The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-21
A SHORT RACE
OF a Georgia Aspirant to the Presidential
Office.

OF Georgia Aspirant to the Presidential
ONCE.
For the Constitution.
In 1860, at the beginning of the presidential
campaign of that year. there lived in Ebert
county, about three miles below Elberton, q
man by the name of Hiram Davis whose in
formation was very limited, but who imag-
ined he know good deal.
AT the time there was theatrical company
spending some time in Elberton with a large
tent stretched on the west side of the public
square, in which the men of the town would
frequently congregate to discuss the exciting
political questions of the day.
On one occasion an unusually large crowd
was present in the tent Davis being one of the
number when 1t was proposed tohold a nation-
al nominating convention to nominate candi-
dates for president and vice-president. of the
United States.
After the meeting was organized Hon. Amos
L. Alderman (then resident of Elbertonl arose
and after brilliant speech on the gravity of
the situation, and especially of that particular
occasion, placed in nomination the name of
Hiram Davis, OF Ebert county, Ga, for presi-
dent, and Don Pedro Castro, of Mexico for
vice-president. The nomination was seconded
and carried by reclamation amid tremendous
applause.
A committee was appointed to notify Davis
OF his nomination, and called on him for o
Speech He asked for an hours time to pre-
grown to such proportions that the canvas
would not hold them, and 1t was decided to
have the speech delivered from varanda in
front of the courthouse. Davis's friends, promi-
nent among whom was Captain Ben G. Henry,
then q resident OF Elberton, took him off aud
rugged him up i'll a large old style blue military
coat, with epaulets on the shoulders, an inn
mense collar that reached above his ears, o
very tall stovepipe hat and an old pair of No.
IL ditchers boots
a annnintnl hp tha
veranha, and more comical looking appear
ance never presented itself to the people of
Elberton. But Davis meant business.
He thought that he was the bonaiide nomi-
nee for the Office, and visions of tho white
house and $4,000 a year had been poured in
his car by his accommodating friends until he
was worked up to to the highest point OF OK
element. He delivered senseless harangue
of an hours length with rs much earnestness as
was ever displayed by Stephen A. Douglas in
During the speech Captain j. A. Sanders,
now deceased, pretended to become offended
at some remark made by Davis, and at its con-
olusion sent him challenge to fight duel.
wanted to decline the combat, but his
friends urged him that he was
occupying position in which
it would be disgrace to decline, and that GER
tain defeat would be the result of such
course. This nerved him up to the point, and
he accepted the challenge, and acting under
the advice of his second Captain Ben Henry
chose double Darrell shotguns as the weapons,
and twenty PAGES rs the distance.
Everything being arranged, level street in
the front of the Methodist church was selected
as the duelling ground. Tho distance was
measured, the guns loaded with powder only,
but Davis thought with buckshot also) and the
principals placed in position At the COM
mand, "Fire," Sanders fired his gun off inn
mediately, but Davis took cool and deliberate
aim and fred. Sanders, Of course, fell
and his surgeon ran up and
bent over him, at the same time emptying a
bottle of red ink on his BOSOM and announc-
ing that he was mortally wounded.
Davis saw the blood (as he thought and his
friends advised him to fee. This he at
first declined to do, stating that he had
killed his man in fair duel and
had committed no crime, but when he
saw the sheriff OF the county approaching
him, his courage failed and he made break
for liberty. lie started down the street at
tremendous rate. The crowd raised O veil,
and a very large dog took after him, The
dog overlook him rs he turned the first corner,
fastened his teeth in Daviss pants and tore
them completely off of him. He increased his
gait, out ran the DOG, and as he turned the top of
the first hill, he ran ont OF his big boots, they
flying in the air over his head as he sped on
ward. He ran to his home but made no bait
running through the house and garden, break
ing down panel Of the latter as he went out.
He turned up Beaverdam creek and never
made q halt until he reached a relatives house
in the vicinity of Hartwell, having run twenty
six miles in about three hours For year af-
forwards Davis could not be induced TO put his
foot on Ebert county soil.
Thus commenced and ended undoubtedly
the fastest presidential race ever run III the
IInita1 fata