Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-09-08
A Tennessee Character.

character
Col. w. - was one of those odd
characters who become conspicuous
for their humor and eccentricity,
and who are kept in remembrance
long after they are dead by the
many anecdotes related concerning
them. Heiived in one of the eoun
ties OF Middle Tennessee, where for
many years he traded IN slaves,
vocation which was not regarded
favorable even in the South, but
which enabled him to acquire
comfortable estate. He was widely
known not only as a shTeWd trader,
but as genial and fun loving,
Though rather seli-important man,
who was always ready to- turn an
easy penny, apd Who could tell Il
capital story.
Before the colonel Became com
fortably settled ia 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 elements of chance than were
/ connected with his regular business.
| 1t was an unlucky venture, and in
Il very short time he found himself
| with only money enough Ia pay his
/ passage on a boat as far up the river
It's NatcheZ. Although he had not
dollar in his pocket, when lac
! reached Natchez he put up atthe
best public house. lie wore a broad
cloth suit and a plug hat, and
| sported 4 gold headed cane with
which he would not have parted
/ for many times its value. He bore
himself with an easy dignity, calcu-
/ lated 10 impress all who saw him
4 with the belief that he was Il capt
talist with abundant resources, who
might be induced TO invest some
! thousands in the proDerty of the
town. A week had nearly passed,
and he had not succeeded i'll put
tting enough muuey in his purse to
pay his landlord. One Sunday az
ternoon, when he was seriously
thinking of making a stealthy exit
at night, he learned that the rOughs
| and gamblers, who at that time
formed considerable part of the
population of Natchez, had assem-
bled on Il public road not far from
the town to witness some foot races.
He at once started thitherWard, and
reached the place just as an athletic
and fierce looking fellow, who was
eXulting over his victories, offered
in loud voice to bet fifty dollars
that he could beat anybody on the
ground ina race OF one hundred
yards. The colonel remembered
that he had himself been fleet of
foot in his younger days, and, press
ed by dire necessity. he resolved to
try his luck on this occasion. So,
in the pause which followed the
champions challenge he stepped
forward, and making stately bow,
said quietly, II will take your bet,
thir." The bully looked at him
few moments in contemptuouS sur
prise, and said, swell, put up your
money"
With Il courtIy wave of the hand
the colonel replied, deprecatingly,
There it'll no need, thir, Of that
fornality between gentlemen.
am a gentlemen, and | take you TO
be one. III Tooth the rathe / will
pay you the fifty dOllarth if you
Tooth il, / do not doubt that you
will act with equal honor. The
word OF a gentlemen it'll hith bond"
The rough and desperate men
present seemed to regard this as Il |
very remarkable proposition, and |
for Il time the challenger WAS nOu- |
plusSed. He steadily and suspic-
iOusly eyed the polite and we'll
dressed stranger, and finally said,
with significant emphasis, ''All |
right, Old boy; but ii there's any |
Pickering in this thing, you may
know what to expect"
Without further parley the Colo
mel Invested himself of coat, vest and
hat, placing them with his cane up
on the grass, stepped out upon the
road, and put himselfin position by
the side of the champion. The
spectators evinced the livliest inter
est in the race, and ranged them
selves along each side of the road.
Bets were offered freely at enormous
odds against the rash stranger, who
certainly did not look match for
his staIwart competitor but there
were few of these bets taken. AT a
given signal the men darted off
amidst the yells of the delighted
crowd. For nearly the whole dis
tance the two contestants, who
seemed to be straining every nerve,
kept side by side, but when in about
twenty yards of the goal the Colo
mel, by dint of extraordinary efforts,
shot ahead, and won the race. He
WAS now the hero of the hour, and
rs he walked back 10 the starting
point, exhausted and almost breath
less, he was heartily Cheered by the
excited spectators. His opponent
came up promptly and paid him
the fifty dollars, and at the same
time challenged him for another
trial.
mo, thank you, thir,' said the
Colonel, rs he pOcketed the money;
81 make it a rule never to run more
han one rathc in day
He then carefully put on his vest, :
coat and hat, placed his cane under
his arm, made one Of his profound :
st bows, and with pleasant GOOD /,
afternoon, gentlemen" strutted :
away. That evening =
ne paid his bill at the hotel aud 7
COX boat for Nashville.
Col. W used to relate this in {
'ident with Il relish, and when
isked what he intended To do in /
'ase he lost the race, he would say,
= Well, to tell the truth, il wuth II =
lethpcrate cathe; had made up !;
ny mind that il ! didn't win, | !,
would keep on running, and never :.
OOk behind until | reached Ten !
n