Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-07
General Jackson's Nerve.

Many are the interesting scenes Of
Jackson's life which his biographer,
Parton, has omitted and not brought
to light. When boy saw him scare
and put to fight twenty thousand men.
The occasion was this: Greyhound, Q
Kentucky horse, had beaten Double
Head, Tennessee horse and they were
sfterward matched for ST, 900 side, to
be run on the Glover Bottom Course.
My uncle, Josephus II. Conn, carried
me on horseback behind him to see
the race. He set me on the cedar
fence and told me to remain till he re-
turned. In those days not only coun-
ties, but States, in full feather, attend
ed the race-course as q 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
persons present. I never witnessed
such fierce betting between States.
Horses and negroes were put up. A
large pound was filed with horses and
negroes bet on the result of this race.
The time had now arrived for the COM
petitors to appear on the track. heard
some loud talking, and, looking down
the track, saw, for the first time, Cen
eral Jackson riding slowly on gray
horse, with long pistols held in each
hand. I think they were as long as my
arm, and had q mouth that a ground
squirrel could enter. In his wake fol-
lowed my uncle Conn, Stokeley ,Donel-
son, Patton Anderson and several 9TH
ers as fierce as bulldogs. As General
Jackson led the van and approached the
judges stand he was rapidly talking
and gesticuiating. As he came by me
he said that he had irrefragable proof
that this was to be 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 off, 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 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 that I had ever seen. His ap-
pearance and manner struck terror into
the hearts of 10000 people. If they
felt as I did, every one expected to be
slain. He announced to the parties If
they wanted some lead in their hides to
first bring their horses on the track,
for "by the eternal" he would kill the
first man that attempted to do 30.
There was no response to this chal-
lenge, and, after waiting some time and
they failing to appear, General Jackson
said il was great mistake in the opin-
ion Of some, that he had acted hastily,
without consideration. He would give
the scoundrels fair trial, and to that
end he would constitute court to in
vestigate this matter, who would hear
the proof and do justice to all parties.
Thereupon he appointed sheriff to
keep order and five judges to hear the
case. Proclamation was made that the
court was ready to proceed to business.
and for the parties to appear and de-
fend themselves. No one appearing,
General jackson introduced the wit
nesses, proving the bribery of Gray
hounds rider, who was to receive $500
to thow off the race, having received
$3.50 in advance, and 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 vindicate their innocence.
They failing to appear, General Jack
son told the court that the proof was
closed, and for them to render their
Judgment in the premises, which, in o
few moments, was done in accordance
with the facts proved. I was still on
the fence forming one line OF the large
pound containing the property bet on
the race. Each man was anxious to
get back his property. General Jack
son waved his hand and announced the
decision, and said: "Now, gentlemen,
90 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 ar
my with banners. They came bullying
against the fence, and, in the struggle
to get over, they knocked it down for
hundreds Of yards. was overturned
and nearly trampled to death. Each
man got his property. and thus the
fraudulent race was broken up by ai
exhibition of the most extraordinary
courage. he did that day what it
would have required 1900 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
obiect.-N. p. Herald Nashville Letter.