Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-09

The Widest horse race ever
known took place on the Denver
track on September 10th, 1860.
The horses were Border Ruffian
aud Rocky Mountain Chief, the
purse $4,000 in gold. Ruilian
was backed by Tom Hunt, his
owner, and Jim Harrison, notori.
Gus gamblers. Shortly before
Hunt had murdered a prominent
Mormon, and after u brief trial
was condemned to hang :or his
crin,c. The scaifold was erected
ON the outskirts Ut Salt Lake,
near the overland roaJ, and the
murderer was to swing amid all
the pomp OF legal execution. la
the excitement attending the pre-.
partitions or the morning Of the
hanging, Harrison entered Ruff
fans stable and spirited the racer
away. Mounted on another horse
and leading Rutiian, Harrison
rode to the gallows unsupported,
slipped two six-shooters into
Hunts hands and, before the Off
Gals had recovered from their sur.
prise, the outlaws were charging
down the Weber canyon trail at
a speed which defed capture.
One Of u number OF parting
rifle shots killed Harrison's horse,
aud it became necessary for Ruff
fan to carry both men. he
Mormons pursued the desperadoes
night and day, but were power.
less to ovcrtake them, SO wonder
full was the speed and endurance
Of the stolen bay. Not until loo
miles bad been covered did m
or beast eat or rest, and on the
morning Of the tenth day they
arrived at Denver, 600 miles from
the Mormon capital. These iacts
once circulated, Rutian became
the hero Of the hour.
In the Denver race, the Greer
boys, who owned Chief, backed
him. Thousands If men and
women hocked to the track.
There was a long delay, but at
last, amid frenzied cheers. the
horses got . start, Rafiian forg.
ing ahead from the stand. Chief
flew the track, won't over steep
embankment, aud before he could
recover the heat was practically
decided in Rntiian's lead. A veil
Of disappointment went up from
the multitude, and u rush was
made 10 lynch the man who start
ed Chief He succeeded in es.
Gaping the mob unframed, how
ever. More than 500, 900
changed hauds ON the heat.
An even start was obtained in
the second beat, the two horses
passing into the quarter stretch
neck and neck. At the half.pole
Rufian, in response to a hard
whipping. slowly took the lead.
AL this time Chief had been Civ.
en- free rein, but had been
apared the lash. Charles Hamil>
ton, y desperado, who had all his
earthly possessions staked on
Chief, stood at the back.stretch
pole ~ the horses approached, a
navy revolver in either hand.
/" LAY the whip TO that horse or
I'll drop you from the saddle, he
shouted to Eugene Tcats, Chiefs
rider. sighting both Of his wea.
ponA 1eats knew that Hamilton
would keep his word unless the
order was obeyed. and, although
be was confident that Chief
would win the second heat With
out urging, be lost no time in APP
plying the wlaip. He drew blood
1t every stroke, aud Chief went
under the wire winner Of the
heat BY loo feet in l:ll.
Then commenced a riot and |
turmoil the like Of which was |
never before or since witnessed on |
! race course. Men pulled their
ax-shcoters and fired lnadly, in-
liscriminately, aud gold dust, in
he quarrel for stakes, Was scat
ered recklessly in the sand. Ruff
AN sraa erpsra y,lafnlr 1,rnt~c ~