Year: 1874

He Holds at Bay Twenty Thousand


Men, and Settles a Horse Race


Many are the interesting scenes of
Gen. Jackson's life which his biogra-
pher, Parton, has omitted and not
brought to light. When boy, says an
old gentleman who was boy in Ten
nessee at the time, saw him scare and
put to fight twenty thousand men. The
occasion was this Grey Hound, a
Kentucky horse, had beaten Double
Head, a Tennessee horse, and they
were afterward matched for five thou
sand dollars side, to be run on the
Glover Bottom course. Ny uncle, Jo-
sephus Fl. Conn, carried me on horse
back behind him to see the race. He
set me on the cedar fence and told me
to remain until he returned. There
must have been twenty thousand per-
sons present. L never witnessed such
fierce betting between the States.
Money and negroes were put up. A
large pound was filed with horses and
negroes bet on the result of this race.
The time had now arrived for the COM
petitors to appear on the track. I
heard some loud talking, and looked
down the track and saw, for the first
time, Gen. Jackson riding slowly on o
gray horse, with long pistols held in
each hand. 1 think they were as long
as my arm, and had a mouth that a
ground squirrel could enter. In his
wake followed my uncle, Conn, Stoke
ly, Donaldson, Patton Anderson, and
several others, as fierce as bull dogs.
AS Gen. Jackson led the van and ap-
preached the judges stand, he was rap
idly talking and gesticulating. AS he
came by me, he said that he had ire
fragable proof that this was to be q
jockey race; that Grey Hound was seen
in the wheat field the night before,
which disqualified him for the race,
and that his rider was to receive five
hundred dollars to throw it off, and by
the Eternal he would shoot the first
man who brought his horse upon the
track that the peoples money should
not be stolen from them in this manner


He talked necessarily, while the spittle
rolled from his mouth and the fire from
his eye. l have seen bears and wolves
put at bay, but he was certainly the
most ferocious looking animal that I
had ever seen. His appearance and
manner struck terror into the hearts of
twenty thousand people. If they felt
as l did, every one expected to be slain.
He announced to the parties if they
wanted lead in their hides, just bring
their horses on the track, for by the
Eternal he would kill the first man that
attempted to do SO. There was no re-
sponse to this challenge, and after wait
ing some time, and they failing to ap-
pear, Gen. Jackson said it was great
mistake in the opinion of some that he
acted hastily and without consideration.
He would give the scoundrels fair
trial, and to that end he would consti-
tute court to investigate this matter
who would hear the proof and do JUS
tice to all parties. Thereupon he ap-
pointed sheriff to keep order, and five
judges to hear the case. Proclamation
was made that the court was open and
was ready to proceed to business, and
for the parties to appear and defend
themselves. Not appearing, Gen. Jack
son introduced the witnesses proving
the bribery of Grey Hounds rider, who
was to receive $500 to throw off the
race, having received $3.50 in advance,
and that Grey Hound had been turned
into the wheat field the night before.
He again called on the parties to ap,
pear and counteract this proof and vim
dicate their innocence. They failing
to appear, Gen. Jackson told the court
that the proof was closed, and for them
to render their Judgment in the prem.
ises, which, in a few moments, was
done in accordance with the facts
proved. was still on the fence form


ing one line of the large pound contain


ing the property bet on the race. Each
man was anxious to get back his prop


erty. Gen. Jackson waved his hanG
and announced the decision, and said


"Now, gentlemen, go calmly and ii
order, and each take his own property.
When the word was given the people
came with rush. It was more terrible
than an army with banners. They
came bullying against the fence, and il
the struggle to get over they knocked
it down for hundreds of yards. l was
overturned and was nearly tramped tC
death. Each man got his property


and thus the fraudulent race was broker
up by an exhibition of the most extra


ordinary courage. He did that day
what it would have required 2,00i
armed men to have effected. All thii
was effected by the preseno;S, and action
of one mon, and without the drawing
of one drop of blood. .