The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-06
Major Dysart Describes Event in
Howard County, Where Ey-
erybOdy Made a Bet.
TWO HORSES IN THE CONTEST.
Ben Franklin, Backed by All the
Natives, While a Gray Nag
From Nowhere Comes Home
an Easy Winner.
REPrRTIc sprHAr.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Macon. Mo-. July 5-'Did you know that
the greatest horse race in Missouri oc-
CURED in Howard County," asked Major
p. r. Dysart the other day. one would
hardly expect n person q the Majors
standing in the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church TO know much about a horse race.
but the story he told was OF the fortieS
when cveybody-saint and sinner-thought
II fashionable to admire horsefesh and
back his judgment on it with his wealth
Il was = boy then. CT course, for, you
see. I'm quite a young man yet. But 1
was as much interested In Il as the older
heads. The truth -. FOR weeks before moth
'nS else was talked about In old Howard
but that race. There has never been a pres
ideutial election that created anything Ike
the eNcitemtnt Il did. Not eyea the star
ding news that the States had gone 70
war in 1861 approached II. FayCtte wes The
town selected for this important event. be-
cause u had 3 good race course. Ny folks
lvrd at Roanoke. an old town. now isolated
~ the raiir ads, and chiefly known for Its
'Isom Emory ana William Patton. two
prominent farmers. owned an animal OF tine
G-l1d NAMED Ben Franklin. They haC run
70 against everything m the state. and II
was always an easy victor. Emory and
Potion had a staining challenge 10 the
noted printer. Al last the gauntlet was
picked up by a fellow with a gray horse.
Eame that defsd Ben FRANKLIN. but re-
member he was a C11l. Seif-cUnilent look
ing fel'cA who walked around with ms
st=aws.
Everybody Had Money to bet.
1t was quietly whispered that the new
OF old Howard stuck To their favUrite al
most To q man. We shared the owners
supreme c9aiiIence that nothing that
franklin People from all the neighoorIng
counties came To see tHe contest. Ihey
came IN farm wagons. on horseback and
walked.
Ben Franklin badges fute-cd from the
breasts of hundreds ut girls and women.
Harvard County folk were Well supplied
WITH money. AMI they never refused a pct
They carried their wealth. around IN sacks.
Il Was all IL silver pieces, and II would
nave uae q tree SILVER MAJ : heart good 10
see tie v-st amount that seemed 20 &c
flowing Il male uns think thai a mint
must b. somewhere near hy. TErre was no
paper money then. Emory and Patton
NaEergi everything Trey had ON their
horse. The quiet ZIP had inspired the out
siGsrs wish hose ana they took AL the Ben
Franklin money 'nrret. Everybody had
money and cver. body bet. men, women and
JIckians. but theiT interest was no greater
rhan the Nissourians-
footed SlaGiatCrs appeared IN the ring. and
those who had some reserve cash ClamOred
for bets. Esu F~Tanki.u'S fine head was
much superior To- that OF his lighter rival.
Tho horses Wc-e well ridden. The rae
w.S four miles and repeat. l can't recall
IN. details OF he race.
Ben Franklin Came in Second.
i know l was in sight Of the wire when
that long lank gray came in and Ben
franklin was benini him. There was a
thunderCus h1wIs OF JOY and rage. The
mob broke down the fences and rushed
Ilto the ring. and II looked TO me like
everybody was shaking his fist in his neigh
bor'S face and the ueIGhbOr was returning
the compliment. There were several rough
ard-tumhIe fights. The friends OF the favor
ite would not believe Ben Franklin mad
been beaten fairly. They charged that the
boy that rode him mad permitted a horse
doctor to enter the stable the night be
fore ana dose him. The charges were in
veStizatsd. but the judges decided the gray
had fairly won. and the men betting on
him were entitled TO their money.
The result about ruined the owners Of
Ben ranklin Emory became deranged,
and for n long while he was under treat
meut. but l think he finally recovered. Ben
franklin reFCr ran any more races. but he
sired some fine animals since. My father
had two OF Eis colts. ard they did credit to
their iliustrious ancestor
IT am not much given to sport these
hut IL ever another race Xix that is
pulled on within reaching distance. I'm
afraid I'd be there"