The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-11-08
The Story Of Little Affair that Took Place
Down at Eatchez.

Inc story Of q Little Affair that Took Place
Down at Katchez.
Before Colonel W. became com.
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 sue
cessful sale. He undertook, how
ever, to increase his supply of
money by methods which involved
more elements of chance than were
connected with his regular bust
ness. 1t was an unlucky venture,
and in very short time he found
himself with only money enough to
pay his passage on beat as far up
the river as Nathez. Although he
had not a dollar in his pocket,
when he reached Natchez he put up
at the best public house. He wore
2 broad-cloth suit and silk hat,
and sported a gold-headed cane
with which he would not have part
ed for many times its value, He
bore himself with easy dignity, cal
culated to impress all who saw him
with the belief that he was capi-
talist with abundant resources, who
might be induced to invest some
thousands in the property of the
town.
A week had nearly passed, and
he had not succeeded in putting
enough money in his purse to pay
his landlord, One Sunday after
noon, when he was seriously think
ing Of making q stealthy exit at
night, he learned that the roughs
and gamblers, who at that time
formed a considerable part of the
population Of Nathez, had assem-
bled On q 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 $50
that he could beat anybody on the
ground in race of 100 yards. The
Colonel remembered that he had
himself been fleet of the foot in
his younger days, and, pressed by
dire necessity, he resolved to try
his luck on this occasion. So in
the pause which followed the cham
pion's challenge he stepped for
ward, and making q stately bow,
said, quietly, 81 will take your bet,
thir,'' The bully looked at him a
few moments in contemptuous sur
prise, and said, ssWell, put up your
money
With a courtly wave of the hand
the Colonel replied, deprecatingly.
"There ith no need, thir, of that
formality between gentlemen. I
am gentleman, and I take you to
be one. If I Tooth the rathe will
pay you the fifty dollarth; if you
Tooth it, l do not doubt that you
will act with equal honor"
The rough and desperate men
present seemed to regard this as a
very remarkable proposition, and
for a time the challenger was non.
plussed. He steadily and suspic-
iously eyed the polite and we'll
dressed stranger, and finally said,
with significant emphasis, Sail right,
old boy; but if there's any fickerin'
in this thing, you may know what
to expect"
Without further parley the Col
onel divested himself of coat, vest
and hat, and placing them with his
cane upon the grass, stepped out
upon the road, and put himself in
position by the side of the cham
pion. The spectators evinced the
liveliest interest in the race, and
ranged themselves along each sled
Of the road. Bets were freely Of
fered at enormous odds against the
rash stranger, who certainly did not
look a match for his stalwart COM
petitor; 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 distance the two con-
testants, who. seemed to be strain
ing 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 ex-
hausted 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 chal-
lenged him for another trial.
'.No, thank you thir," said the
Colonel, as he pocketed the
money; Il make it a rule never to
run more than one rathe in q day."
He then carefully put On his
vest, coat, and hat. placed his cane
under his arm, made one. Of his
profoundest bows, and with a pleas
ant "Good afternoon, gentlemen"
strutted complacently away. That
evening he paid his bill at the hotel
and took boat for Nashville.
Colonel W-used to relate this
incident with a relish, and when
asked what he intended to do in
case he lost the race, he would
say:
"Well, to tell you the truth, it
wath a dethperate cathe: but I had
made up my mind that if I didn't