The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1882-03-18
AN EXCITING HORSE, RAcE.
From the Denver News !


took place on the Denver track on Sep
tember 10, 1860 The horses was Border
Ruffian and Rocky Mountain Chief, the
purse $4,000 in gold. Ruffian was
backed by Tom Hunt, his owner, and
Jim Harrison, notorious gamblers Short
iy before, Hunt had murdered promin-
ent Mormon, and after brief trial he
was condemned to hang for his crime.
The scaffold was erected on the outskirts
Of Salt Lake, near the overland road, and
the murderer was to swing amid all the
pomp oflegal execution. In the excite
ment attending the preparations on the
morning Of the expected hanging, Har-
rison entered Ruffian's stable unobserved
and spirited the racer away. Mounted
on another horse and leading Ruffian,
Harrison rode to the gallows unsupported,
slipped two six-shooters into Hunts
hands, and before the officials or multi.
tude had recovered from their surprise
the outlaws were charging down the
Webber Canyon trail at a speed which
defied capture. One of number of part
ing rifle shots killed Harrison's horse,
and it became necessary for Ruffian to
carry both men. The Mormons pursued
the desperadoes night and day, but were
powerless to overtake them, SO wonder
ful 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, 600 miles from the
Mormon capital. These facts once circu-
lated, Ruffian became the hero of the
hour.
In the Denver race the Greer boys, who
owned Chief, backed him. Thousands of
men and women focked to the track.
There was long delay, but at last, amid
frenzied cheers, the horses got a start,
Ruflian forging ahead from the stand.
Chief few the track, went over a steep
embankment, and before he could recover,
the heat was practically decided in Ruff
fans lead. A yell of disappointment
went up from the multitude, and q rush
was made to lynch the man who started
Chief. He succeeded in escaping the
mob unharmed, however. More than
100000 changed hands on the heat
An even start was obtained in the Sec
ond heat, the two horses passing into the
Quarter-stretch neck and neck At the
half-pole Rutfian, in response to hard
whipping, slowley took the lead. Ali
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
at the back-stretch pole as the horses ap-
preached, navy revolver in each hand.
Lay the whip to that horse Or I'll drop
you from the saddle" he shouted to Eu-
gene Teats, Chiefs rider, sighting both
his weapons. Teats knew that Hamilton
would keep his word unless the order
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 winner of the heat by 100 feet in
l;42.
Then commenced riot and turmoil
the like Of which was never before OF
since witnessed on race course. Mer
pulled their six-shootsrs and fired madly
indiscriminately, and gold dust, in the
quarrel for stakes, and scattered so reck
lessly in the sand. Ruffian was complete
ly broken down after this heat, and tn,
gamblers, appreciating that they were
beaten, became frantic with rage. Cor
Dram and Charles Switz, who afterware
became noted prize-6ghters, stood at thu
door to the stand and held the mob a
bay until the judges had given their de
cision. Chief was ordered on the track
and, after making the half mile, was de
clared the winner of the race. 7, Th
judges had to be escorted from the tract
to town by an armed escort composed 0
volunteers from the winning side. 4oa
Mounted on broncho ponies, with pir
to. 4. and bowie.knives drawn, the Gree
all-la = tAt'Naa q