Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-05-17
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the CITY vi new 1EKAs tUk UN k&s@i
day the long-expected race d
"Eclipse against the world was Il
be decides b the race course on
Long Island. 1t was an amicable
contest between the North and The
South. The New York votaries 81
the turf-a much more prominent
interest," than &C presen @ hadsof
fered TO run Eclipse against any
horse that could be produced for .
purse Of $4,000 and the South
ern gentlemen had accepted the
challenge. / could obtain no car
Tiage - take me q the course, nj
every CONVEYANCE in the city was
engaged. Carriages Of every des
cription formed an unbrOken line
from the ferry to the ground. They
were driven rapidly, and were ID
very close connection. 80 much 81
that when one Of them suddenly
stopped, the poles of at least 4
dozen carriages broke through the
panels Of those preceding them.
. On arriving We found in assem-.
bly, which was simply overpOwer-
ing; ii was estimated that there
were over 100, 900 persons upon the
ground. The conditions Of the
race were foaF-mile heats, the best
two in three; the course was q
mile in length. 4 college friend,
the late David L. ball, had pro-
cured for me a ticket in the jock
ey-box, which commanded q view
Of the whole field. There was
great difficulty in clearing the
track, until Eclipse aud Sir Hen
nv (the Southern hOrse) were
brought to the stand. They were
both in brave spirits, throwing
their heels high into the air; they
soon effected that scattering Of the
multitude which Ill other meth
DDS had failed TO accomplish. And
now a great disappointment fell,
like wet blanket, ON more than
half the spectators. IT. was sud
denly announced that Pnrdy, the
jockey Of Eclipse, had h id diff
Guilty with his owner and refused
70 ride. To substitute another i'm
his place seemed like giving up
the contest; but the man wa !. alb
sointely stubborn, and the time
had come. Ola ~ F-ECa&
Another rider was provided and
the signal for the start was given
Tstood exactly opposite the judges
stand, where The mastering excite
pent found its climax. OF went
the horses, every eye straining to
follow them. -Four times they
dashed by the judges stand, and
every time Sir Henry was on the
lead. The spirits of the Southern
ers seemed 10 leap up beyond con
troi, while the depression of the
more phlegmatic North set in like
a physical chill. Directly before
me sat John Randolph, the great
orator Of Virginia. Apart from
his intense national pride, he had
personnel reasons to rejoice mt the
turn things were taking; tor he had
bet heavily on the contest, and, il
was said, proposed TO sail for Eu.
-'De upon clearing enough To pay
his expenses.
Halt an hour elapsed for the
horses TO get their wind, and again
ahey were brought 10 the stand.
But now a circumstance occurred
which raised IA deaiening shout
from the partisals of the North.
Purdy was TO ride. How his scru-
piles had been overcome did moi
appear, but there he stood before
AS, and was mounting Eclipse.
Again, amid breathless suspense.
The word Col" was heard. anu
again Sir Henry took the inside
track, and kept the lead Tor more
than two miles and a.halt. Eclipse
followed close Oh his heels, and, at
short intervals, attempted To pass.
1t every squirt he made TO ret
ahead Randolph's high pitched aud
penetrating voice was heard each
Time shriller than before: "YOu
can't do it, Mr. Puriy! You cant
do it, Mr.. Purify! You can't do il,
Mr. Puriy I" n
But Mr.. Purdy did do IL. And
as lie took the lead what roar ri
excitement went up! Tens OF
thousands of dollars were i'm sus-
llense, and although | had not n
cent depending, lost my breath
aad felt as ii a sword had passed
through me. Plrdy kept the lead
and came in a length or so ahead.
! he horses had run eight miles.
tie third heat was 10 decide the
uay.
The confidence ON the part of the
Southern gentleman was abated.
The manager Of Sir Henry rode an
to the front Of our box and, calling
10 a gentleman, said :-"You must
ride the next heat. There are hum
dreds OF thOusands Of Southern
money depending omit. That bow
Hon't know how To ride; he don't
keep his horses mouth open - The
sntleman positively refused. saw.
g that he had not been in the
s,ddle for months. The manager
b gged him 10 come down. and
j I'm randolph was summoned 10
.se his eloquent persuations.-
When the horses were brought
to- the stand, behold the gentle.
man appeared, booted and spur
red, with a red jacket on his back.
ald a Jockey cup on his head. Tn
the third heat Eclipse took the
lead and, BY dint Of constant whip.