St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-03

starter. and the first heat had be en- run
IN mile-heat race. The usual wenty
minutes elapsed for the horses to come
to the post, and Capt. Franklin rang his
bell, but the only one that put in an ap-
pearance was Sallie Polk, a very high
strung mare that had to be taken out
side OF the Enclosure to be cooled out
and saddled. She was all ready, with
her Jockey up, and her trainer led her
by the bride up and down the track in
front OF the stand. A pretty cold breeze
was blowing, and it was evident that
the rest OF the gang were standing in
together against the mare.
1.-The bell rang several times, but still
no response from the paddock. Finally
the captain sent policeman to tell the
men to get their horses out, but still no
attention was paid to the message, and,
after waiting a few moments, Capt.
Franklin signaled to the boy on Sallie
Polk to bring the mare up. When they
got within few yards of the wire he
shouted to the man at her head to turn
her loose and tapped the drum.
"Well, away went the mare, and if
you ever saw sight in your life it was
the fellows in the paddock. Some of
them hadn't even got the blankets off.
and some were just saddled. Anyhow,
peculiar scene to see them chasing the
mare In single file and all strung out
around the track, but they never caught
her. and she came home winner, dis
taDcing the whole field.
''Sallie Folks NUMBER was promptly
hung out from the stand as winning the
heat and race. and then commenced a
scene which beggars description. The
crowd went wild with excitement.
Few people had placed any money on
the mare. In fact, as well as / remem-
Der now, horse owned by the cele-
brated Jesse James. who lived around
here then. was the favorite. They filled
the track in front Of the judges stand,
grand stand, bowling, desperate mob,
frantic that the race should not go to
the mare. l thought every moment
that Capt. Franklin would be shot, for
men drew their pistols and they were
not of the kind that bluffed much, but I
never saw man take anything so
coOlly in my life. He just pulled his
chair over close to the railing of the
stand, getting in front of the other
judges. and gazed quietly down on the
Seething multitude without muscle of
his face moving. Still the yells and
threats increased, and still the captain
looked at the brawlers unmOved.
Finally there was hush and then he
rose and said: Gentlemen, according
to the rules of racing this mare has won
the heat and race. | warned you
sufficiently, but you paid no attention.
She has been awarded the race and no
power OH earth can change the decision.
Put up the jockey and let him take that
purse down.
"Words can scarcely describe the
manner in which this speech was taken
by the crowd. They were simply
thnnderstruck to think that any one
man would have the hardihood to up
set their plans in such a way. but they
gradually resumed their places, and the
jockeys in the next race were out sharp
on time. There were several dark
threats made, but the captains pluck
was too much for them and it never
came to anything.
',rhis is why the plate you saw was
presented to Capt. Franklin, and if ever
man deserved it he did,"