The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-01-09
General Jackson's Nerve.

General Jackson's Nerve.
THE EXTRAORDINARY MANNER IN WHICH
! HE PUT A VETO ON sWfNDLINtf ON "A
t RAcE-CoURsE.
/ Correspondence New York He raid
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. a. ls7s.-Gen-
era. Jackson was most remarkable man,
the greatest the world las produced since
the days Of Washington and Napoleon.
believe him equal to either. He takes his
rank with such men as Cesar, Charles ",
the Duke of Marlborough, Cromwell, the
Duke OF Wellington, Bonaparte, and our
| own Washington; Robert Z. Lee, and
| Stouewall jackson. Such men are the pro-
| duct of centuries. They are bright and bril-
| liant stars that take their place in history at
| long periods of time, and as time rolls on
and the distant ages come their brightness
increases and their glory is not diminished.
Many are the interesting scenes OF jack
| sons life Which his biographer fParton) has
| omitted and not brought to light. When
boy saw him scare and put to flight 2O,0Uj
men. The occasion was this: Greyhound.
Kentucky horse, had beaten Double-iIead,
Tennessee horse, and they were afterward
matched for $1,000 side, to be run on the
Clover. Bottom course. Ny uncle, Josephus
Fl. Conn, carried me on horseback behind
him to see the race. He set ne on the cedar
fence an9 told me to remain till lie returned.
In those days not only counties, but States,
in full feather, attended the raee-course as a
great national amusement, and the same is
still kept up in France and England under
the fostering care Of each Government.
There must have been twenty thousand per-
sons present. never witnessed such fierce
betting between the States. Horses and ne
groes we're put up. A large pound was fill
ed with horses and negroes bet on the result
Of this race. The time had now arrived for
the competitors to appear on the track. !
heard some loud talking. and looking down
the track, saw, for the first time, General
jackson, riding slowly on gray horse, with
long pistols held in each hand. think they
were as long as my arm and had mouth
that ground-squirrel could enter. In his
wake followed my uncle Conn, Stokeley,
Donelson, Patton Anderson, and several
others as fierce as bulldogs. As General
Jackson led the van and approached the
judges stand he was rapidly talking and
gesticnlating. As he came by me he said !
that he had irrefragable proof that this was to
be jockey race that Greyhound was seen
in the wheat-feld the night before, which dis
qualified him for the race, and that his rider
was to receive $500 to THROW it of, and ''by
the eternal God'' he would shoot the first
man who brought his horse upon the track
that the peoples money should not be stolen
from them in this manner. He talked in
cessantly, while the spittle rolled from his
mouth and the fire from his eyes. have
seen bears and wolves put at bay, but he was
certainly the most feroeious looking ANNA
that had ever seen. His appearance and
manner struck terror into the hearts OF co.
900 people. II they felt as did every one
expected to be slain. Hc announced to the
parties if they wanted some lead in their
hides to first bring their horses on the track,
for s'by the eternal" he wonld kill the first
man that attempted to do so. There was
no response to this challenge, and, after
waiting some time and theyiwere failing to
appear, General Jackson said il was great
mistake, in the opinion Of spme that he lqad
acted hastily, without consideration. He
would give the scoundrels a fair trial, and to
that end he would constitute o court to in
vestigatc the matter, who would hear the
proof and do justice to all parties. There
upon he appointed a 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, and for the
parties to appear and defend themselves.
No one appearing, General Jackson intro
duced the witnesses, proving the bribery of
Greyhound's rider, who was to receive $500
to throw off the race-Greyhound having
been turned into the wheat-feld the night
before. He again called on the parties to
appear and contradict this proof and yindi-
cate their Innocence. They failing to APP
pear, General Jackson told the court the
proof was closed, and for them to render
their Judgment in the premises, which In a
few moments was done in accordance with
the facts proved. was still or the fence
forming one line OF the large pound contain
ing the property bet on the race. Each
man was anxious to get back his property.
General Jackson waved his hand and an
nounced the decision, and said, Nov, gem
tlemen, 20 calmly and in order, and each
man take his own property When the
word was given the people came with rush.
It was more terrible than an amy with ban.
ners. They came bullying against the fence,
and in the struggle to get over they knock
ed it down for hundreds of yards. l was
overturned and nearly trampled to death.
Each man got his property, and the fraudu-
lent race was broken up by an exhibition OF
the most extraordinary 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. A certain knowledge that
| in one event streams of blood would have
| flowed effected this great and worthy object.
Points in Successful Failing.
| Not long ago, in a neighboring city, one Of
the bellies Of society accepted the matrimo
NAL proposition Of a worthy young gentle
man, and was asked by him to name the
happy day. Shin consulted her parents,
who had previously given their consent to
the match, and a family council was held.
The decision reached was curious as well
as characteristic Of our country ard our age
The father and mother agreed that the
social position Of their daughter required
grand wedding. The father, however
announced that misfortune in business hat
brought him to the verge of bankruptcy
that he was In fact preparing to make al