St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-10
A PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
A LudicrOus Story of a Political
Episode i'm the South.


In 1860, at the beginning of the presi-
dental campaign of that year, there
lived in Ebert county, Ga, about three
miles below Elberton, a man by the
name OF Hiram Davis, whose informa-
ton was very limited, but who imag-
ined he knew a good deal.
At the time there was theatrical
company spending some time in Elber-
| ton with 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 po-
| litical questions Of the day.
On one occasion an unusually large
crowd was present in the tent, Davis
| being one of the number, when it was
| proposed to hold national nominating
convention to nominate candidates for
president and vice president of the
| United States.
After the meeting was organized, Hon.
Amos L. Alderman (then resident Of
ElbertOn) arose, and after brilliant
speech on the gravity of the situation,
and especially of that particular occa-
sion, placed in nomination the name of
Hiram Davis, of Ebert county Georgia,
for president, and Don Pedro Castro, of
Mexico, for vice president. The nomi-
nation was seconded and carried by &C
clamatlon and tremendous applause.
A committee was appointed to notify
Davis of his nomination, and called on
him for a speech. He asked for an
hours time to prepare himself. In the
meantime the crowd had grown to such
proportions that the canvas would not
hold them, and it was decided to have
the speech delivered from veranda in
front of the court house. Davis friends,
prominent among whom was Capt. Ben
Z. Henry, then resident of. Elberton,
took him off and rugged him up in a
large old-style blue military coat, with
epauletS on the shoulders, an immense
collar that reached above his ears,
very tall stOvepipe hat, and an old pair
OF No. II ditchers boots.
AT the appointed time he appeared on
the Veranda, and more comical-lOOk
lug appearance never presented itself
to the people of ElbertOn. But Davis
meant business. He thought he was the
bona fde nominee TO the office, and
visions of the White house and $4,000
year had been poured in his ear by his
accommodating friends until he was
wOrded up to the highest point of ex-
element, and delivered a senseleSs
harangue of an hours length with muhc
earneStnesS.
During the speech Capt. J. A. Sand
ers, now deceased, pretended to become
offended at some remark made by Davis,
and at its conclusion sent him a chal-
lenge to fight duel, Davis was averse
to Spilling human blood and wanted to
decline the com bat, but his friends
urged him that he was occupying a
position in which it would be disgrace
to decline, and that certain defeat
would be the result of such a course.
This nerved him to the point, and he
accepted the challenge, and acting under
the advice of his second Capt. Ben
Henry chose double-barreled shOtguns
as the weapons, and twenty PAGES as
the distance.
Everything being arranged, level
street in front of the Methodist church
was selected as the duelng ground
The distance was measured, the guns
loaded with powder only. but Davis
thought with buckshot also), and the
principals placed in position. At the
command ''fire'' Sanders fired his gun
off Immediately, but Davis took cool
and deliberate aim and fired. 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 announcing that he was
mOrtally wounded.
Davis saw the blood las he thought
and his friends advised him to fee.
This he at first declined to do. stating
that he had killed his man in a fair duel
and had committed no crime, but when
he saw the sheriff of the county ap-
preaching him, his courage failed and
he made a break for liberty. He started
down the street at tremendous rate.
The crowd raised A yell. and very
large dog took after him. The dog over
took him as he turned the first corner,
fastened his teeth in Davis pants and
tore them completely off of him. He IN
creased his gait. outran the dog,
and, as he turned the top of
the first hill, he ran out of his
boots. they flying in the air over his
head as he sped onward. He ran to his
home, but made 10 halt, running
through the house and garden. break
ing down a panel of the garden fence as
he went out. He turned up Beaver
dam creek. and never made halt until
he reached a relatives house in the
vicinity of Hartwell, having run
twenty-siX miles in about three hours.
For year afterwards Davis could not
be induced to put his foot Oh Ebert
county soil.
Thus commenced and ended un-
doubtedly the fastest presidential race
ever run i'll the United States.