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From Chadron to Chicago.
The cowboy race from Chadron to Chicago, over seven hundred miles, has begun. It is possible that the humane sentiment aroused throughout the country by the apprehension of cruelty will operate to prevent it. Judging from the public remarks made on the occasion of the starting, there is no little anxiety on the part of the promoters of this race to show that the element of special cruelty is absent, and if this feeling should have a dominating effect, the humane societies will have carried their point without recourse to the penalties of the law.
The idea of a long-distance race originated in Europe, and was revolting in its cruelty. The horses died, or were so nearly used up as to be at death's door. Such racing would be as inexcusable as the slow torture of a Chinese execution. A race on this continent which would show better time with no special hardship would be an achievement to be proud of. It would add one more bead to America's necklace of superiority to Europe. But, if the cowboys lose sight of that object, and the race degenerates into a mad scramble for personal distinction as a hard rider, the spectacle presented will be a continental disgrace.
It is undoubtedly true that for adaptation to long, hard rides the American ponies have no equal in the equine family of the old world. We doubt if the rough riders of the steppe could match them. Their horses may be larger, and
Outer Ocean
June 15/93
June 15/90
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THE DAILY INTER OC
in a general way of a higher grade, but there is a hardiness bred of the plains which is matchless, The French-Canadian pony has some remarkable qualities fitting him for the cold winters and scant fodder of his Canuck life. The Western pony has had many generations of far more severe privations bordering on starvation and during both extremes of the season, until at last he has acquired a toughness of fiber which makes him a marvel of endurance. This mustang ought to have an honorable place in the celebration of the discovery of America, for he certainly belongs to one of the "first families."
The early Spanish conquerors brought horses with them, some of which set up life on their own responsibility, seeming to be instinct with the spirit of American liberty. Their spread was rapid, and the exigencies of their new life developed a new race. It would be especially deplorable to single out that breed of horses for exceptional cruelty. It is to be conceded that the ordinary life of the pony would soon use up the more delicate Eastern horse. There are "tenderfeet" in the barn no less than in the house. The present race must be judged from the standpoint of the plains, and what THE INTER OCEAN has from the first insisted upon is that the race shall be to the mustang no more severe than the Derby is to a thoroughbred racer.
Outer Ocean June 18/93.
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PRINTERS SEE THE WILD WEST.
Buffalo Bill's Show Crowded--Parade of the Company and Cowboy Band To-Day.
That Buffalo Bill's Wild West is one of the most popular entertainments in the city was given a thorough test yesterday, when at both the afternoon and the evening performances the immense grand stand was packed to suffocation, as it usually is on Sunday afternoons. Over 30,000 people witnessed the two performances yesterday, and at the night performance hundreds were turned away unable to gain admission. Among the guests last night by special invitation of Messrs. Cody and Salsbury, were 400 members of the International Typographical Union. By special invitation of the board of directors of the world's fair, Colonel Cody, with the entire company and the famous cowboy band, to-day paraded through the White City, and will do so twice or thrice during the summer. Through the medium of the management of the "Wild West," Governor Russell, of Massachusetts, and Governor Cronse, of Nebraska, were made acquainted with each other yesterday, as they occupied boxes adjoining the grand stand.
Messrs. Cody and Salsbury and Major Burke, because of their popularity with all classes of people, are in a position to make acquainted, one with the other, nearly all of the distinguished visitors to Chicago during the present summer, and it goes without saying that no one of note will visit Chicago without having their respects to Buffalo Bill and his show.
Chicago Evng. Post June 18/93.
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DRON, DAWES COUNTY, NEBR
THE COWBOYS ARE OFF ! -------- The Great Race Starts in the Presence of 3, 000 Pepole.
And Under the Eye of the Of cers of the Humane Society.
Horses and Riders Eger for the Long Race to Chicago.
WHO WILL BE THE WINNER ?
Cowboy race ! That's all you could hear in Chadron for the last week, and it still continues to be the leading topic of conversation. When the time arrived for the race to start Tuesday afternoon, crowds of pepole began to gather in the vicinity of the Blaine hotel. The streets were filled with a struggling mass of humanity, anxious to get a look at the horses and men who were to take part in the greatest race of the kind ever attempted, while the roofs, windows and other points of advantage were prempted long before the start. In the hotel balcony sat members of the committee and Messrs. Fontaine and Tatro, of the humane society, looking down on the busy scene below. It was a great big crowd. There must have been close to 3, 000 people on the ground, and if the humane officers had not thought before that Chandron was interested in the cowboy race they must have thought so then. The street was filled, and out east for half a mile the road was lined with expectant faces. In the shade of the Signal office the cornet hand formed and played several pieces of music to liven the scene. One by one the riders came with their horses. As they rode up they were loudly cheered by their friends, and it was evident from the mighty yell that went up when old Doc Middleton made his appearance that Doc was Chadron's favorite. When all had arrived their photograph was taken in a group, after which the line was formed and everything was ready for the start. It was expected that at least twenty-five or thirty entries would be made and it is probable there would have been that many but for the cry raised by the hummane element and the feeling outside of Chadron that perhaps the race might not start at all, which kept many out of it. As it as there were but nine starters. The names of the entrymen, the horses and their riders are as follows :
Mike Elmore, Hemingford, Neb. : Two horses ---" Wide Awake, " bay gelding ; " Monte Cristo, brown stallion. Dave Douglas, rider. Doe Middleton, Chadron, Neb. : Two horses-- " Geronimo," brown gelding ; " Bay Jimmie, ' Doc Middleton, rider. Abe Jones, Whitewood, S. D. : Two horses--- " Romeo, " bay gelding ; " George," black gelding. Geo. Jones, rider. P. G. Cooper, Crawford. Neb : two horses---- " Outlaw," buckskin gelding : " Joe Bush, " Sorel gelding. Emmet Albright, rider. Joe B. Gillespie, Coxville, Neb. : Two horses-- " Billy Mack, " chestunt gelding ; " Billy Schafer, ' gray gelding. Joe B. Gillespie, rider. Jas. Stephens, Ness City. Kan. : Two horses-- " Gen. Grant, " brown gelding ; " Nick," brown gelding. Jas. Stephens, rider. Joe Campbell, Denver, Col. : One horse--- " Boom-de aye," bay gelding. Joe Campbell rider. Chas. Smith. Hot Springs, S. D. : Two horse ---" Dynamite, " sorrel gelding ; " Red Wing, " bay gelding. Chas. Smith, rider. * Jack Hale, Strugis, S. D. : Two horses-- " Poison. " chestnut station ; " Sandy," bay gelding. John Berry rider. * Ruled out by committe from compettion for prize. Registering Stations--- Chadron. Long Pine O' Neill, Wausa ( in Neb. ), Sioux City, Galva, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls Waterloo, Manchester, Dubuque (in Iowa) , Freeport, DeKalb and Chicago, (in Illinois). Friends of the men who were about to start one their long journey of 900 miles crowded around to shake their hand and wish them godspeed. Emmet Albright, John Berry, Doc Middleton and Joe Gillespie, being from this county, seemed to attract more attention than the others, and they were the recipients of many kind of words from all sides. Secretary Weir went around to check of the list of horses and riders and give each man a route map showing the point where they would have to register, and everything was ready. J. O. Hartzel stepped to the front of the balcony give the boys the parting injunction the committe and fire the shot that would send them their way. He said " The time has now arrived for the star in the great Chandron-Chicago cowboy race Remeber, boys and take good case of your horses and uphold the good home of Chadron and the State of Ne
