Haynie's Maria Against the World 261 



Col. Lynch, of Virginia, had been induced to come 

 and bring his famous colored rider, Dick, to ride DeWett's 

 mare. 



Before the last start Uncle Berry directed his rider (also 

 colored) to put the spurs to Maria from the tap of the 

 drum. But to his amazement they went off at a moderate 

 gait, DeWett's mare in the lead, making the first mile in 

 exactly two minutes. As they passed the stand Uncle 

 Berry again ordered his boy to go on, but the mares con- 

 tinued at the same rate until after they entered the back 

 stretch, Maria still a little in the rear, when her rider gave 

 her the spurs and she beat her competitor 180 yards, 

 making the last mile in one minute and forty-eight seconds. 

 All who saw the race declared that she made the most 

 extraordinary display of speed they ever witnessed. 



When Uncle Berry demanded an explanation of his rider 

 he learned that Dick, who professed to be a conjurer, or 

 spiritualist, had frightened the boy by threatening that 

 if he attempted to pass ahead of him, until after they ran 

 a mile and a quarter, he would lift him out of his saddle, 

 or throw down his mare by a mere motion of his whip, 

 which the boy fully believed. Most negroes at that time, 

 and some white people in this enlightened age, believed in 

 these absurdities. 



The speed of Maria was wonderful. She and the famous 

 quarter-race horse, Saltram, were trained by Uncle Berry 

 at the same time, and he often "brushed" them through 

 the quarter-stretch, "and they always came out locked." 

 Whichever one got the start kept the lead. 



Although Gen. Jackson conquered the Indians, 

 defeated Packenham, beat Adams and Clay, crushed the 

 monster bank under the heel of his military boot, he could 

 not beat Maria in the hands of Uncle Berry. 



After the last race above mentioned, some Virginians 



