The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-10-11
4 Wild Horse Race in the Rocky Mount.
ain Region.


The widest horse race ever known In
this country took place on the Denver
track on September 10, 1860. The horses
were Border Ruffian and Rocky Mountain
Chief; the purse $4,000 in gold. Ruff
fan was backed by Tom Hunt, his owner,
and Jim Harrison, notorious gamblers.
Shortly before Hunt had murdered
prominent Mormon, and after brief
trial was condemned to hang for his
crime. The 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 execution. In
the excitement attending the prepare
tions on the morning of the expected
hanging, Harrison entered Ruffian's
stable unobserved and spirited the racer
away. Mounted on another horse and
leading Ruffian Harrison rode to the
gallows unexpected, slipped two six
shooters into Hunts hands and before
the officials or multitude had recovered
from their surprise the outlaws were
charging down the Webber canyon trail
at speed which defied capture. One Of
a number of parting rifle shots killed
Harrison's horse, and it became neces-
sary for Ruffian to carry both men. The
Mormons pursued the desperadoes night
and day, but were powerless to overtake
them, so wonderful was the speed and
endurance of the stolen bay. Not until
one hundred miles had been covered dit
men or beast eat and rest, and ON the
morning of the tenth day they arrived at
Denver, six hundred miles from the Nor
mon capital. These facts once circula-
ted Ruffan became the hero of the hour.
In the Denver race the Greer boys, who
owned Chief, backed him. Thousands
of men and women hocked to the track.
There was a long delay, but at last,
amidst frenzied cheers, the horses got
start, Ruffian forging ahead from the
stand. Chief flew the track, went over
steep embankment, and before he could
recover the first heat was practically de-
cided in Ruffian's lead. . A yell of disap-
pointment went up fromA the multitude
and rush was made to lynch the man who
started Chief He succeeded in escaping
the mob unharmed, however. More
than 800, 900 changed hands on the heat.
An even start was obtained in the second
heat, the two horses passing into the
quarter stretch neck and neck. At the
haf-pole Ruffian in response to hard
whipping, slowly took the lead. All thi-
time Chief had been given a free rein,
but had been spared the lash. Charles
Hamilton, desperate, who had all his
earthly possessions staked on Chief, stood
at the back-stretch pole as the horse ap-
preached, a navy revolver in either hand.
Lay the whip to that horse, or FL drop
you from the saddle" he shouted to Eu-
gene Teats, Chief rider, sighting both
of his weapons. Teats knew that Ham
ilton would keep his word unless the or
der was obeyed, and, although he was
- Hl,,nf xxrO,,lA fhn
ond heat without urging, he lost no time
in applying the whip. He drew blood at
every stroke and Chief went under the
wire winner of the heat by 100 feet in
1:42. Then commenced riot and tur-
moil the like of which was never before
or since witnessed on race course. MGp
pulled their six-shooters and fired madly,
indiscriminately and gold dust, in the
quarrel for the stakes, was scattered reck-
lessly in the sand. Ruffian was COM
pletely broken down after this heat, and
the gamblers approaching that they were
beaten, became frantic with rage. Con.
Dram and Charles Swift, who afterwards
became noted prize-fighters, stood at the
door to the stand and held the mob at
bay until the judges had given their de-
cision. Chief was ordered on the track,
and after making the haf-mile wire was
declared winner of the race. The judges
had to oe escorted from the track to town
by an escort composed of volunteers from
the winning side. Mounted on broncho
ponies, with pistols and bowie knives
drawn, the Greer brothers and a party
of friends made their way to the S95,000
nugget and cut it to the ground. Itwas
loaded in wagon and taken to town, a
guard accompanying the precious freight
There were large number of people
stabbed and shot in the melee, but, for
fortunately none died from their wounds.
That night Denver was one blazing rev.
elry, one gorgeous crgie. The immense
nugget was cut up into Smaller and more
commercial commodities. Teats was
presented with $1,000 woyh of these.
The balance of the winnings were equal
ly divided among the brothers and in less
than forty-five hours they had squander-
ed all.-DenUer Tribune.