Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-30
MILLEDGEvTLLE SKETCHES.
Indian Horse Races Which Figure in the
"Reminiscences of Milledgeville.

From tie AilledgeoiUe linton.
Fifty odd years ago the Mckinley field,
just across the river, on the north side of
the public road, was the Milledgeville
race course, the patrons of which were
some Of the first gentlemen of the city and
the surrounding country. Here at regu-
lar periods races were run and money
was won and lost. Some months before
the annual meeting, while Bennett and
quite a number of gentlemen were sitting
out in the portico of one Of the principal
hotels of the city (since burned DOWN
countryman drove up with an old
hair rubbed cff his sides APP
parently by the chatting of the trace
chains o! the apple cart to which
he was then attached. While the cOun-
tryman was negotiating for the sale of his
apples, Bennett, pointing to the horse in
the cart, remarked that that horse could
run. Here followed discussion on the
merits Of the horse of whose qualities for
speed Bennett was the only indorser. 1t
wound up, however, upon Benefits offer
ing to bet that if he could buy the horse
from the apple cart man that bv the time
of the next regular races he could bring
HIM out and train him so that he
would beat any horse they could
bring. There were plenty in
town to take his bets. Bennett
succeeded in buying the horse for
mere trifie, and before night many and
heavy were the bets be had booked. The
horse was taken into the country, where
he was properly recuperated, and at the
next regular races be distanced every
thing on the course. 1t soon transpired
that the horse was a celebrated racer
which Bennett had purchased in neigh
| boring State, he'd reduced him in flesh,
rubbed the hair off his sides where the
trace-chains would naturally chate. and
had him driven into town in a cart by his
agent, the apple cart man.
There was one occasion, however, and
the only one that we heard of, upon which
| Bennett was oyerTeached, and that, too,
by a lot Of stupid Indians. IL was at the
time that the general government bought
the lands from the Creeks. The Indians
were in funds. Each one having a little,
the grand aggregate of all would amount
to no incOnsGerabie sum. OF all the
races probably on earth the red men
Of America have the greatest passion
| for gaming. Bennett, fully cOgnizant
Of this uncomfortable propensity, de-
( termined on a visit to them with
a view Of tightening them of some, if not
all, of their gold, the precious metal
with which they had been paid of. He
resolved to 20 alone, his sOrdid and selfish
nature excluding at once the idea Of
sharing his spOils with any one. Long
division had no peculiar attractions for
! him, where he was to be a recipient of
/ the dividends. He infinitely preferred
short, and short division with him meant
/ just eXactiv no division at all. His in
/ tentiOn being to run races with them, he
/ procured a few of the feetest Indian
/ ponies that could be bought, and with his
! riders-a lot of mere boys-tO0k his de-
/ parture for the Creek nation. He arrived
I among them in due time, the races were
4 soon agreed on. and the bets all arranged.
( Now Bennett knew full well, in case he
! should Win-and Of this he was pretty
/ certain-that the Indians would only want
/ the merest pretext for deciding the race
/ again sthim, and being entirely alone, with
no friend to aid him, there would be no
appeal from their decision, which deci-
sion they would sustain even to the eX-
tent Of aseassinating him, if necessary.
In order, therefore, to preclude the slight
est chance of squabble, for fear that
they might contend that he started before
the signal was given, he instructed his
riders to let the Indians get fairly the
start, and then Oyertake and pass them
and come out ahead. These instructions
were literally complied with. Benefits
rider gave them a fair start of him, then
passed them and beat the race. They
came before the judges Indian judges
for their decision. They awarded the vic
tory 20 their own race.
'EWhatw exclaimed Bennett, "didn't
come out aheadY'
''Ugh," was the replv.
"Well didn't / give you the start%
asked Bennett.
"Ugh," answered the Judges.
"Well." said Bennett, "what do you
mean? l gave you the start OF me. passed
you on the track, and came out ahead Of
you"
'sUgh," was still the response of the
judges.
swell, how can you decide against me {?
What more do you requireY
Your boss never run fast enuff in de
middle"
Bennett packed up and returned. He
never mentioned his Indian expedition to
any one, nor even made the slightest allu-
sion to it, but the story leaked out from
the riders.
rrNrVTrTVTN M THIN IIBAUT