The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-10-04
A nolnnsl,s Race.

a OUlVuOA . AsooSs
Before Colonel w. became comfort.
ably settled in life he had many ups ana
downs of fortune. Once he carried
number of slaves to New Orleans anu
made a very successful sale. He under
took, however, to increase his supply
of money by methods which involved
more elements of change than were con-
pected with his regular business. 1t was
an unlucky venture, and in avery short
time he found himself with only money
enough to pay his passage on boat as
far up the river as Natchez. Although
he had not dollar in his pocket, when
no reached Natchez he put up at the
best public house. He wore broad
cloth suit and silk hat, and spOrted
eold-headed cane with which he would
not 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 thous-
ands in the property OF the town. A
week had nearly passed. aud he had not
succeeded in putting enough money IN
his purse pay his landlord. One Sun
dav afternoon when he was seriously
thinking of making a stealthy exit by
night, he learned that the roughs and
gamblers, who at that time formed q
considerable part of the population OF
NatcheZ, had assembled on a 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 y loud voice to bet $50 that he could
beat anybody on the ground in 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 chal-.
lenge he stepped forward, and making
a stately bow, said quietly, II will take
your bet, thir.'' The bully looked at
him few moments in contemptuous
surprise, and said. well, put up your
money" ..<...s. 49,.
With courtly wave of the hand the
colonel replied depreciatingly, There
| ith no need, thir, of that fofInality be-
tween gentlemen. l am a gentleman
and l 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
| q gentleman ith hith bond. - >s..g8
The rough and desperate men present
seemed to regard this as very remark
| able proposition, and for 3 time the
| challenger was nonplussed. He stealth
| ily eyed the polite and well dressed
stranger, and finally said with signifi-
cant emphasis, "All right, old boy, but
| if there any Hickerin' in this thing,
| you may know what to expect. p" 90
| Without further parley the colonel di-
vested 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 spectators evinced the
livliest interest III the race, and ranged
themselves along each side of the road.
Bets were freely offered at enormous
odds against the rash stranger. who GER
tainly did not look a match for his
stalwart competitor; but there was few
of these bets taken. At given signal
the men darted off amidst the yells ol
the delighted crowd. For nearly the
whole distance the two contestants, who
seemed 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. Hi:
opponent came up promptly and, pait
!, him the fifty dollars, and at the same
!. time challenged him for another trial
mo, thank you, thir," said the col
onel. as he pocketed the money. g
make it a rule never to run more thar
one race in 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 pleasant Good afternoon
gentlemen" strutted complacently
away. That evening he paid his bill al
the hotel and took a boat for Nashville.
Colonel W--used to relate this Incl
dent with a relish, and when asked
, what he intended to do in case he lost
. the race. he would say, ''Well, to tel
. you the truth it wath a dethperatt
, cathe; but had made up my mind tina
If didn't win, L would keep on run
ming and never look behind until
reached Tennethee." ."-Editor's DraO
er, in Harper's Magazine.