The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-02-19

ed he could throw down any man in the
Some OF the "boys," perhaps the
Whites, living in the n~eighhorhood,
known to be expert wrestlers, made a
match with the emigrant, the result OF
which was they lost their money. He
threw down every man they brought.
at their defeat aud the loss OF
their money, they came to Judge Burdens
office, In Lexington, aud persuaded him
to agree to meet this famous athlete.
The Judge, who was always a kind
hearted man, and sympathised with the
"boys," who had lost their money, and
besides was very fon of athletic sport,
went out TO the strangers camp. The
stranger covered all the bets the Lafayette
men offered. A ring was formed under
the rules "best two out of three" and
Burden and the stranger gripped and
went to business. Twice in succession
the strangers back pIowed the earth. He
declined a third trial, and swore he would
never wrestle again.
About 1870, Robert Durham, of Califor-
mia, while or a visit to Lexington, his
old home, died at the old City Hotel, and
Judge Burden accompanied his remains
back to California.
In a hotel out there, he noticed a stranger
eying him very intently. Finally the
stranger came up to him and asked: care
you from Missouri" The Judge replied
that he was. "Is your name Burden, /" the
stranger asked agaln7 The Judge said:
eyes, that is my name; do you know mef"
"Kuow your" Fetorted the man, 81 never
could forget you'll Why, God bless you,
you are the only nan on earth who ever
threw me downt" Aud III the Calltor-
nian called up b whole house, and "set
'em up" in the true California style.
500 RIVER HERO.
In the early days, a life time before
there were railroads, Then this judicial
circuit embraced q territory larger than
some Of our states, It was the custom for
the lawyers and the Judge to ride horse
back from court to court, generally In a
body, headed by that able jurist, Judge
John F. Ryland, who entertained the bar
and relieved the tedious journey by reoit-
ing stanzas by the hour, from the poets.
On q certain Saturday, they were to start
the following Monday on the circuit,
Judge Burden remarked In q crowd that
be had lost his horse, and could not go.
Daunt Hicklin heard the remark, but
said nothing. About daylight the follow
ing Monday, there came q rap at Burden's
door. He opened 1t and there stood cans"
now an aged colored man, who may be
seen any day on the streets, who said,
Lawyer Burden, here Is Q horse that Mr..
HIcklin told me to leave here" and there
at the fence stood q charger, saddle and
bride, the envy OF any equestrian.
The next day through the bitter cold,
the merczry below zero, across the bald
praIries Burden rode to Clinton. The
town was filled with people attending
court. There vas only one spare bed In
the hotel and that was In the office OF the
hotel. Our late Judge Russell Hicks and
Burden were assigned to that bed.
Sometime that night q notorious bully,
who was familliarly called sold Soc," or
the "Hsro OF Soc River" by his pals and
companions, came In with q crowd of
worshipers who distributed themselves
on the door around the stove, with blank
cts for beds. "OId Soc" was the lion of
the occasion, and at each one Of his coarse
jokes the "tickler" was passed around the
crowd. amid the loud outlaws of his
WOEcuhpldl uouCuu10hs D1H9Ch y
strated, asked the men to keep quiet. as
he aeeded rest after his long cold ride.
and was compelled to be In court early
the next morning. They paid no atten.
ton to this modest and reasonable request
bat became more boistsrous as the red
liquor fred their blood. Finally Burden.
fixing his dark piercing eyes, full OF the
energy of determination, on ''old Soc."
said, "If you don't stop this noise I will
put you out OF here" This suited ''old
Soc." He scented the battle from aiar, he
rose up and said, "Helll ia like ter see
the man who kin put me outur herei"
Burden jumped from the bed and opened
wide the door to the street; he turned and
elinched with old ''Soc," and round and
round the o they went, a struggle of
men of giant strength, until finally old
''Soc'' landed head first on the pavement
IN the street. Burden bolted the door
and stood with his back against it, while
'tSoc," benumbed with cold aud almost
freezing. valniy pounded and pushed on
the outside. Judge Hicks fairly shook
the bed With bis uncomfortable laughter
at the ridiculous situation. Finally old
"Soc'' unable to get Ia or to withstand
the freezing cold, abandoned the seige
and went In his night clothes to Tom
wslisce's store, aud remained there for
the night. His pals made no further
that night.
The next day the railing OF the bar
was crowded with men waiting to get 9
look at that lawyer who whipped old
$780," This Incident added to Judge
large cIientage, the support, In
section, of the admirers of physical
strength.