Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-08-19

less nephew Of mine who had fallen in
love with Katie OF course forgave the
deception hong ago, as it saved me from u
terrible mistake.
l am much happier, probably, than If
had married the young girl whose heart
belonged to another. ! am not certain,
however, that she did not accept Charlie
from pique at my rejection. Amy way,
be has made her good husband.
A Remarkable Old-Time California
! Race.
| II is a saving that blood is sure to tell -
Doubtless such is the fact in most in
stances, but il is not without its excep-
tons, which the following incident will
illustrate: Twenty odd years ago the
picos of Los Angeles owned famous
gelding of native breed which was un-
equaled for bottom, and with which they
had frequently beaten Jose Sepulveda,
winning from him considerable sums of
money and herds of stock. The old man
was not one to quietly brook defeat, but,
on the contrary, he determined TO get even
if possible, and kept the matter constantly
in mind. Coming up from the south with
herd of cattle his attention was attracted
to an neutrality-suspicious. mare owned
by the ferryman. The old mans eye gilt
run ~ "Swift as the wind'' "Could
she run long distanceg" Surely; she
was a thoroughbred English race-horse. 7"
Where did she come from:'' Aus
! tralia, and her name was the Black
Swan" "Did they think she could run
| three leagues ~ If any other horse
could" This brief colloquy sums up the
old mans queries and the answers he got
He determined TO carry the mare to Los
Angeles and challenge his racing enemies.
| Tom Mott, now of Los Angeles, was one
\ of the owners of the Swan and made the
| bargain. Don Jose was TO pay expenses
and put up the racing money, whilst the
owners OF the mare were TO give him the
services of the mare and of themselves,
and have an interest. So great was
the event that they sold out their
ferry, and with the mare travelled to Los
| Angeles The crafty old fellow went
ahead, however, and made the race before
the handsome animal should come. The
race was to be run ON the San Pedro road,
| the horses to start and run four miles in
the direction of Los Angeles, then turn a
post and run back to the point of begin
ming. They were TO run at the end OF
three months, play or pay, and they were
! TO run for $4,000 in coin and / 900 head
of horned cattle, to be corraled on the
ground at the time of the race. 1t should
| be understood that no forfeit was requisite
| to such cases, as the word of a California
gentleman was as good as his bond. The
Swan arrived and went into heavy train
| ing, and all the skill known to modern
turfmen was exhausted to get her +" in con-
dition" With her opponent things were
somewhat different, though he was exer-
cised and kept in stable; yet he got
rather rough treatment, as, on the day be-
fore the race, he was whipped all the way
over the course at iull speed and then car.
ried TO the Zanja, or water-ditch, and
drenched with cold water. This, the
American horsemen thought, would surely
settle the thing and they advised their
friends more than ever TO bet. The race
day brought out the population from far
and near The grandees of Santa Barba-
ra, San Luis, and even from Monterey,
came, whilst all San Diego was there. The
Calfornians had early taken sides with
| " arrayed for the Swan. The horse was
to be ridden Californiafashion, that is, the
rider was strapped on the animals bare
back and his owners and hackers were
to be permitted to ride beside and
whip him. The mare came out
| equipped according TO the Amer
| lean fashion, light racing-saddle and
spurs and light koy-weights were not
| taken in account. Mott says that he OBJ
served that tire horse was ridden with
hackamor, or halter, and he felt then more
| than sure of the race, as the least pressure
would obstruct free breathing IL was
| agreed in the American party that at the
| turning point the Swan should be checked,
| her mouth sponged out and moment Civ
en- for breathing, supposing always that
she would be far enough ahead. She was
to be kept under steady pull and spared
| from steel and lash. The custom amongst
the Californians when they offer to bet
| with you is to hand you the sum proposed
| to be bet If at the close of the race you
have won keep the money, but If, on the
contrary, you have lost you yturn double
the amount given you. The crowd, as we
have said, was immense and the excite
ment intense. A German friend Of the
writer said that in few moments he had
his buggy almost laden with coin, so eager
and prompt were the Californians to bet.
In fact he had staked nearly his whole for
tune, which was considerable. This oc.
CURED with all who went out and who bet,
which left the Calfornians masters of the
situation as far AS betting was concerned.
At length the horses started amid the yells
Of thousands and were followed by hun.
dreds of mounted cavaliers. The mare
led off, and under a strong pull com
menced to open gap, notwithstand.
ing the conveys Of the horse whipped
him numerically At the end Of the
third mile the mare had opened
gap Of 100 yards, but when she came 10
the turning point the horse was so eyi.
IDENTIFY holding his own, If not gaining,
that Mott seized her by the bit, and, jerk
ing her around the post, ordered the rider
To give her the steel and let her go.
Though she sprang forward like thun.
derbolt, yet the game horse commenced
gradually to close the gap, and from there
home the struggle was terrible TO behold.
With distended nostrils and painting sides
the two gallant coursers Numbered for.
ward. But condition. was too much
for the wild California horse, for his rival
passed the goal four or five lengths ahead,
but bleeding at the TANKS from the spur,
and so weak and exhausted that she had
10 be supported as she was " cooled of. +"