Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-24
THE TENsAs RACES,
A speoIaI q. 4. Reporter Does a

- 2pbGldt ~ n HGPpiA1i GCg- 2
Trip to HeIltown and Return.
Passing up Washington street last
Wednesday morning, we noticed a lot
Of dodgers headed, "Ho for the Lake
ST. Joseph Races" Happening to
know something about that country,
we struck a bee line for the steamer G.
Z. Hooker. After securing a berth
from Capt. ]. A. Q~uackenboss, we col
as you may say, that is we sim
ply melted, and we thought If pools
were sold between Vicksburg and
sheol, the betting would be about
even, If there was any doubt Vioks-
had the ups. Wednesday night
at early midnight THAT is just after
IL o'clock we retired and during that
.protracted meeting which in dream
land we held between Vicksburg and
Helltown. Constantly we heard one
dollar nearly till towards the wee sma'
hours we had accumulated consider
able wealth. Alas for dreams. At the
growing Of the cock, reality in all its
deformity still sat in judgment. In
order to test the intent and meaning Of
a dream we left V~icksburg at 2 pm.
in that noble little craft named for the
gifted orator of Mississippi, need say
Charles E. Hooker2 We started for
the races. The God Of day was just
sinking to rest its last rays tinting the
willows with a golden hue, the stars
came out and the moon piercing the
tissue Of large clouds tipped the waters
of Palmyra Lake with a wavy tremu-
lous light. The gong rang, the whistle
blew, awakening us to the fact that we.
we're at Palmyra, the plantation of
Gen. W. S. Lowell. We finally got
through backing and filling as you may
say, put out the freight, and away for
Sunset where we proposed to tie up
for the night, before landing, the
gentle zephyrs famed our brows, but
on the winds we could family discern
the voice we knew so well,
it was a great relief to III to
know that we were gradually but
surely increasing the distance between
us. They were voices that In the past
had caused us to break the command
ments religiously inclined as we were,
the LEAD us not into temptation" was
amened by all aboard. We landed,
that is we struck the bank, the cook
went to sleep, the captain nodded, the
roustabouts stretched their dusky
forms on deck, the steam ceased to
hiss, we retired, that is we pulled of
our coat (Which we afterwards re-
gretted), the lake looked beautiful, and
all was still as the breath when the
Spirit hath departed. We went into
the land Of nod, (but we didn't STAY
there long), those familiar voices tina
we had heard in the distance CAM
nearer, and louder until with the kis
of welcome we were aroused to tn
fact that the mosquito still liveth
After awhile, one by one the crew an,
passengers could have been seer
pacing the deck, no familiar greeting
but a constant murmurring, that nov
and then you could make out, "it'
hotter than sheol," finally the stars be
gan to wane, one by n they seemed
to depart as though tired of the cease
less vigil. The croak of the frog, thu
twitter of the birds, the bray of thu
festive mule told of the approaching
day. We arose, that is we got up tt
see If there was blood enough in us t,
stand. Gazeing upon the expanse o.
cotton that lay before as we recognizes
an old darkey, sport. Greeting him
Good morning Rube, what are yor
doing down here2 have you qui
rafting the bones?" "Yes, sab, Is
de boss niger for Mr.. O'Kelly now
Pm a swift niger wild de hoe"
We took breakfast, and through tn
kindness of Mr.. Matt Bedford, secure
a team, when off to the races W
started. At the race track we found
as usual with country races, everybod
looking wise and talking in enigmat
, in fact it appeared as though ever
man had the fastest horse and didn
t want his neighbor to know it, Aft'
| pleasant greetings from all, the poo
were opened and the racing begaI
> We can simply say for originality
t horse racing Tensas takes the cak
{ The first race was between Flor
/ Temple and Black Dipper; won b
Dipper.
The second race was between Lew
E. Smith and Cleveland; foul ridir
Q threw the race off.
: The third race was between Bill
Malone and Cow Boy; won by Bill.
Malone.
The fourth race vas between L
compile and Cherokee; won by L
9 compile.
t The races over, we were compellt
to leave for the G. E. Hooker, nj
having time to accept the kind invit
9 lions Of friends to attend the ball.
Our dusky friend John Lewis toe
up the ribbons and calamity '
trotted over Styx and on to Sommerst
where we were most agreeably entt
tanned by Messrs. Mcmillan & O'Kell
The ringing Of the bell summoned
aboard, and after a few hours we {
rived safely in Vicksburg.
IT
Narvous Debiltatad Man