Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-01
THE TOURNAMENT.

end the description we propose 10 give Of
the splendid entertainment of yesterday. In.
deed, 1t Is difficult to reproduce in words the
brilliant scene that fonr thousand persons
witnessed yesterday, at our Fair Grounds
Hence we shall attempt nothing more than
a brief record Of what we saw ourselves,
with the assurance to our readers, that it is a
very imperfect detail of one of the most
magnificent and matchless exhibitions this
or any other community have ever witnessed.
With a delightful disappointment of the
fears born Of the cold and murkey weather
Of the past few days, yesterday the sun rose
in cloudless sky, and like the brilliant sun
Of Austerlitz 70 the heart of the world s
greatest Conqueror, brought gladstone cheer
and presage Of success TO the noblest charity
that ever appealed to human sympathy. As
none Of our esteemed friends who owned
dashing turn-outs, offered us seat therein,
we herded with the multitude and went out
on the cars taking with us, in the fhllness Of
our heart, a very dear little woman, that re-
joicsth in glowing, honoring and obeying" us
lover the lefty and "papa's title pecious
iovey," that delighteth in continual refuta-
ton Of these false endearments, mot over
the left). With these unwonted surround
ings Of the reportorial craft, we arrived at
the fair grounds at an early hour in the
morning. But as expeditions as we thought
we were, we found some / 800 people there
before US. This estimate was swelled by
acccssions Of frequently arriving trains and
other sources, until the crowd numbered some
1000 people at the most moderate computa.
ton.
The pleasant sunbeams from clear and
lovely sky breathed their good humor into
every heart and when music added its
witchery every face beamed with gladness.
The music was from "Horns famous Silver
Band" and it discoursed most eloquent mel
ody throughout the day.
The exercises opened with the Ladies'
Ring" After some little riding around the
ring the performance closed, and we suppose
was discontinued before awarding the pre-
MUM for further trial, az the same ladies
rode again towerds the close of the Tonrna-
ment
After this came the principal feature OF
the day, the contest of the Knights for the
rings. In this ring there were seventeen en-
trie'. As the Knights came In, General
Frank Chatham and General "Cere Gordo'
Williams entered the ring with them on
horseback. They were greeted with loud
cheers as soon as recognized by the assem-
bage.
We never saw General Cheatham before
but he fully realized our ideal of the fight
ing general, the type of all that is frank,
blunt bold and honorable in Southern char
actcr. General Williams, with his open, no.
bic features, and his fine figure, well person.
flied the best qualities Of Southern chivalry
aud Southern MANHOOD. Both of these dis
tinguished gentlemen could make their
wives jealous could they but tell them all
the compliments the ladies paid them. Gen-
ern Chatham mounted the magnificent
stallion of R. p. Madison, "Octoroon," but
dismounted in few moments and gave him
to General Williams. This splendid ANIMAL
Of matchless symmetry and elegant move
ment, was worthy Of the heroes that graced
his back.
But to the ring, in which the Knights
competed for the greatest number of rings
to be taken off with the point of the lance.
The number of these rings was ten, placed
eqai-distant around the amphitheatre. Two
trials were given for this contest. The
names of the Knights for this ring were as
follows:
/. Chevalier Bayard--Capt. Vim. Elliott.
g. Rob Roy-Austen Peay.
3. Raymond--Wm. NJ. Green.
4. ThaAdeus of Warsaw--EIenry lIernden.
b. l.. Campedor-Frank Buckner.
q. Scottish Cavalier-Fisher Merrett.
7. i1iawsths-George Wills.
3. Black Prince-Montgomery Merrett.
0. Roderich Dhu-Wm. Small.
10. Knight of Fallen Banner-J. 7. AL
lensworth.
IL. Walter Raleigh--Jos. Harris
IL. Knight Of Gopher Hills-W. NJ. Cor
l3. Knight of Snowdown--iI. A. Young.
Ia. - j. NJ. Bourn.
10. Sue Mundy-Geo Mcdaniel.
10 Swedish X niUht-N II Innb
IL. knight Of Silver Moon--T. 5. Young.
Knight of Cornstalk--Jas. Rice.
While the Knights were drawn up in
array, preliminary to beginning this contest,
Gen. Quarles made the following brief and
graceful speech;
ADDRESS.
You come not here to-day, Sir Knights, as
the mere figures Of an idle pageant, but as
the representatives of principle, which
however much it may sleep, needs but the
silvery blast of the bugle to awaken it TO life
and action. It's principle that filled with
manly eombstants the games of Ancient
Greece; that made the solid rank OF the Ro-
man Legion moving wall Of martial pow.
err that penetrated the gloom of the Dark
Ages, and with its rude battle-axe cut down
the frozen forest of Barbarism, till all Europ,
was lecked in the garments Of It's gentle anC
peaceful courtesy. IT'S principle that mel
all admire and women all iove. Its mani
festations have been as various as are the va
rious ages of the world-bat there is n sim
ihMde which enables us to trace II to com
mon posterty. 1t hath all the rudeness O
manhood, blended with the soit graces
IL. thae .,aks IL It'll x.ftll
sword, bat the same hand that gave the blow
10 oman ~ tha laN tn mailing charity