Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-06-03
THE nREAr nornLE.rEAM rRor.

/ THE GREAT DOUBLE-TEAM TROT.
Tho New York Times has the following
description Of the contest between Ethan Al
len and Lantern, each harncssed beside
running mato
Some time was spent in scoring and
three false starts we're made George Spicet,
who drove Lantern, could not hold him, and
at each start he broke into full run. At
length Horace Jones took the reins, and with
Samuel Mclaughlin behind Ethan Allen,
both horses were brought well up to the
starting point, and Go was shouted from the
Judges stand. Lantern had the inside of the
track and opened wide gap between himself
and his opponent. lie kept several lengths
ahead. Lantern most Of the time on a gallop,
until on the home stretch Lantern. brought
down to a trot again, made an astonishing eff
fort, and though Ethan Allen was pressing
forward at a splendid pace, closed up the
gap, and the horses camo in neck and neck,
amid the shouts Of the spectators. The time
made in this heat was p -, the quickest
time in double harness on record Some
thought Ethan Allen was half head in ad-
vance whom the horses passed the Judges
stand. The Judges announced "A dead heat
The excitement while the horses were on the
home stretch was intense; it was not equaled
during any of the heats that followed.
Immediately after this heat 500 to $50
was offered in favor Of Lantern, and was
freely taken After twenty minutes rest the
horses were brought up again for the second
heat. and after two false starts-Lantern each
time brealting-they are off again, Ethan on
the inside of the track. Lantern soon breaks
and Ethan Allen shoots ahead. They con-
. ts,v,J .,,-,r,1 larrtIa ot.rf ao Iof,r, ,,uffl
on the home stretch Lantern again endeayor-
ed to take the lead, but this time unsuccess-
fully A loud shout announces that Ethan
Allen has won the heat, and presently the
Judges suspend blackboard from the staDd.
on which the time is written 227 l-2 The
winning horse was only half length ahead.
The track, which during the first and sec
ond heats was in excellent condition, was now
becoming very heavy, and the rain, which till
now, had fallen very lightly at intervals, be-
gan to descend steadily. The effect was ap-
parent in the third heat, which was rnn in
2.40. Ethan Allen started a little ahead on
the inside Of the track, kept ahead during the
whole heat, during which, as before, Lantern
was on gallop. The drivers were spattercd
with mud from head to foot. Ethan Allen
was beautifully handled, and Lantern was
driven exceedingly well throughout.
The next was dead heat--tmo 235. On
the third quarter Lantern passed Ethan Al
len and took the inside of the track Ethan,
now length or two behind, overlook his
opponent on the home stretch, and the two
horses came in abreast. 1t was claimed that
Lantern was the least bit in the world ahead,
bu the Judges decided that it was draw
game The last heat was contested closely
but Ethan Allen had the inside and kept it
coming in, with Lantern at his shoulder
Ethan Allen won the heat in 2.35, and thus
won the race
The reorganization is as follows:
UNION COURSE, l.. l. Wednesday May lS.
Match for SIC. 1000, mile heats best three in
FIVE, in double harness wagons: S. MoIaugh-
lin, b. S. Ethan Allen and mate, 0l o
II. Jones, b. 9. Lantern and mate, 0 | 2
Time: 2,24 10; 2.27 10; 240; 2,35;
2.35.
The result of the race did not disappoint
the majority of those who witnessed it. The
gait and demeanor of the winning horses was
the subject of great deal OF praise. Still,
it was conceded that Lantern labored under
some disadvantages, and for the most part
acquitted himself exceedingly we'll. His
driver had never before driven him, and the
heavy slippery track was more disadyanta-
geous to him than to Ethan Allen, because
he is a horse of longer stride. and takes few
er steps in the course of a mile than the lat
ter"
The Tribune says
There was some complaint by the driver
of Ethan and his friends that Lantern ram
This was unfounded. To an Indifferent OBJ
server the match appeared perfectly fair
throughout. Ethan Allen is Justly entitled
to all the honors of the great triumph He
was honest and did not break from the begin
ming to the end He is, probably, to-day,
the most valuable trotting stallion on the
face of the globe. His party have no occa-
sion to either buster or complain. At the
same time. Lantern is, apparently, the faster
horse of the two. He lost the race by break
ing. Whenever he broke, his skilful rider,
Mr.. Horace Jones, held him up and Ethan
gained on him decidedly, and in one heat, the
gap at the end of the third quarter must have
been some three hundred yards yet at the
Judgess stand Lantern had very nearly closed
it up"