Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-02
A STORY OF GENERAL JACKSON.
From the Washington Republican.


From the Washington Republican.
Many are the interesting scenes of Jackson S
life which his biographer, Parton, has Omitted
aud not brought to light. When boy, said
Judge j. &. Gould, 10 recent address, saw
him scare and put to flight twenty thousand
men. The occasion was this: Grey Hound, a
Kentucky horse, had beaten Double Head, d
Tennessee horse, aud they were afterwards
matched for SIS 900 side, to be run on the
Glover Bottom course My uncle, Josephus H.
Coon, carried me on horseback behind him to
see the race. He sat me on the cedar fence and
told me to remain uutil he returned There
must have been twenty thousand persons pres
ent. never witnessed such fierce betting be-
tween States Money aud negroes we're put up,
A large pound was filled with horses and re-
groes wagered on the result OF the race. The
time had DOW arrived for the competitors to ap-
pear on the track heard some loud talking
and looked down the track, and saw for the
first time General Jackson riding slowly on a
gray horse, with long pistols held 10 each haud
| think they were as long as my arm, and had
mouth that ground squirrel could enter:
lu his wake followed my uncle Coon, StokeIy
Douelson, Patton Anderson, aud several others
ss fierce as bull dogs. AS General Jackson led
they and approached the judges stand he was
rapidly talkisg and gesticulating. As he came
by me, he said he had irrefragabe proof that
this was to be a jockey race: that Grey Houod
wasscen in the wheat field the night before which
disqualified him for the race, and bis rider was
to receive FIVE hundred dollars to throw it of,
and by the eternal God he would shoot the
first man who brought his horse upon the
track; the peoples money should not be stolen
from them in this manner. He talked lnces-
sanity, while the spittie rolled from his mouth
and the fire from bis eye.
I have seen bears and wolves put at bay, but
he was certainly the most feroclous looking
animal had ever seen. His appearance aud
manner struck terror to the hearts of twenty
thousand people. Ii they felt as did, every
one expected to be slaio. He announced 10
the parties if they wished some lead IN their
hides just bring their horses on the track, tor
by the Eternal, be would kill the first man who
offered to do 30.
There was no response to this challenge, aud
after waiting some time, aud they failing to ap-
pear General Jackson said it was great mis-
take in the opinion of some that be acted hast
lily and without consideration.
He would give the scoupdrels fair trial,
and to that end he would constitute court
to Investigate this matter, who would hear
the proof and do justice to all parties. There
upon he appointed sheriff to keep order,
and FIVE judges to hear the case. Proclama-
ton was made that the court was open and
was ready to proceed to business, aud tor
the parties to appear and defend them
selves. Not appearing, General jackson intro
duced the witness, proving the bribery OF Grey
Hounds rider, who was to receive i've hun
dred dollars to throw of the race, having re-
ceived two hundred and fifty dollars in ad-
vance, aud that Grey Hound had been turned
into the wheat field the night before. He again
called on the parties to appear and counteract
this proof and show their innocence. They fail
ing to appaar, Gen. Jackson told the Court
that the proof was closed, and Tor them to rem
der their judgment in the premises, which 10
few moments was done in accordance with the
facts proved.
was still ou the fence forming one line of
the large pound containing the property wager
ed on the race. Each man was anxious to get
back his property. General jackson waved
his hand and announced the decision, and said,
Now, gentlemen, 60 calmly, and 10 order, r,and
each take his own property" When the word
was given, the people came with rush. 1t
was more terrible than an army with banners.
They came bulging against the fence, and IL
the struggle to get over they knocked it down
Tor hundreds of yards. | was overturned and
was nearly trampled to death. Each mao got
his property, aud thus the fraudulent race was
broken up BY an exhibition Of the most extra.
ordinary courage He did that day what it
would have required two thousand armed men
TO have effected. All this was effected by the
presence and action of one man, and without
the drawing of one drop of blood.
CROSSED IN LOVE. The life of Mary Ham,
Of Rye, n. H., who recently died at the age
OF nlnety-two, was romantic and Interesting, 10
the highest degree, for the nineteen years lm-
mediately preceding her death she lived the
life of hermit in lonely hut, to which wat
er and the broom were strangers during all
her residence in it, and which was so filthy that
an ordinary person could hardly bear 10 be 10
it for a moment Here she ate and slept
aud got drunk, and was never glad to see CON-
pany.
The only thing that in any measure relieved
this hovel of its dreariness was package OF
wclI.worn love letters, and these explained her
eccentric life. She was very much admired
when twenty years old, and was very ccquettlsh
withal; but she finally fell in love with one
Charles Waldron, and their loye-letters we're Of
the warmest sort. He tired of her 6ckleness.
however, and dismissed her. This broke her
heart; but to make it appear that she cared
nothing for it, she engaged herself to bril-
Ha0C young sCdpeSIdce DaWeO OOnl r1au,
who had been expelled from Dartmouth Col
lege, and, being himself disappointed in love,
married her in fit of reckessuess.
He died nineteen years ago, and ever after
she lived her strange life. There have been
many interesting stories told about her, one
OF which was that she had a large sum Of mon-
ey concealed 10 her but, but a search after
death dsproved this. The letters, however
showed that her love affair had gone SO far
that her wedding outfit had been prepared and
the day appointed, when the thunderbolt came.
The circumstances of her last sickness led to
the suspicion that she had been poisoned.
She was found with bottle by her side,
lying 90 bed in the EXTREMIST agony; but
rum and mental suffering probably account for
all. The town authorities determined to clean
out her den, few days before her death, but
they were obliged to tear her from it, scream
lup and si rDppiino ,pd ho pprifIaatIon rn0ulr-