Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-02-14
Am Exciting Horse Race.

The widest horse race ever known took
place on the Denver track on September 10,
1860. The horses were Border Rufian and
Rocky Mountain Chief, the purse S95, 900 IN,
gold. Ruffian was backed by Tom Hunt, his
owner, and Jim Harrison, notorious gam
blers. Shortly before, Hunt had murdered
prominent Mormon, and after brief trial he
was condemned to bang for his crime. The
scaffold was erected on the outskirts of Salt
Lake, near the Overland road and the muir
derer was to swing amid all the pomp of legal
execution. In the excitement attending the
preparations on the morning of the expected
hanging, Harrison entered Rufhanis stable
unobserYed and spirited the racer away.
Mounted on another horse and leading Ruff
fan, Harrison rode to the gallows unsuspect-
ed, slipped two six-sheoters into Hunts
hands, and before the officials or multitude
had recovered from their surprise the outlaws
were charging down the Weber canon trail
at speed which defed capture One of a
number of parting rifle shots killed Harri-
sons horse, and it became necessary for
Rufian to carry both men. The Mormons
pursued the desperadoes night and
day, but we're powerless to overtake them.
SO wonderful 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 arrived at
Denver, GOO miles from the Mormon capital.
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 long delay, but ct last, amid frenzisd
cheers, the horses got a start, Ruffian forg-
ing ahead from the stand Chief few the
track, went over steep embankment and
before he could recover, the heat was practi-
cally decided in Rufian's lead A yell of
disappointment went up from tbs multitude,
and rush was made to lynch the man who
started Chief. He succeeded In escaping the
mob unframed, however. More than $780,
600 changed hands on the heat
An even start was obtained In the second
heat, the two horses passing into the QUAY
ter stretch neck and neck. At the half pole
Rufian, in response to hard whipping,
slowly took the lead. All this time Chief
had been given free rein. but had been
spared the lash. Charles Hamilton, a desper-
ado, who had all his -esrthly possessions
staked on Chief, stood at the back-streteh
yer in either hand Lay the whip to that
horse or I'll drop you from the saddle, . he
shouted to Eugene Teats, Chiefs rider, sight
ing both of his weapons. Teats knew that
Hamilton would keep his word unless the or
der was obeyed- and, although he was conf
dent 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 under the wire q winner of
the heat by 100 feet in I:42-
Then commenced not and turmoil the
like of which was never before or since wit
messed on q race course. Men pulled their
six shooters and fred madiy, fndiscriminate-
~, and gold dust, in the quarrel for STAKES,
was scattered recklessly in the sad Rufinn
was completely broken down after this heat,
and the gamblers, appreciating that they
were beaten, became frantic with rage. Con
Gram and Charles SEitz, who afterward be-
came noted prize fighters, stood at the door
to 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, was declared tbs winner of the
race. The judges had to be escorted from
the track TO town by an armed escort com
posed of volunteers from the winning side
Mounted on broncho ponies, with pistols
and bowie knives drawn, the Greer brothers
and party of friends made their way 10 the
SOS, 900 nugget and cut it to the ground It
was loaded into wagon and taken to toEna
guard accompanying the precious freight
There we're a 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 gorgeous orgie
The immense nugget was cut up into smaller
and more commercial commodities. Teafs
was presented with s., 900 worth of these.
The balance of the winnings were equally
divided among the brothers, and in less than
forty five hours they had sQuandered an