The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-01-16
OLD HICKORY'S NERVE.
How He Vetoed Swindling OH a Tennessee
Race-COurse.
Nashville Cor. New York world.l

Nashville Cor. New York World.l
Many are the interesting scenes OF
Jackson's life which his biographer,
Parton, has omitted and not brought to
light. When boy l saw him scare
10000 men. The occasion was this
GREYHOUND, a Kentucky horse, had
beaten Double-Head, a Tennessee horse,
and they were afterward matched for
$4,000 side, to be run on the Clover
Bottom Course. My uncle, Josephus
III. Conn, carried me on horseback be-
hind him to see the race. He set me
on the cedar fence and told me to re-
main till he returned. 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 10000 persons
present. [ never witnessed such fierce
betting between the States. Horses
and negroes were put up. A large
pound was filed with horses and
negroes bet on the result of the race.
The time had now arrived for the COM
petitors to appear on the track. I
heard some loud talking, and, looking
down the track, saw, for the first time,
Gen. Jackson, riding slowly on a gray
horse, with long pistols in each hand.
[ think they were as long as my arm,
and each had mouth that ground :,
squirrel could enter In his wake fol-
lowed my uncle, Conn, Stokeley, Donel-
son, Patton, Anderson, and several
others as fierce as bulldogs. AS Gen.
Jackson led the van and approached
the judges stand he was rapidly talk
ing and gesticulating. 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
field the night before, which disquai
fed him for the race, and 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 i'll this
manner. He talked necessarily, while
the spittle rolled from his mouth and the
fire from his eyes. I have seen bears and
wolves at bay, but he was certainly
the most Notwithstanding animal
that I had ever seen. His appearance
and manner struck terror to the hearts
of 10000 people, If they felt as [ did
every one expected to be slain. He an
nounced 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 so. There was no
response to this challenge, and, after
waiting some time and they failing to
appear, Gen. Jackson said it was great
mistake i'll the opinion of some that he
had acted hastily, without considera-
ton. He would give the scoundrels
fair trial, and to that end he would con-
stitute a court to investigate this matter,
who would hear 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 open and was ready
to proceed to business, and for the
parties to appear and defend them
selves. No one appearing, Gen. Jack
son introduced the witnesses, proving
the bribery of Greyhound's rider, who
was to receive $500 to throw of the race,
having received $3.50 in advance, and
that Greyhound had been turned
into the wheat-tield the night before.
He again called the parties to appear
and contradict this proof, and vindicate
their innocence. They failing to ap-
pear, 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. 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.
Gen. Jackson waved his hand and
announced the decision, and said:
Now, gentleman, go calmly and in
order, and each man take his own prop
erty.' When the word was given the
people came with a rush. It was more
terrible than an army with banners
They came bullying against the fence,
and In the struggle, to get. over they
knocked it down for 100 yards. I was
overturned and nearly trampled to
death. Each man got his property
and thus the fraudulent race was
broken up by an exhibition of the most
extraordinary courage. He did that
day what it would have required 1000
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 knowl-
edge that in one event streams of blood
would have flowed effected this great
and worthy object.
49, - ri