356 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



had a full share of accidents in his calling the bare 

 recital will demonstrate. The wonder is that John's 

 " alive to tell the tale." Nothing but real English bull- 

 dog pluck, and a robust, well-trained constitution could 

 have survived the mishaps. Here is the story 



" My first accident, worthy of the name, was 

 at Carlisle in the year '49. It was in the 

 Cumberland Plate. I was riding a five-year-old 

 horse, which bolted with me inside the course. 

 On my way across the Swifts a little boy on a 

 pony came across my track and we collided, the 

 result being that my horse fell. I was stunned 

 a bit, but I rode on the following day. 



" The next accident I had was at Doncaster 

 Spring Meeting: that would be in 1850. In 

 the race a horse struck into another's heels. I 

 was riding a horse named Leonatus, belonging 

 to Mr. Barton, and trained by old Mr. I'Anson. 

 That occurred just half-way crossing the dis- 

 tance. The horse fell and I was thrown. I was 

 stunned and had concussion of the brain that 

 time. I came round about four o'clock the 

 following day, but for a clear week was not in 

 the saddle again. In the same year I had a fall 

 at Chester. One of the horses ran into a post, 

 and Wonder, the horse I was riding, came down. 

 I was shaken a little in that affair. 



" I steered pretty clear of accidents until 

 about 1857, when I had a fall in the Dee Stakes 

 at Chester with a horse named Glebe, belonging 

 to my father. Something closed in upon me 

 after passing the winning post the first time, 

 and Glebe came down. I had concussion of the 

 brain that time, and was unconscious till mid- 



