
the smartest negro | ever saw" Col.
Elliott, speaking of Simon after his
death, said he was the coolest, bravest,
wisest rider he ever saw mount horse,
in which opinion Uncle Berry fully
concurs.
Simon was an inimitable banjo play
er and improvised his songs, making
humorous hits at everybody; even
Gen. jackson did not escape him. In
deed, no man was his superior in rep
aftee.
On one occasion Colonel Elliott and
James jackson, with view to a match
race for 81 ,089 side, dash of two
miles, on Paddy Cary against Colonel
Steps mare, consented to lend him
Simon to ride the mare.
Col. Step not only gave Simon 800.
in the race, but stimulated his pride
BY saying they thought they could win
races without him, whereas he knew
their success was owing to Simon's
riding. Somewhat offended at the
idea of being lent out, and by no means
Indifferent to the money, Simon re-
solved to win the race if possible; and
nodding his head said, '.I'll show EN-"
The mare had the speed of Paddy and
took the track, and Simon by his con-
summate skill and by intimidating
the other rider, managed to run him
far out on the turns while he rested
his mare for brush on the stretches
On reaching the last turn Simon
found the mare pretty tired and Paddy,
a game four miller, locked with her,
and he boldly swung out so far as to
leave Paddy in the fence corner. The ,
boy came up and attempted to pass on
the inside, but Simon headed him of,
and growled at him all the way down /
the quarter stretch, beating him out
by a'neck. Simon could come within
a hairs breadth of foul riding and yet
escape the penalty. Col Elliott lost
his temper, which he rarely did, and
abused Simon, saying mot satisfied
with making Paddy run forty feet fur
ther than the mare on every turn, he
must ride foul all the way down the
quarter stretch.
The Colonel repeated these charges
until at length Simon answered him
with We'll, Col. Elliott, Gas he always
called him, I've won many a race that
way for you, and it is the first time |
ever heard you object toit. "-RaraE Sm