The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-02-17
A WILD HoRSE-RACE.
The Time Rocky Mountain Chief Beat
the Famous Border Ruf:ian. 9

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The widest horse-race ever known, says
The Denver Netcs, took place on the Denver
track on September 10, 1850. The horses
were Border Ruflian and Rocky Mountain
Chief; the purse $4,000 in gold. Rniiian
was backed by Tom Hunt, his owner, and
Jim Harrison, notorious gamblers. Shortly
before, Hunt had murdered a prominent
Mormon, aud after brief trial he was con-
demned to hang for his crime. The scafiold
was erected on the outskirts of Salt Lake,
near the overland road, and the murderer
was to swing amidst all the pcmp of legal
execution. In the excitement attending the
preparations on the morning of the expected
hanging Harrison entered Ruffian's stable
un,.bssrved and spirited the racer away.
Mounted on another horse and leading Ruff
| fan Harrison rode TO the gallows unsuspected
slipped two six-slooters Into Hunts banas
| aud before the officials and multitude had
recovered from. their surprise. the outlaws
were charging down the Weber canon trail
| at a speed which defied capture. One Of a
number of parting rife shots killed Harri-
sons horse aud 1t became necessary for Ruff
| fan 10 carry both men. The Mormons
pursued the desperadues night and day, but
were powerless to oyerrake them, so wonder
ful was the speed and endurance of the
stolen bay. Not until one hundred miles
1 had been covered did men or beast eat or
rest, and on the morning of the tenth day
they arrived at Denver, six hundred miles
! from the Mormon capital. These facts once
circulated, RufIian became the hero Of the
hour.
In the Denver race the Greer boys, who
owned Chief, backed him. Thousands OF
men and women fiocked To the track. There
was long delay, but at last, amidst frenzled
cheers, the horses got start, Rufhan forging
ahead from the stand. Chief flew the track,
went over steep embankment, aud before
he could recover the first heat was practi-
cally decided in Ruffian's lead. yell OF
disappointment went up from the multitude
and rush was made to lynch the man who
started Chief He succeeded in escaping uII-
harmed. More than 100000 changed hands
on the heat.
An even start was obtained in the second
heat, the Two horses passing into the quarter
stretch neck and neck At the half pole,
Ruffian, in response to hard whipping, took
the lead. All this time Chief had been Civ
en free rein, bat had been spared the LASH
! In puh had oil
his earthly possessions staked on Chief
stood at the back stretch pole as the horse:
approached, navy revolver In either hand
Lay the whip To that horse or I'll droI
you from that saddle" he shooted to Eugene
Teais, Chiefs rider, sighting both of lii
weapons. Teats knew that Hamilton woult
keep his word unless the order was obeyed
aud, although he was confident that Che
would win the second heat without urging
he lost no time in applying the whip. liz
drew blood at every stroke and Chief wen
under the wire winner OF the heat by l0'
feet In l:4l.
! Y Then commenced riot aud turmoil the lik
of which was rever before oi since witnessed
OH race course. Men pulled their six
shooters and fired madly, indlscrimnately
and gold dust In the quarrel for stakes, Wa
scattered reeklessly in, the sand. Ruffial
was completely broken down after this bea
aud the gamblers, appreciating that the
we're beaten, became frantic with rage
Con. Orem and Charles Switz, who after
wards became noted prize-hghters, stood a
! the door of the stand aud held the mob a
bay until the judges had given their decis
! ion. Chief was ordered OH the track ali
, after making the half-mile wire was declare
: winner Of tile race. The judges had To b
escorted fIom the track to town by an arme
escort composed of volunteers from th
: winning side.
Mounted on broucho ponies, with pistol
a and Bowie knives drawn, the Greer brothei
: aud party of friends made their way to tb
u S95. 900 nugget and cut il TO the ground.
A was loaded into wagon and taken to tow
j. a guard accompanying the precious freigh
:. There were large number of people stal
A bed and shot in the melee, but fortunatel
|. none died from their wounds. That nigl
= Denver was one blazing revelry, one go
geous orgy. The immense nugget was c,
iuto smaller and more commercial commt
:. dities. Teats was presented with $500
: worth Of these. The balance vf the viii
nings was equally divided among the brotl
= ers, and in less than forty five hours the
had squandered ALL