The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-19

In Ibis country LOOK place on the len
YER track on September 20. 1860, The
horses were Border Rufian and Rocky
Mountain CHIEF; the purse $95, 600 ia
gold. Rufian was backed By Ton
Hunt, his owner. and Jim Harrison, q
notorious gambler. Shortly before
Hunt had murdered 9 prominent Nor
! mon, and after . brief trial he was
condemned to hang for his crime. The
scaffoid 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 preparation
on the morning of the expected hang
ing Harrison entered RufRan's stable
uuobserved and spirited the racer away.
Mounted on another horse and leading
Ruf6an Harrison rode to the gallows
unsupported, slipped two six shooters
into Hunts hands and before the off
cials or multitude had recovered from
their surprise the outlaws were charg-
ing down the Webber canyon trail at
speed which dened capture. One of q
number Of parting rifle shots killed
Harrison's horse. and it became neces.
sary for Kufian to carry both men. The
Mormons persued the desperadoes
night and day, but were powerlsss TO
overtake them, 50 wonderful was the
speed and endurance of the stolen bay.
Not until enc hundred miles had been
covered did men OF beast eat or rest,
and on the morning Of the tenth day
they arrived at Deaver, six hundred
miles from the Mormon capital. These
facts oncs circulated Rufian became
the hero Of the hour.
In the Denver race tho Gree boys
who owned Chief, backed him. Thou-
sands Of men and women aocked to the
track. There Wal long delay, but 1t
last amid frenzsd cheers, the horses got
a start, Rufian forging ahead from the
stand. Chief flew the track, vent
over . steep smbankmsnt, aud before
he could scove the 1rst heat was
practically decided in Ruflan's lead.
A yell of disappointment o up from
the multitude and . rush Vas made to
lynch the man who started Chief. He
succeeded in escaping the mob IN
harmed, however. More that 500, 600
changed hands on the heat.
An eve start was obtained in the
second heat, the two horses passed in
to the quarter stretch neck and neck.
At the half post Rufian, in response t.
hard whipping, slowly took the lead.
All this time Chief had been given .
free rein, but had been spared the lash.
Charles Hamilton, q desperate whs
had all his earthly possessions staked
on Chief, stood at the backstretch pole
a. the horses approached, . navy re-
volver in either hand. Lay the whip
to that horse OK I'll drop you from the
saddle, be shouted to Eugene Teats,
Chisf's rider, sighting both Of his
weapons. Tests knew that Hamilton
would keep his word unless the order
was obsyed. and, although he was COD
hdent that Chief would win the second
heat without urging, be lost no tims in
applying the whip. He drew blood At
every stroke and Chief went under the
wire . winner BY 100 feet in Lac.
Then commenced . riot and turmoil
the like of which was never before or
since witnessed On . rae course. Men
pulled their six.shooters and fred mad
~, unfortunately, and gold dust, in
the quarrel for stakes, was scattered
recklessly in the sand. RuAian was
completely broken down after this heat
and the gamblers. approaching that
they were beaten, became frantic with
rage, Con. Dram and Charles Switx,
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 decision. Chief
wal ordered ON the track and after
making the hslfnile wire was declared
winner OF the race. The judges had
to be escorted from the track to town
by an armed escort composed of vol
untssrs from the winning side.
Mounted on broncho ponies, with
pistols and Bowie knives drawn, the
Greer brothers and a party Of frien d.
made their way to the $95. 900 nugget
and cut it to the ground. 1t wal load
ed into . wagon and taken to town, 4
guard accompanying the precious
freight. There were q large number
Of people stabbed and shot in the me
lee, but fortunately none died from
their wounds. That night Denver was
one blazing revelry, one gorgeous
ergie. The immense nugget was cut
up into smaller and more commercial
Teats Was presented with
Sc, 600 worth of these. The balance of
the winnings a. equally divided among
the brothers, and in less than forty
hours they had sauandered all.
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