Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-03-09
NUMBER %.
WIld Horse Race.

says the Denver, COL, Ns0s, took place
on the Denver track on Sept. 10, 1850.
The horses were Border Rufian and
Rocky Mountain Chief, the purse
s95, 900 in gold. Rufian was backed
by Tom Hunt, his owner. and Jim
Harrison, notorious gamblers. Shortly
before, Hnnt had murdered d promi-
nent Mormon, and after brief trial he
was condemned to hang f5r his crime.
The scaffold was erected on the out
skirts of Salt Lake, near the overland
road, and the murderer was TO swing
amid all the pomp Of legal execution.
In the excitement attending the prepa-
ration On the morning of the expected
hanging, Harrison entered RHfann's
stable Hnobser7ed and spirited the
racer away. Mounted ca another horse
and leading Rufian, Harrison rode to
the galIows unsupported, slipped two
six-shooters into Hunts hands. and be-
fore the officials or multitude had re-
covered from their surprise the outlaws
were charging down the Webber canon
trail at speed which defed capture.
One Of a number Of parting rifle shots
killed Harrison's horse, and it became
necessary for Rufian 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 boy.
Not till 100 miles had been covered did
men or beast eat or rest, and on the
morning Of the tersh day they arrived
at Denver, 500 miles from the Mormon
capital. These facts once circulated
Rufian became the hero OF the hour.
In the Denver race the Greer boys,
who owned Chief, backed him. Thous-
and5 Of men and women focked to the
track. There was long delay, but at
last, amid frenzied cheers, the horses
got start, Rufian forging ahead from
the stand. Chief few the track, went
over a steep embankment, and before
he could recover, the heat was practi-
cally decided IN Rufian's lead. A yell
Of disappointment went up from the
multitude, and a rush was made TO
lynch the man who started Chief He
succeeded in escaping the mob IN
harmed, however. More than 500, 600
changed hands on that heat.
An even start was obtained i'm the
second heat, the two hors passing into
the quarter-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, desperate, who
had all his earthly possessions staked
on Chief, stood atthe back-stretch pole
as tie horses approached, navy rev.
yer in either hand, s-L1y the viii
that horse or Ill drop yo1 from tuu
saddle" he shouted to Eugene Teats,
Chiefs rider, sighting both Of his wea-
pons. Teats knew that Hamilton
would keep his word unless the order
was obeyed, and, although he was con-
fident that Chief would win the second
heat without urging, he lost no time il
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 turmoil
the like Of which was never before or
since seen on race course. Men pulled
their six shooters and fired madly, in
discriminatory, and gold dust ii the
quarrel for stakes was scattered reck-
lcssly in the sand. Rufian was COM
pIetely broken down after this neat,
and the gamblers. appreciating that
they we're were beaten, became frantic
with rage. Con Dram and Charles
Switz, who afterwards became noted
prize fighters, stood at the door to the
stand and held the mob at bay until tie
Judges had given their decision. Chief
was ordered on the track, and after
making the half mile, was declared ihe
winner Of the race. The judges had to
be escorted from the track to town by
an armed escort composed Of volunteers
F-o,,, tI,a xviuY,ir,or side
Mounted on broncho ponies, with
pistols and bowie knives drawn, the
Greer brothers and party Of friends
made their way to the 500, 900 nugget
and cut it to the ground. It was loaded
into wagon and taken to town, guard
accompanying the precious freight.
There were large number of people
stabbed and shot in the melee, but for
tunateIy none died from their wounds.
That night Denver was one blazing rev
elry, one gorgeous orgie. The i'm
mense nugget was cut mp Into smaf'aE
and more commercial commodi
Teats was presented with $1,000
of these. The balance OF the winnn.
were equally divided among thsbrothers,
and in less than forty-fivs hours they
had squandered all.
There seems to be no occupation 50