The New York herald., 1878-03-02

balance OF power ana could always name the success
Lui candidate Mr. Adkins took SIDES with no party
Ior whlie ne was always well posted on pubhc ques'
tons and discussed them with remarkable inte-
ns vote and nhuence for purely personal consdera.
tons-not that his vote had . price upon u. Tor In
known IN this country but he gave his influence In
favor OF the candidate (whig or democrau who held
tno most exalted position on tne old mans iist Of
personal friends, not caring farthng what the cam
didate's Views any subject might be. Such being
MS politics he was greatly sought after and peted by
aspirants for political preierment. Since the war the
old gentleman has rather lost the run OF poitics
New politicians, unknown TO him, have sprung up;
new questions that he does not comprehend have
arisen, ana, in SNORT, politics thoroughly
revoiutonized that he seems TO be perfectly at sea-
mas become disgusted aud scarcely ever goes 10 the
HORSE RACING AND CARD PLAYING.
In ante oeiium days horse racing was the iavorite
and principal recreation OF Virginia sporting men and
there was well arranged race course at or near al
most every country village and voting precinct In the
horses lost opportunity TO attend
He would always be very forward and loud IN express.
fercnt courses and was ever ready and anxious to
shack his Judgment with his last cent. He was 50
perect judge Of horsehesh that his winnings gencr.
ally largely exceeded his osses but should he attend
have "a bal run Of luck" aud NJ night lind
himself a loser he would a. once find some one WIN
sufficient bodness 10 sit with him a. draw poker Tor
fifty cents game and just as surely as the sun
next morning 1t would dud the old Mormon ''dush"
and ready Tor another horse race.
FOOT RACING.
Mr.. Adkins was never q lhnlly farmer. He owned
very valuable tract oi land and would add II
his children grew up and settled upon but he de-
voted 100 much attention to hunting, fishing and
horse racing TO mako himself successful tlier OF The
soil He, therefore, never made his farm produce
enough supply the wants OF his unprecedentiy
large and constantly increasing family and he had to
provide means to supply the deficiency. This he did
by gambling on the race course, card playing aud
hunting; but his ''best hold" was foot racing, upon
which he prlded himself not little. He was, be-
fore mentioned, very fleet. and being enaowed with
unhoard OF endurance and possessing the wind OF u
camel he never found successful competitor In
foot race, though he mot win hundreds OF men
VINO had The hardwood 10 try their mettie with him.
He would always bet as largely as his purse
would admit on ms 1901 races. put most
would be- gotten up by the sporting fraternity by pro-
viding purse Tor the successful competitor. The
this old in the year 1884 when ne was sixty-two
years OF age young man named Wesley Ballina,
twenty'iour years od was ms opponent anu the dis
from Collands, IN Pittsylvania county, to Hoppcn
Creek, IN Franklin county. Balng gave out ON The
sixth mile but Adkins ran the entire distance, making
the eleven miles according 10 his own statement I'm
one h0ir lacking Two minutes."
A graphic account oI this race was published at tho
time IN the american Turf Register, which says
Adkins made the eleven miles IN lorty-one minutes;
but the old gentleman AYERS that that account is not
regards the tme but that his statement OF
II Is true. A hundred dollar wager ana fifty dol.
lar was won by bin on this MS most celebrated
loot race.
In ali of his many foot races The longer tho distance
the surer no was ot winning relying more on his
wind and physical endurance than upon his heetness
oil loot he has been successful In more than i've
hunured Of these old time aud very popular
tests, and IS not oath now AT ninetysx years OF age
10 engage In his favorite sport
HUNTING.
Mr. Adkins In very early lie, like most boys OF his
day, became very iond Of fox nunung. aud can now
relate incidents OF some OF the most remarkable
cnases record lie always, up to lew years back,
kept line pack OF hounds and his house used 10 be
The place Of rendezvous OF all The hunters OF the
neighDorhood whenever q grand chase was on the
tapia The old man would never ride aiter Rey nard
had been jumped out would a. once tie ms morse ana
all Inc near GUS and bypaths OF the country would
much more OF tho chase than any OF his COM
pani0us who would remain on horseback, and he was
never known 10 fail to be with the dogs ut the
scatch IL is related OF HIM that while thus loot
he uld keep SO near the dogs that he invariably
overlook them when nigh fence to be climbed would
temporarily impede the progress OF The PACK, and he
mas often been seen throwing the dogs, Que 6y one
Inc fence in order that they might hurry on and
press the fox home
A VISIT TO
ln order that somewhat history OF this most
markabe old man should be presented TO the readers
0l tho HERALD representative was sent 10 visit him
ut home IN the mountains. The trip from Dan
Vile, Va, by buggy to the loot OF The turkey Cock
Mountain The work Of q whole dsy, the mouutaiu
roaas being in miserable condition on account Of
the recent heavy rains the more recent thawing
o the snow on the mountain sides but per.
severance aud nard arriving arrived IN the Adkinc
neighborhood by night and the next morning went 70
the OLD genteman's house about sunrise Al that
early hour failed 70 lind him. He ,pss out tue
mountain sido hunting wild turkeys}and ! was In.
would not return until about night l then made up
my mind to spend the day in Adkintown and await
the Old gentlemau's return.
The PArRIARcH's HOME.
The Adkins mansion and surroundings are not very
inviting. The house Is situated about equi. distant
from the loot OF the Turkey Cock M0uutain and
Piney Poak (which ~ spur oil tue smith Mountainl
IN valley that Just ~ that point Is destitute Of
any scenery calculated 10 relieve lis weird desoate
appearance. The house Is very old one, having been
built In the yoar 1903, apd Is odd shaped, queer and
oid-tmey. aud IT, together with ali the outhouscs
Af "A
idation. Tue house in which Owen Adkius was born
stood within 100 ieet OF where his present homo
only monuments left TO mark the SPOT On my arr
val al the Old patrarchs home the only occupant OF
the house was woman VINO represents the Old gen.
tlemans last and only surviving concubine She has
been with him nearly twenty-threo years During
the day visited maLy OF the ADKINS progeny, most
OF whom live within radius OF five SIX miles
around their venerable prosenitor's home, ana at
tempted 10 take down tho names Of his children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren there found,
without hail accomplishing my object About four
O'Clock +. N. returned 10 'the ola nlsn's' house,
and within a lew moments The seventh Mrs. Adkins
was heard 10 cxciaim, ''rbe old mau 10 coming"
ANOTHER RIP VAN wISkLE.
looked out ana thought saw Jefferson going to
town after the twenty years sleep IN ihe drama OF
Grip Van Wnkle" ''Od man Owen Adkins" ninety.
SIX years old, with long, nowiug snow white hair
away down his shoulders, with head erect and not
a tremor In his step, with Two Wild turkey gobolers
ISLAM that day. over his lett shoulder, and u long,
clean, heavy rifle IN his hand was coming down The
-
mountain, wncrc he had boon i0r- game? mol but 10
grauy an inherent love i3r sport and woodcraf that
will dIe IN his breast only when the soul OF Owen
Adkins mas left his BODY and taken ITS everlasting
hight To thai undiscovered country from whose bourne
no traveller returns.
Alter passing the usual salutations explained 10
him the object OF my the nature my busi-
ness. rne idea OF having his life puonsned pleased
him much, and he therefore conversed very freely
with lor several hours, and made me acquainted
OF the foregoing iacts rne OLD gen nLlcman's
recollection OF evont oil tue past few years rs very
"A m 4 ~ a 0c.n ran lnnr
than Ave Elk years ago no relates witu precision
and ulness OF detail that At opcc the
hearcr only ot tho truth oil what relating, but
also OF the TACT that he has rsnsrkabio memory.
HIS Personal APPEARASCE AND MANNER.
Old Adkins 10 just i've leet sewn inches height
he has broad shoulders and The widest and most
prom Incnt chest ever saw on any man. His eye
pale b. uc (paled probably by ageh set back unGer
slightly prorudug, but very broad and Intellectual
looking forehead. These, With . large Roman nose
small mouth ana thin, pao lips, present u face
that is very pleasant 10 look upon, and plainly shows
that IFS owner IS ana mas ever been good natured,
whole souled and generous man. IL also Indicates per-
severance. endurance energy aud an iDdomitabe will.
Lima xyaIl fnr oA