Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-02-15
OLD HICKORY'S NERVE.

light. When Toy | saw him scare and
put to flight twenty thousand men. The
occasion was this: " Greyhound" n
Kentucky horse, had beaten double
Head" n Tennessee horse, and they were
afterward matched for S5, 900 a side to be
run on the Clover Bottom Course. My
uncle, Josephus H. Conn, carried me on
horseback behind him to see the race
He set me ON the cedar fence and tod
me to remain until he returned. In those
days not only counties, but States, in full
feather, attended the race course of
great national amusement, and the same
is still kept up in France and England
under the fostering care of each Govern
ment. There must have been twenty
thousand persons present. | never wit
messed such fierce betting between the
States. Horses and negroes were put up.
A large pound was filled with horses and
negroes bet on the result of this race.
The time has now arrived for She compet-
itors to appear on the track. / hoard
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 us long as my arm, and
had n mouth that a ground squirrel could
enter. In his wake followed my uncle
Conn, Stokely, Donelson, Patton, An
derson, and several others, as fierce as
bulldogs. AS General jackson led tho
van and approached the Judges stand,
he was rapidly talking and gesticulating
As he came by me, he said that he had
rrefragible proof that this was to be
jockey race that "GreyhouEd" was seen
in the wheat Held 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" ho would shoot
the first man who brought his horse upon
the track that the peoples money
should not be stolen from them in tha.
manner. He talked incessantly, 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
had ever seen. His appearance and man.
ner struck terror into the hearts OF
20 900 people. II they felt as | did, every
enc expected to be slain. He announced
to the parties that if they wanted somo
lead in their hides to first bring their
horses on the track, for "by tho Eternall"
he would kill the frat man who attempted
to do so. There was no response to this
challenge, and after waiting for some
time ard they falling to appear. General
jackson said it was Il great mistake in the
opinion of some that he had acted hastily,
without consideration. He would give
the scoundrels II fair trial, and 10 that end
he would constitute II court to investigate
this matter, who would hear the proofand
do justice TO all parties. Thereupon he
appointed Il Sheriff to keep order and five
judges to hear the case. Proclamation
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 in
troduced the witnesses, proving the brib
cry Of "Greyhound's rider, who was to
receive 5000 TO throw off tho race, having
received $3.50 in advance, and that "Grey-
hound" had been turned into the wheat
field the night before. lie again called
on the parties to appear and contradict
this proof and vindicato their innocence
They failing to appear, Gen. jackson told
the Court that the proof was closed, and
for them to render their judgment in the
premises, which in few moments was
done in accordance with the facts proved
| was still or tho fence forming one line
of the large pound containing the prop
erty bet on the -ace. Each man was
anxious to get back his property. Gen
eral Jackson waved his hand, announced
the decision, and said Now gentlemen,
90 calmly and in order, and each man
take his own property When tho word
was given the people came with rush.
1t was more terrible than an army with
banners. They came bulging 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 tho fraudulent race
was broken up by an exhibition Of the
most extraordinary courage. He did that
day what j: would have required two
thousand armed men to have effected
All this was Affected by tho 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.-N. Y. Her0td.