Daily globe., 1879-01-26
OLD HICKORY'S NERVE.
Hoau Gen. Jackson Once Ovesa,ved 80, 900
Men,

sons life which his biographer, Parton, has
omitted and not brought to light. When
boy saw him scare and put to flight 10000
men. The occasion was this: Greyhound,
a Kentucky horse, had beaten Double Head.
Tennessee horse, and they were afterward
matched for $4,000 side, to be run on the
Clover Bottom course. My uncle, Josephus
d. Conn, carried me on horseback behind
him to see the race. He set me on the cedar
fence and told me to remain until he re-
turned. In those days not only counties,
but States, in full feather, attended
the race-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. l never witnessed such fierce
betting between the States. Horses and ne
groes were put up. large pound was
filled with horses and negroes bet on the re-
suit of this race. I heard some loud talk
ing, and looking down the track saw, for
the first time, General Jackson, riding slow
~ on gray horse, with long pistols held in
each hand. l think they were as long as nv
arm, and had mouth that ground squir-
rell could enter. In his wake followed nv
uncle Conn, Stokeley, Donelson, Patten, An
derson and several others as fierce as bull
dogs AS Gen. Jackson led the van and ap-
preached the judges stand he was
rapidly talking and gesticulating. AS
he came by me he said that he had irrefraga-
BILE proof that this was to be Jockey race:
that Greyhound was seen in the wheat field
the night before, which disqualiies him for
the race, and that his rider was to receive
$500 to throw it off, and "by the eternal
Cod ne 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 incessant-
ly, 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 look ing anima! that I had
ever seen. His appearance and manner
struck terror into the hearts of 10000 peo-
pie. If they felt as did, every
one expected to be slain: He an
nounced to the parties that if they
wanted some lead in their hides to first
bring their horses on the track, for .by the
eternap' he would kill the first man that at
tempted to do so. There was no response
to this challenge, and, after waiting some
time and they failing to appear, Gen. Jack
son said it was great mistake in the opin-
ion of some, that he had acted hastily, with
out consideration. He would give the
scoundrels fair trial, and to that end he
would constitute court to investigate the
matter, who would hear the proof and do
justice to all parties. Thereupon he ap-
pointed 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, Gen. jackson intro
duced the witnesses, proving the bribery of
Greyhound's rider, who was to receive $500
to throw off the race, having received $3.50
IN advance, and that Greyhound had been
turned into wheat field the night before.
he again called on the parties to appear and
contradict this proof and vindicate their in
nocence. They failing to appear, Gen. Jack
son 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. 1 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. Gen. jackson waved his
hand and announced the decision,
and said: "Now, gentlemen, 20 calm
~ and in order, and each man
take his own property When the word was
given the people came in with rush. 1t
was mora terrible than an army with ban
ners. They came bulging against the fence,
and in the struggle to get over, they knocked
1t down for hundreds of yards. I was over
turned and nearly trampled to death. Each
man got his property, and thus the fraudu-
lent race was broken up by an exhibition of
the most extraor rdinary courage. He did th&t
day what it would have required two thou
sand arm ed 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 AMI worthy object.