RACEALONG 161 



was carried on the Mississippi and Red River boats. 

 It was hauled to or from the river banks by mules. 



The people in the White settlement and on the 

 plantations near it were more progressive than their 

 neighbors as in a few years they built a railroad to 

 Alexandria. The road bed which they made was in 

 time used by the Texas & Pacific. 



The White trading depot was near the Wellswood 

 Plantation, where General Wells and his brother 

 Montfort had a stable of race horses. Among others 

 they had a chestnut colt by Boston out of the cele- 

 brated mare Reel. 



This colt was foaled in 1850. He owed his existence 

 to the fancy which Ambrose Lecomte, a neighbor of 

 General Wells, took to Boston while he was in 

 Kentucky in 1848. On his suggestion Reel was mated 

 with the sire of Lexington. When the colt showed 

 that he possessed the qualities which go with a great 

 race horse, General Wells named him Lecomte after 

 his friend. 



Everybody in Rapides Parish was proud of this 

 colt. This pride almost became hero worship when 

 Lecomte defeated Lexington at four mile heats in 

 7:26, a new world's record. In order to give expres- 

 sion to their feelings, the men in the settlement met 

 at White's store and by a unanimous vote decided 

 to name their town after the horse. 



This was in 1854. From that date the place was 

 known as Lecomte. Later on the post-office depart- 

 ment and the railroad when it came through from 

 New Orleans changed the spelHng to Lecompte. 



