235

Something like a hoarse whisper came from
Berry, who slowly and painfully threw his leg
over the saddle and placed it on the ground,
but unable to stand he sank wearily upon the
ground and drew his hand across his eyes, which
were red and swollen from exposure and lack
of sleep. Berry was helped to the mess tent,
while the cowboys took charge of the steed.

Once inside the tent the victorious rider lay
down upon the sofa and after draining a cup
of port wine he answered Col. Cody's repeated
question of "What can I do for you?" by say-
ing, weakly: "Nothing. Only look after my
horse."

A half-hour's rest sufficed to put Berry in
humor for talking and with wonderful good
grace for a man who had been ten days
without sleep he said to a Daily News re-
porter: "I sin all right but dreadfully tired.
I left Chadron with the rest at 5:40 o'clock
on the evening of June 13 and I suppose our
movements since have been fully chronicled
in the papers. I left DeKalb ten minutes
ahead of Gillespie and Smith, at fifteen min-
utes of 11 o'clock last night. I had been in-
formed that the distance was about seventy
miles and so I made up my mind to ride all
night. This I did and never left my stallion's
back all night long.

"At 7 o'clock this morning I had the com-
fort of seeing the smoke of this great place,
and then began to get nervous, and I was afraid
of the effect ofo the stone roads on my nag's
feet. I came through Maywood, where I gave
my beast a spoonful of water and then jogged
on to a great busy street that I was informed
was Madison street. Down California avenue
I turned to Jackson boulevard, asking my way
from every one I met. They stared at me
with wide-open eyes. The next street
I struck was Ashland avenue and
then 22d street, after which I got
on to Michigan avenue and then had smooth
sailing. I did not stop to water or feed all
night long and have not used a whip or spur
since I left Chadron," and lying down again,
weary of his exertion, the dusk-begrimed cow-
puncher sank into a deep slumber, from which
he was awakened a half-hour later to partake
of a hearty meal.

The two horses Berry rode are owned by
Jack Hall and were ridden alternately. Berry
claimed that he had not closed his eyes for ten
days but his backers stated that he slept while
riding.

Emmett Albright was the second rider to
reach the goal, registering at 11:13. He says
he will claim the race.