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Herald June 18
COWBOYS AT O'NEILL

EXPECT TO REACH SIOUX CITY MONDAY

These Acquainted With the Racers Are
Confidence That John Berry Will Ride
Into Chicago Twenty-four Hours
in Advance of the Field.

O'NEILL, Neb., June 17.-Stephens, or
"Rattlesnake Pete," as he is more familiarly
known, Doc Middleton and Gillespie,
is the order in which the first record of
the day in cowboy race was made.
They came up smiling at 1:30 for
registration and rested themselves
and horses for nearly four hours during the
heat of the day. "Rattlesnake" is becoming a
formidable rival of Adonis Albright
and has had the advantage so far of being in the
lead. Nothing but the later's extreme
beauty can hold him his place in the
affections of the susceptible members of
the fair sex. Middleton, who is an extremely
modest man, groans when he thinks of the
demonstrations that have been the rule in
this race and then says he will try to slip
through the larger towns at night.
At 4 o'clock the three rode off for Sioux
City and expect to arrive there Monday
some time. Gillespie has both of his horses
trained to follow so he is not bothered by
leading. The horse following has also an
occasional opportunity to get a nip of grass
and all these opportunities are improved,
showing that they are in good health.
Albright and Smith came up for registration
at 5:55. Both stopped to get supper
and feed for their horses. All were doing
well except Smith, who had sprained his
ankle slightly. Albright had lost a little
time by getting into a small lake in the
road, but was none the worse for wear.
Messrs. Talro and Fontaine are in good
spirits. Thus far they have had
nothing to do except to inspect
the horses, and they have seen the horses,
without exception, showing first-class care
and humane treatment. One of O'Neil's
most interested spectators was
M. P. Kinkaid, judge of the
thirteenth judicial district, which
covers all the countries through which the
riders have come. The judge expressed
himself as well pleased with the progress of
the race and is confident that it would be
finished as it was laid out. The humane
society agents fully coincide with the latter
opinion now.

All Riders Are Making Good Time.
James H. Stephens, riding General Grant
and Nick; Doc Middleton, Geronimo and
Jamey Joe Gillespie, riding Billy Mack
and Billy Shafer, were at Atkinson at 9 a. m. today. Emmet
Albright, riding Outlaw and Joe Bush,
was ten miles west of Atkinson at 9 a. m.,
but was making good time. C. W. Smith,
riding Dynamite and Redwing, was about
four hours behind the leaders when
they registered at Long Pine
last night. Dave Douglas, riding
Monte Cristo and Wide Awake; Joe Campbell,
John Berry and George W. Jones,
reported lost in the sand hills, registered at
Long Pine this morning.
LONG PINE, Neb., June 17.-The last of
the cowboys have passed Long Pine and
registered in the following order: Dave
Douglass, 5:55 a. m.; Joe Campbell,
6:35 a. m. They remained but a
few minutes. John Berry arrived at 6:15
and left at 7:15, walking his horses.
He remained twelve hours for some cause at
Ainsworth. George Johnson registered at
7:15 and left at 7:41. The horse and
riders were all in the best of condition.
John Berry was refused
the right to register and he made affidavit
instead. Those who know Berry and of his
peculiar ways and endurance are confident t
hat he will reach Chicago twenty-four
hours in advance of all competitors. He
has five horses of Arabian blood, and they
are in trim for the work before them.
While this is known as a cowboy race, Jim
Stephens is the only actual specimen, and
the regulation broncho is not in the race.
Many accuse the humane representatives of
standing in with "Doc" Middleton, and some
fun is expected when the racers reach Chicago.
ATKINSON, Neb., June 17.-SInce the cowboys,
Doc Middleton, Joe Gillispie and Jim Stephens,
arrived at 9:15 a. m. to-day, the
balance of the nine have come traveling in.
The last one, George Jones, arrived at 6:15
p. m. Douglass' horse, Wideawake, his
best nag, curbed himself and Douglass
has given up the race and will
return home to-morrow. Campell will
remain here for the night and will continue
with little hopes of wining anything, but
has a side wager of $250 that his expense en route
from Chardon to Chicago will not
exceed $5. Jim Stephens is the favorite
here, John Berry Second.