Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-31
OWNER OF ECLIPSE.
A FAMOUS TuRFMAys EXPERIENCE
DURING THE WAR.
The Narrow Escape from Death of
Major Thomas, of kentuclSy-A Man
Whose Life He saved Cared for His
Hundred barrels of whiskey.

! One OF the most remarkable experiences
Of the c!vi. war was that of Major u.
O. Thomas, the Nestor OF the American
turf.
Major Thomas had been the local agent
Of the Lexington and Louisville railroad
| nov the l.. and NJ for eight or ten years
prior TO the breaking out Of the war.
| His brother, Judge Charles ID. Thomas.
was strong Confederate sympathizer,
and early in 1859 he one day made an
| lnjudicious remark regarding the attitude
! Of the North towards the South. mis-
| came 10 the ears OF some of the members
| OF Metcalfs Cavalry, and they threat
ened TO drive Judge Thomas out OF town.
| His brother. y. q. Thomas. hearing Of
the threat, went TO the assistance OF his
| kinsman. He found his brother In a
counting-room, with the soldiers on the
! outside. He characterized the work OF
| the soldiers as an outrage, and ventured
the opinion in rather strong English that
he did not believe anybody would run
him out of town. He went back to the
passenger station OF the railroad which
is the identical building now used by the
l.. and ". for n similar purpose.
on reaching his office he was told that
the soldiers were coming after him. He
got his revolver from q drawer In his
desk, ana came back 10 the door. Sure
enough. the soldiers were coming. some
eight or ten strong, and in their lead
a private soldier. They advanced rapid
~. while Thomas remained standing
talking TO a friend. When the leader
had come within few steps of Thomas
he brought his gun towards his shoulder
as IL 10 fire. but the railroad man was
too quick for him and, like a flash OF
lightning. he drew his revolver and fired
FIVE shots into the soldiers body, they
entering his neck, breast, and abdomen.
The soldier expired instantly. His COM
rades made dash for Thomas. and the
latter. realizing that HIS only chance for
life lay i'm flight. his pistol being empty,
ran through the station, across Vine
street into the old Curd House hotel
and out the back way on TO High street.
Guiding his pursuers. He then went
west on High street until he reached
the freight depot. which was located
where the l.. and n. freight depot now is.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
He had scarcely arrived there and Sc
cured a pistol before a large squad OF
Metcalfs men appeared upon the scene.
Thomas dashed out the back entrance
TO the depot and ran into private house
and went up stairs. The soldiers saw
him enter and swarmed into the lower
rooms Captain Cook, VINO commanded
the squad called TO Thomas to come
down. Thomas appeared at the head
Of the stairs and said he would not
come down unless guaranteed protec-
hQ In
and he demanded proper treatment
Cook promised TO protect him II he would
surrender, and he came down and hand
ed the officer his revolver. He had
scarcely done So however, when one
of the men struck Thomas on the back
OF the head with the butt OF his musket
flooring him. This enraged the intrepid
Thomas, and he fought like tiger but
Cook succeeded In preventing the men
from shooting him on the spot, and he
was finally taken to jail, bleeding like
a butchered hog and his clothes nearly
torn from his person. He remained In
jail for three weeks but he had not
been in prison but a few days until
soldier came In while he was asleep one
night and tried 10 murder THOMAS by
choking him.
At that time Samuel Gill was the SUI
perIntenGent Of the Lexington and Louis
vile railroad, and az General Perry
Boyle, his close friend, was the com
mander OF the Union forces I'm Ken
lucky, he succeeded in getting that gem
tleman 10 put a guard around the Lex
ington jail and 10 carefully protect
Thomas In addition, he managed TO
have Thomas tried by the civil auihori-
ties, and his case was heard before the
distinguished Judge Alex. Robertson.
nv tha
witnesses that the killing OF the soldier
was done in self-defence. and Judge Ro-
bertson promptly acquitted him.
A FAMOUS HORSE.
Major Thomas was already devoted
turfman. and on his beautiful farm,
near the city limits. he kept the great
stallion, imported Eclipse While in
jalI he learned that Eclipse had been
taken from his stable by the soldiers,
who were using him as a cavalry horse.
Thomas got friend TO hire soldier
TO cut the halter off Eclipse at night.
and when this was done the camp.
which was located just at tho city
limits, had an experience seldom wit
messed. Eclipse was vicious Morse,
and attacked the horses In detail and
kicked. paved. and bit them until he
had frightened the entire lot so that
camp WAS pandemonium. Horses ran
through camp-fres. kicked over kettles,
fell over tent ropes, jumped the fences,
and played havoc generally. When or
der was finally restored nearly fifty
horses were found TO be injured, and
Eclipse was gone. He turned up seye-
raj days later at Major Thomass farm.
The coIored boy let him into his pad
dock. and he was making himself al
home again, when the soldiers came
and took him away Then Major
Thomas sought the good offices OF SD
perintendent Gill, and through his infiu-
ence Commander Boyle ordered ECLIPSE
released from the service and shipped TO
the home of his owner, in the East.
After Major Thomas was released
from custody his troubles continued. lie
did not have any idea OF joining The
Confederate army at that time, and he
was warmly attached TO Mr.. Gil and
TO the sefvice OF the railroad. But a
few nights after his acquittal about loo
members of Metcalfs command sur
rounded his house, ash would have cap
tured him. had not q neighbor. Ed.
Hoagland. warned him just in time and
carried him away ~ his buggy. He
slept in Hoagland's staole-loft for near
~ week. when he LETT and joined
the Confederate forces. lie was a
major on the staff OF General Wheeler.
and served with that intrepid command
er at Chickamauga and other battles.
HIS WHISKEY HIS FORTUNE.
Major Thomas, when he left to join the
Confederates, had 100 barrels OF line olo
Bourbon whiskey. made by Daniel Swi-
CERT. near Frankfort. 1t was distilled N
1855. and Major Thomas had stored 1t H.
a warehouse on Vine street. The Union |
forces did not know he had the whiskey |