The New York herald., 1878-12-31
GENERAL JACKsON's NERVE.

THE EXTRAORDINARY MANNER IN WHICH HE
PUT VETO ON swTNDLING ON TENNESSEE
RACE COURSE. nt
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec "a. 1873.
General Jackson was a most remarkable man. the
greatest the world has produced since the days or
Washington and Napoleon. l believe him equal TO
either He takes his rank with such men as Cesar.
Charles ", the Duke of Marlborough, Cromwell. tho
Duke OF Wellington. Bonaparte and our own WASH
ington Robert T.. Lee and StonewaI Jackson. Such
men are the product of ceptures. They are bright
and brilliant stars that take their place in history at
long periods OF time. and time rolls on and the
distant ages their brightness increases and their
glory is not diminished.
Many are the interesting scenes of Jackson's life
which his biographer. Parton. has omitted and not
brought to light. When a boy saw him scare and
put to flight twenty thousand men. The occasion
was this:-Greyhound, Kentucky horse. had
beaten Double Head, Tennessee horse, and they
were aftcrward matched for 5000 side to be run
on the Clover Bottom Course My uncle Josephus II.
Conn, carried on horseback behind him to sec the
race. He set me the cedar fence and told me to
remain till he returned. In those days not only co,ll-
ties but States in full feather, attended the race
course a great national amusement. and the same
is still kept up in France and England under the
fostering care of each government Ihere must nave
been twenty thousand persons present. never Wit
messed such fierce betting between the States.
Horses and negroes were put up. large pound was
filed with horses and negroes bet the result OF
this race The timo had now arrived for the cons
petitors to appear the track. heard some loud
talking and looking down the track, saw for the first
time, General Jackson, riding slowly gray horse.
with long pistols held in each hand. think they
as long as my arm and had mouth thas
ground squirrel could enter. In his wake
followed my uncle Conn, Stokeley, Doneson, Patton
Anderson and several others fierce us bulldogs.
As General Jackson led the van and approached tho
judges stand he was rapidly talking and sesticula
ting. AS he came by me he said that le had ire
fragabe proof that this was to DC Jockey race that
fore, which disqualified him for the race. and that
his rider to receive $500 to throw It on aod by
the eternal Cod he would shoot the first man who
brought his horse upon the track; that the peo-
ple's money should not be stolen from them
IN this sntt rolled ns fre% h moaf
and the fire from his eyes. have seen
and wolves put at bay. but he was certainly the
His appearance and manner struck terror into the
hearts 10000 people. II they felt as did every
one expected to be slain. He announced to the par
ties Il they wanted some lead in their hides rst
bring their horseon the track for 'by the eternal
lie would kill the first man that attempted to do So
There was response to this challenge, and, after
waiting some time and they failing to appear, Gen-
eral Jackson said i great mistake in the opinion
Of some, that he had acted hastily
ton He would give the scoundres fair trial. and
to that end he would constitute court
to investigate. this maier who would % ,latas hear
Thereupon he appointed sheriff TO Keep
order. and Ave judges to hear the case Proclama-
icnNy
to proceed business and for the parties TO appear
and defend themselves. No one appearing, General
Jackson introduced the witnesses proving the bribery
OF Greybounds rider, who was to receive $500 TO
throw off the race having received $3.50 in advance.
aud that Greyhound had been turned into the wheat
field the night before. He again called on the parties
to appear and contradict this. proof and vndlcate
their innocence. They failing to appear. General
jackson told the court that the proof closed and
for them to render their Judgment in the premises.
which, in a few moments, was done i'll ac4prdanca
with the facts proved still the fence form
ing one lins Of the large pound containing
the property bet the Each man
anxious to get back his property. General Jack
son waved his hand and announced the decision,
and said .'Now, gentlemen, go calmly and in order,
and each man take his own properly When the
word was given the people came with rush. 1t was
more terrible than an army with banners. They
came bullying against the fence and IN the struggle
to get over, they knocked it down for hundreds Of
yards. overturned and nearly trampled to
death. Each got his property, and thus the
fraudulent race was broken up by an exhibition OF
the most extraordinary courage He did that day
what it would have required 900 armed to have
effected All this effected by the presence and
tion OF one man, and without the drawing OF one
drop of blood certain knowledge that in one event
of blood would have flowed effected this great
aud worthy object.