The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-02

lUdut us d SIIt.
My race-horses for England were taken up
the Clyde, In Scotland, the English laws
prohibiting horses on passenger vessels at
that period, so | left them with trainer in
Scotland to recover from the effects of the
passage across the Atlantic; made the Euro
pean tour and returned the next year to run
for the Goodwood cup. Was beaten in 1857.
The reason why, and other incidents, will
appear hereafter.
Subsequently won the Goodwood cup-the
most interesting race l ever beheld-and
most other long races, all with American
horses, among others Bentinck Memorial,
the longest race in the world, being four and
q quarter miles. The horses started in the
village Of Singleton. about 1000 feet below
the level of the race course. Incidents con-
nected with this will appear later.
After resgning as cadet Colonel William
R. Johnson of Virginia became my mentor
and partner in race-horseS. He was cal ed
the Napoleon of the Turf" for his superb
GRITTY and accuracy as to what his horses
could do. Before the race of Boston with
Fashion, four-mile heat l asked him in
what time he thought Boston could run four
miles. He replied, 1882 to 1888" / then
asked, Who will win?" He said. Its
toss up" The race was run in :32Ns, and
Fashion won. William II. Gibbons, who
owned Fashion, was quite nervous, and
when he came to the races in his carriage
had the windows closed, and made lie
coachman tell him how the horses were
running.
John Minor Bolts of Virginia was great
friend of President Tyler, and was thought
to have Influenced him officially. He had
superior horse which he called Revenue"
rs all he possessed at that time depended
upon the revenue his horse could win for
him.
Colonel Wade Hampton, the father of the
present General Wade Hampton, was the
beau ideal Of the Southern planter and
always attended the races on horseback
Senator Stanford is what they call in
England an all-round sportsman, from the
turf to the Senate Chamber, always seeking
the public veal. His efforts for the in
auguration of the Palo Alto University will
surpass in quality all of ancient or modern
times, leaving the tIiumphs of the Caesars
and the pageants of the Russian Emperor
eclipsed. This will exhibit California for
climate, fertility and educational superiority,
the garden of the world.
President jackson also attended the rare
meetings at Washington on horseback,
his erect military figure showing to good
advantage His IRON will, as depicted upon
.he field of battle, was also exhibited in the
Cabinet. When Duane, Secretary of the
Treasury would not remove Government
deposits from the United States Bank,
jackson removed Duane. and named an
other Secretary, more compliant. A GEN.
serious resolution being passed against Jack
son in the subsequent Leg slative Assembly,
he had it expunsed. At this period the
country was in Il state OF transition. When
fires are smoldering men do not talk or act
as in tranquil times.
When | had racehorses at New Orleans
(brf0re the panic Of 1880 Cotton was King!
There were wildcat banks, so that planters
in Mississippi on the banks Of the river
would take title deeds, representing thou
sands of acres in cotton, put the deeds In
their saddle-bags, and return with them
filled with wildcat notes, which, for the
time, were good as gold.
The people were as wild as visionary.
Jim and Resin Bowie brothers from Mary
land, appeared at this time, being famous
as Indian fighters. A fight was termed
diff .ulty." The brothers assisted at a
duel on an island in the Mississippi River
afterward called Bloody Island. Some
dispute occurring between the seconds, in
the language of the time. AL pitched in
for free fight, several being left dead on
the island" The bowie knife was prom
inent and successful
Caldwell Iheater was running in New
Orleans at this period. where | went to see
the pay and met Jim Bowie, hercules,
with pleasant face and manners when in
a good humOr. In the saloon of the theater
a friend of Bowie had been posted as a
liar and coward. Bowie marched through
the crowd crying take down the placard,"
saying his friend should fght-if not, lie
was there to fight for him. That ended the
affair
At all the public balls the people were
searched on arrival and their weapons taken
from them, checks being given So they could
be restored when they came out. As a man
carried his life in his hand, all went heeled
Later on / went TO Mississippi with Alex
McClung nephew of Chief Justice Mar
shalD, ''as mild hammered man as ever
scuttied ship or cut throat" One could
not realize the desperate in the handsome,
feminiae-looking man of %. He was
Kentucky lawyer, going South for n for
tune; had taken the advice famous juriSt
had given to his son when he was about to
succeed him as lawyer: Always be
ready with your pistol"
Soon after arriving McClung fought a
duel and killed q classmate of mine, whose
father, clergyman, attended him to the
field. They were to fight with rifles, pistols
and bowie-kniyes, and were separated a
hundred yards. McClung, at the first fire,
put bullet through Aliens head. He had
more duels in which he came off best, and
then went with JEFF Davis to the Mexican
War. He was afterward appointed Min
lister 10 one OF the South American States,
where lie died.
S. 5. Prentiss, another duelist, came from
the East to Miss ssippi as a sehoo-teacher,
and abandoned the school for the bar. |
met lin in New Orleans Went TO hear him
make speech in court when he was prose-
cutting a descendant OF Il famous orator. He
commenced by saying: Gen tlemen of the
jury, | have a very difficult task to perform
this day. | have to skin an alligator" He
then stlGmatized his opponent in every man
ner The son, young man of 20, challenged
Prentiss, who very properly apo0giZed aud
declined the challenge. lie was famous for
his speech in Washington when sent by the
Legislature of Mississippi to advocate State
rights, OF some kind or other, finally dying
in Mississippi.
John SlIdell, from New York, was sent to
the Senate of the United States IRON Lou
isana, having killed nan or two. He was
a brother Of the naval Captain who hung
Spencer. son of the Secretary of War.
John K. Grimes, from Virg mia, also went
through the code; finally, in the Legislature
of New Orleans, shooting at the President,
or Speaker, when IN his chair. Was famous
as a lawyer and orator.
Returning from Europe, where had been
racing, | went to rtcuperate on a farm
about nine miles from Louisville. A desper-
ado named General Whitaker was living
there. had been warned aEainst him and
told lie was man-kiiler. lie lived about
half mile from my house, at the railway
station, so l often saw him and did my best
to avoid him. Among the people whom l
der the pretext of leaving letter for me he
called at my house at midnight, and being
halt drunk commenced halloing. | got up,
threw UP my window and asked what lie
wanted. He said he had letter for me,
when thanked him and told him to throw
TO receive it from him personally.
few months after was returning from
Niagara Fails, and had asked a son of Sena-
tor CrttendeD, whom met in Louisville to
stop night at my house on his way to Frank
fort, where he lived. He assented. aud,
while smoking in the negro car on our way
to Whitaker Station, Whitaker came in
and joined in the conversation between
Crittenden and myself, finally becoming
abusive. Crittenden and l left the car and
went into another to get away from him.
When we got upon the platform where had
to allght | carried on one arm cloak and in
my right hand small bag, and when saw
Whitaker approaching me in an aggressive
manner told him TO go away, that l wished
to have nothing to do with him. BY this
time he had got to within about three feet
of me, when he drew revolver and COM
menced firing. l jumped to get his pistol,
which threw me out of the line of his fire,
the ball going through my coat. We then
grappled, to get the pistol and he to fire by
cooking with his thumb. Somehow or an
other none of the balls struck me until the