The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-10-03
A Colonel's Race.

fortably settled in life he had many
ups and downs of fortune. Once he
carried a number of slaves to New
Orleans and made very successful
sale. He undertook, however, to
increase his supply of money by
methods which involved more eie-
ments of change than were connect
ed with his regular business. 1t was
an unlucky venture, and in very
short time he found himself with
only money enough TO pay his pas
sage on a boat as far up the river as
Natchez. Although he had not a
dollar in his pocket, when he reach
edKatchez he put up at the best pub
lie house. He wore a broadcloth
suit and silk hat, and sported a
gold-headed cane with which he
would hot have parted for many
times its value. He bore himself
with an easy dignity, calculated to
impress all who saw him with the
belief that he was capitalist with
abundant resources, who might be
/ induced to invest some thousands in
the property of the town. A week
bad nearly passed, and he had not
succeeded in putting enough money
in his purse to pay his landlord.
One Sunday when he was seriously
thinking OF making a stealthy
thy exit by night, he learned that
the roughs and gamblers, who at
that time formed a considerable part
of the population of Natchez, had
assembled on public road not far
from the town to witness some foot
races. He at once started thither-
ward and reached the place just as
an athletic and fierce looking fellow,
who was exulting over his victories,
offered in loud voice to bet $50
that he could beat anybody on the
ground in a race of 100 yards. The
colonel remembered that he had
been fleet of foot himself in his
younger days, and pressed by di-
rect necessity, he resolved to try his
luck on this occasion. So in the
pause which followed the champions
challenge he stepped forward and
making a stately bow, said quietly,
81 will take your bet. thir." The
bully looked at him a few moments
in contemptuous surprise, and said,
"Well. put up your money"
With a courtly wave of the hand
the colonel replied depreciatingly,
There ith no need, thir, of that for
malitv between gentlemen. | am
gentleman and | take you to be one.
! If Tooth the rathe | will pay you
the fifty dollatrh If you Tooth it |
do not doubt that you will act with
equal honor. The word of a gentle
man ith hith bond"
The rough and desperate men
present seemed to regard this as a
very remarkable proposition, and
for time the challenger was non
plussed. He stealthily eyed the
polite and well dressed stranger, and
finally said with significant enpha-
sis, "All right, old boy, but if there's
any fiickerin' in this thing, you may
know what to expect"
Without further parley the colo
mel divested himself of coat, vest and
hat, and placed them with his cane
upon the grass, stepped out upon the
road, and put himself into position
alongside the champion. The spec
tators evinced the livliest interest in
the race, and ranged themselves
along each side of the road. Bets
were freely offered at enormous
odds against the rash stranger, who
certainly did not look match for
his stalwart competitor; but there
was few of these bets taken. At
given signal the men darted off
amidst the yells of the delighted
crowd. For nearly the whole dis
tance the two contestants, who SEEM
ed to be straining every nerve, kept
side by side, but when within about
twenty yards of the goal, the colonel,
by dint of extraordinary effort, shot
ahead and won the race. He was
now the hero of the hour, and as he
walked back to the starting point,
exhausted and almost breathless, he
was heartily cheered by the excited
spectators. His opponent came up
promptly and paid him the fifty dol
lars, and at the same time challeng-
f ed him for another trial.
mo, thank you, thir," said the
} colonel, as he pocketed the money.
J II make it rule never to run more
than one race in a day"
r He then carefully put on his vest,
: coat and hat, placed his cane under
{ his arm, made on of his profoundest
2 bows, and with a pleasant Good
afternoon, gentlemen, strutted COM
/ placently away. That evening he
= paid his bill at the hotel and took
4. boat for Nashville.
E Colonel W-used TO relate this
: incident with a relish, and when
e asked what he intended to do in case
r he lost the race, he would say, "Well.
: to tell you the truth it wath a de-
' thperate cathe: but | had made up
{ my mind that if didn't win, | would
] keep on running and never look be-
! hind until | reached Tennethee."