A Neck or Nothing,

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 25

A Neck or Nothing,

Concerning that same farnqus Olinkev and Claßher match the old. steeplechase rider used to tell a wonderful story. It was for £1500 a,-side, and Dick rode Captain Ross' Oifafcei? and Squire Osbaldeston Clasher. " We weighed at Dalby, the Squire and I — bless me ! I was never in such condition — and away we trotted to Garbree Hill, Oapt. Ross says to me : ♦ You must waft.* < It's giving away a certainty,' I says, ' and if I get a fall then, J'm, $vH behind,' But it was no man.n.e.F o,f use, talking, Sir St. Vincent QcMon, an,d. Mr GUmour started, us, and Mr Malin.wss umpire, We rode 12st a-piece; I was in tartan, and the Squire, of course he'd be in green. When we were at th,epost he says : ' Now, Christian, I lojay? your orders ; but one thing Ido ask.^ \$ J fall don't jump on me.' I said : ♦ X gfae you ray word, Squire, I won't.' Th#< gentlemen, they could hardly keep wifth. and some had two or three, hcfffles fixed. We was almost touching .one another over Sharplands. « Squire,' \ says, « you're beat for a hundred pounds ' ; but he made no answer. I got ovey the rails at ! Twyford Brobk. Clashey hits 'em with all his four legs, afld ? ohncked the Squire right on to hjanecfe. ; Clipker took 'em like a bird. The Squire he landsin a bog, and his horse makes a dead stop ; it did take! a deal out of him. Then I jumps right into a dung-heap up to Clinker's knees. We'd no idea them things waa theie. Going /up John" o' Gaurit's'Fieldwe was-together, but I turns: to get some rails in the course — he was such a good 'uu at rails was Clinker. I thought

he was winning, but down he comes at the last fence, dead beat,' lies for some minutes, then gets up as lively aa ever, but in no manner of form, looking 1 round as a hoop. They held Clash er up,- and flung water in his "face, and he won in the -last hundred yards from superior training; < The Squire did ride that match day, to be sure. I went up to callon hird one affernoon at 1 St. John's Wood, and he pointed to that picture of the finish hanging up just opposite the 'fireplace, and he says to me: 'Dick, that Clinker and Clasher day beat me a deal more than the 200 mil '" • • 1

[es match.

An After-dinner Mill. ' ( A good stoiy is told of Sir. Peter~Soame, a well-known sporting baronet, patron of the P.R., and .amateur boxer in the early yeais of the present century. One Sir Peter was entertaining: a large party at dinner, when a footman entered and whispered something in his ear. •• Will you excuse me, ladies and gentlemen,'' he said, "for a few minutes, for a little important private business.!' Then, beckoning to an old friend to follow him, be left the dining room' and repaired to the kitchen, where a big, strong chap, who combined the callings of butcher and village constable, was waiting. "What do you want with me ? " asked the baronet. " Six and eightpence for the summons I've called so many-times about," answered the fellow sulkily. ' V My servant told you I was at dinner, and yet you refused- 'to go.' Can you fight?" "Rather," answered the butcher, with a grin. "Very well then. Take off your coat, and if you are a better man than lam I'll pay you the money ; if you're not I'll kick you out of the house for your impudence." Mr Constable was delighted, and began to strip. ' " Send the girls out of the kitchen and clear away the furniture," said Sir Peter to his footman, following the, other's example, " and get some sawdust and throw upon the ground." " Yes ; and then come back and see me gi'e thy master a good thrashing," said the constable. In the first round, however, he received a blow Tight through his guard that laid him prostrate, After that he tried hard to close with his antagonist ; but Sir Peter kept him off, and punished him so, severely that, after six trfemendous rounds, the oonftdent gentleman was fain to ory a go. " Now kick him outi" said the baronet. , " When ,be 'cc comitt' to gi'e the master another thrashin'?" ealleaj out the footman as the crestfallen, butcher disappeared. Sir Peter, after washing and re-dressing, went back to the dining room— a little flushed, it ia tsue, bu,t beariag »o marks of the, fray upon hi,m, and no one had the least idea, of the nature of ,th© business that had called liini away.