Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-07-02
Horse Swapping In Georgia.

Gentle reader, did you ever visit the
horse swapping grounds at the Spring
riding of tho Superior Court of NORTH
Georgia. Early Monday morning, and
long before the court convencs you
may behold them coming in on every
kind OF an animal--from a $40 horse
dow to 81 mule--and about 10 O. CLOCK
the fun commences. The last one we
visited was in an adjoining county,
and the first man on the ground was q
gentleman named Uncle Dick Statham,
who has been in the horse swapping
business since he left the cradle. He
rode on the ground about 8 o'clock,
with a horse worth just Sc, and the
others came up to ask after his health
and to see what kind of stock Uncle
Dick had to swap on.
"Well. boys, your Uncle Richard has
4 been under the weather for few days.
but ne thought he would come up and
SEQ II you all had any stock that
cared about. You needn't look at that
mare. She belongs to the old lady.
gave her to Bcssy TO ride to meeting.
She is not for trade unless could get
a right smart to boot
|
prince OF the brigade. came careering
over the hill on IS nag, apd rode
him like he had been born in the sad
die. He sported wide brimmed hat,
with pair of spurs six inches long.
Green looked something like Napoleon
at some Of the great victories (that is,
we imagine SO, never having seen Ma
poleon), and at once joined the crowd
and wanted to know who was on the
hill that day swapping stock. Uncle
Dick at once bantered Green and they
soon exchanged by Uncle Dick giving
pocket knife and drink to boot.
This was the first blood, but not the
last by a long shot.
A young fellow from Walton county.
who had his moustache dyed for the
occasion, came in, leading mule that
looked like he had done nothing but
peel the bark off sapplings around
still house for the last three months.
This young man had heard that it was
shrewd dodge among the educated
swappers to play drunk, and he was
playing it TO the queens taste. 1t was
not long before he had changed his
mule for horse worth S7.25 and gave
nifty cents difference.
Franklin county, at this juncturc,
sent in her delegate in the shape of
Johnnie Love. the oldest trader on the
ground, and as such claimed some no.
toriety, and whose word about the
qualities of IS horse was considered
better than anybody's. He and Uncle
Dick Stafham met, and after exchang-
ing few commonplace remarks, Mr..
Love inquired after Uncle Dicks stock,
and before long they traded by Uncle
Dick getting So and the saddle blank
ct, which was piece of an old quilt,
in the bargain.
By III o'clock every body was swap
ping, and, once in a while, drinking.
All seemed to bc in good humor, and
there was no fuss or fighting in the
crowd. They traded until night put
the town. They got something to eat
and were ready for business next morn
ing. Next day they had trimmed up
their mules and curried their horses,
and the same scenes were enacted over.
Up to Thursday night Uncle Dick had
made eighteen swaps. had $25 in mon
ey, three pocket knives, two brides.
two quarts of whisky and horse worth
just about RS much rs the one he
brought. atlanta CtRst tulton.