The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-09
General JaeksOn,E Nerve.

| Many are the interesting scenes of
JacksOn's life which his bingrapher,
Parton, has omitted and not brought
to light. When poy saw HIM scare
aud put to flight twenty thousand
men. The occasion was this: Grey
| hound, a Kentucky horse, had beaten
Double Head, a Tennessee morse, and
they were afterwards matched for
$4,000 a side, to be run on the Glover
Bottom course. My uncle, Josephus
IL. Conn, carried me on horseback be-
hind him to see the race. He set me
on the cedar fence and told me to
remain until he returned. In those
days not only counties but States, in
full feather, attended the race-course
as a great national Rmusement, and
the same is still kept up in France and
England under the fostering care of
each government. There must
have been twenty-thousand persons
present. / never witnessed such fierce
betting between the States. Horses
and negroes were put up. 4 large
pound was filled with horses and ne
groes bet on the result of this race.
The time had now arrived for the COM
petitors to appear on the track. !
heard some lond talking, and, looking
down the track, saw, for the first time,
General Jackson riding slowly on a
gray horse, with long pistols held in
each hand. think they we're IA long
as my arm, and had mouth that a
ground squirrel could enter. In his
wake followed my uncle Conn, Stoke
ley, DODelson, Patton, Anderson and
several others as fierce as bull-IbSF AS
General Jackson led the van az 4 APP
preached the judges stand he was
rapidly talking and gesticulating. As
he came by me he said that he had IT.
refragable proof that this was to he a
jockey race, that Greyhound was seen
in the wheat field the night before,
which disqualified him for the race, and
that his rider was to receive $500 to
throw it of, and ''by the eternal Cod
he would shoot the first man who
brought his horse upon the track; that
the peoples money should not be sto-
len from them IN this manner. lie
talked necessarily, 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 ferocious looking animal / had
ever seen. His appearance and man.
ner struck terror to the hearts of
20, 600 people. II they felt as did,
every one expected 10 be slain. He
announced to the parties il they want
ed some lead IN their hides to frat
bring their horses on the track, for
"by the eternal he would kill the first
man that attempted 10 do so. There
was no response 10 this challenge. and,
after waiting some time and they fail
iDg 10 appear, General Jackson said it
was a great mistake in the opinion Of
some, that he had acted hastily.
without consideration. tie would
give the scoundrels far irial, aud tor
that end he would constitute r eourt
TO investigate this mstier, who would
hear the prosf and do Justice 10 ALI
parties. Thereupon he appointed a |
sheriff to keep order and five Judges 20
herr the case. Proclamation was made |
that the court was open and ws- ready |
TO proceed To business, ara feT toe par /
ties TO appear and defend themselves.
No one appearing, Gen. J4cksOn in
troduced the witnesses, proving the
bribery OF Greyhound's rider, who was
10 receive $500 70 throw of the race,
having received $3.50 in advance. ard
that Greyhound hEd been tnrnsd into
the wheat field the night bsfcfe. He
sgein called on the p-TSiss 70 appear
and contradict uiis proof and vim
dictate their Innocence. They failing
20 appear. Gen. Jackson told the court
that the proof WAS elosed, and for them
70 render their judgment in the prem
Ises, which, in few moments, was
done 10 accordance with the facts
proved. was stu on the fence form
ing one Inc OF tie hrge pound con-
tanning tie pf.peny Dstson tie raee.