The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-02-18

Inc IlOL. lSddC ~. IAIuOli, III AOSChe ASS-
ture before the Chicago Historical Society on
the late William B. Ogden, gave the follow.
ing account of race he had in 1887 with Hen.
~ G. Hubbard to Danville, IN this state:
In May, 1887, Mr.. Ogden sent for me one
day, said he had claim Of $4,000 against a
resident of Danville, IN this State, who had
Just failed. He wished me 10 go to Danville
as soon as possible and try to secure it. he
also advised me that Henry G. Hubbard, as
one of the firm of Hubbard IL Co., was also a
large creditor, and that it was important that
Hubbard SHOULD not know of my departure,
for If Hubbard reached Danvllle first, the
debtor would probably turn over all his prop
erty to secure the Hubbards, but il could get
to Danvile first, and attach the property of the
debtor the claim, very large IN those days,
might be secured.
| was Instructed to get my attachment writ,
go to Nichols, who kept the best livery in Chi
cago and get famous gray saddlehorse
Nichols then had, of great speed and endur-
ance, and beat Hubbard to Danviile. There
was not then any road to Danville, except
path called "The Hubbard Trace" which Cur
don S. and Henry G.. Hubbard had made in
taking goods from Chicago to that place,
where for several years they had kept Trad.
lng.post. When the sun was an hour high, |
stood impatiently paving before my office
door, on Dearborn street between Lake and
South Water streets. As threw myself INTO
the saddle, SAID "My gallant gray, You will
be quiet enough before you get back"
I hoped to reach Rexford's tavern at the
Calumet that night, and, If | could get away,
and cross the Calumet and Kankakee swamps
before Hubbard overlook me, l felt sure |
should beat him. Arriving at ReXtord's,
saw that special care was taken OF my horse,
and ordered an early breakfast and that my
horse should be ready IN the morning at sun
rise. But, TO my surprise and chagrin, when
| started to mount Henry Hubbard's sulky,
with his fast Totter before IT. stood at the door.
We greeted each other, but not as cordially as
usual.
go ahead, Henry" said | you know these
swamps ana sloughs, and you must be my
guide and pilot. III follow you"
And so, each knowing the business OF the
other but neither speaking OF 1t, we started.
Nothing Of special interest occurred, except,
fancied, from the places through which he led
me, he was quite willing | should be stalled,
swamped or thrown into the mud But my
horse had long legs, and was accustomed 10
these prairies and sloughs, and would often
stand with all his feet on bunch OF PUSHES,
or other hard space, twelve or twenty inches
ward feet and actually feel for firm footing
before he would move gave him his head,
and he took me safe across.
On the way, we had to cross the Grand
Prairie" thirty miles without house, cabin,
tree or bush as far as the eye could reach.
Nothing but blue sky above, and the green,
tender grass of early May and wild flowers be-
meath. 1t was lonely ride, Hubbard was
far ahead. | remember, after riding for hours,
dismounted, lay down upon the turf, ana let
my horse crop the new grass and fragrant VIC
lets, and | think, never before or since have L
had such a sense of lonesomeness. i was miles
away from human being, and realized that
such prairie is more solitary than the ocean
or the forest.
Hubbard generally took the lead, and got
sight of him only two or three times day 1t
was obvious both were saving the strength OF
our horses for the last Is or 20 miles. The
last night we stopped about fifteen miles from
Danville, and slept in the same log cabin. The
morning sun saw us both ready tor the final
struggle; both of our horses being IN pretty
good condition.
AS Hubbard went to the stable, a man dress
ed IN blue jeans, with coon.skln cap on his
head came up to me and said: stranger, |
don't know We, nor kere much about ye; but
don't like tOther fellow He ls troubled with
hearn say, It's tight race petweeny we, which
shall git to Danvllle first, Now, stranger, pll
help ye But don't let on. Let him." point
ing to Hubbard, start ahead I'll put my boy
there on your gray and let him follow slowly
behind, not too far, a mile or more behind, so
your gray horse can be seen, but the rider
won't be known" He continued, 1--WE got a
pair OF colts I'll hitch up, and take we by an.
other road into Danville, thirty or sixty min
utes ahead OF that big. headed fellow"
saw 1t was my only chance. My gray was
sadded and when Hubbard had got too far
ahead to distinguish the rider, the boy was
mounted and told not to shorten the distance,
but Just keep the sulky IN sight. Hubbard
seeing the gray behind him travelled slowly,
saving his horse for the last five or SIX miles.
Meanwhile the colts had been harnessed and
attached to light wagon, and making cir
cunt we struck crOssroad, and travelling at a
three minute pace passed on ahead of Hub
bard into Danville.
found the sheriff, had him quickly seize
and attach the store and property of the de
PENDANT, and when an hour later Hubbard
came IN, you may judge of his surprise and
veXafion when he found me, whom he had
supposed tar behind, with the sheriff, in pos
session of all the debtors property,
1t was thus | won the race and secured Og-
den's debt The gallant gray did not long
survive, and | missed hun sadly, for had
often ridden him; but Ogden did not object
to pay Nichols literally for the gray horse
with which beat Hubbard.