The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-02-16
A WILD HORSE.RACE.
THE TIME WHEN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
CHIEF BEAT THE FAMOUS BoR-
DER RUFFIAN.

OLAs hOE LAM
Denver News: The widest horse race
ever known in the country took place or
the Denver track on September 10, 1860
The horses were Border Rufian and
Rocky Mountain Chief; the purse S95,
600 in gold. Rufian was backed by Tom
Hunt, his owner, and Jim Harrison, no
torious gamblers. Shortly before. Hunt
had murdered prominent Mormon, and
after brief trial, was condemned to hang
for his crime. Inc scaffold was erected
on the outskirts of Salt Lake, near the
overland road, and the murderer was TO
swing midst all the pomp of legal execu-
ton. In .he excitement attending the
preparations On the morning of the ex
peeted hf nging, Harrison entered Ruf-
fans stable, unobseryed and spirited the
racer away. Mounted on another horse,
and leading Ruf1ian, he rode to the gal
lows unsuspected, slipped two six shoot
ers into Hunts hands, and before the Of
ficials and multitude had recovered from
their surprise, the outlaws were charging
down Webber canyon trail at speed
which defed capture. One of number
of parting shots killed Harrison's horse.
and it became necessary for Ruffian to
carry both men. The Mormons pursued
the desperadoes night and day, but were
powerless to overtake them, so wonder
ful was the speed and endurance of the
stolen bay. Not until 100 miles had been
covered, did men or beast eat or rest,and
on the morning of the tenth day they or
rived at Denver, 600 miles from the Nor.
mon capital. These facts once circulat-
ed, Ruffian became the hero of the hour.
In the Denver race the Geer boys, who
owned Chief, backed him. Thousands
of men and women focked to the track.
There was long delay, but at last, amidst
frenzied cheers, the horses got start.
Rnlfian forging ahead from the stand.
Chief few the track, went over the steep
embaakment, and before he could recoy-
er, the first heat was practically decided
in Ruffian's lead. A yell of disappoint-
ment went up from the multitude and q
rush was made to lynch the man who
started Chief. He succeeded in escaping
the mob tinharmed, however. More than
800, 900 changed hands on the heat.
An even start was obtained in the sec
ond heat, the two horses passing into the
quarter stretch neck and neck. At the
half pole Ruffian, in response to hard
whipping, slowly took the lead. All this
time Chief had been given a free rein,
but had been spared the lash. Charles
Hamilton, desperado. who had all his
earthly possessions staked on Chief, stood
at the back stretch pole as the horses ap.
preached, navy revolver in either hand.
"Lay the whip on that horse, or I'll drop
you from the saddle,' he shouted to
Eugene Teats, Chiefs rider, sighting
both his weapons. Teats knew that
Hamilton would keep his word unless
the order was obeyed and, although be
was confident that Chief would win the
second heat without urging, he lost no
time in applying the whip. He drew
blood at every stroke and Chief went uu-
der the wire a winner of the heat by 100
feet in 142.
Then commenced riot and turmoil the
like of which was never before or since
Witnessed on race course. Men pulled
their siy-shooters and fired madly, indis-
criminately, and gold dust in the quarrel
for stakes, was scattered reeklessly in the
sand. Ruffian was completely broken
down after this heat, and the gamblers,
appreciating that they were beaten. be
came frantic with rage. Con. Dram and
Charles Switz, who afterwards became
noted prize fighters, stood at the door of
the stand and held the mob at bay until
the judges had given their decision,
Chief was ordered on the track and after
making the half-mile wire was declared
the winner of the race. The Judges had
to be escorted from the track to town bv
an armed escort composed of volunteers
from the winning side.
Mounted on broncho ponies with pis-
tols and bowie knives drawn, the Geer
brothers and a party of friends made
their way to the $95, 900 nugget and cut
it to the ground. 1t was loaded into a
wagon and taken to town, a guard ac-
companying the precious freight. There
were large number of people stabbed
and shot in the melee, but fortunately
none died from their wounds. That night
Denver was one blazing reyelry, one gor-
geous orgie. The immense nugget was
cut up into smaller and more commercial
commodities. Teats was presented with
So, 900 worth of these. The balance of
Tue winnings was equally divided among
the brothers, and in less than forty-five
hours they had squandered all.
a NEW MAN-DYsPEPIA CURED.
the Hon. j. ii. Benson, Hart Co., Ga
Horkrol In