The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-11-07
NOoD-SAWlNG TOURNAMENT.
Moved and Exciting Contest at La
fayette.
So AMATEURS SAW SO CORDS.


IFrom the Lafayette Journal, of Saturday.
The wood saving tournament abou
which sc much has been said anC
written, came off yesterday, according
to announcement, and was a complete
and decided success. It was some.
zhing more-it was the biggest thing
that ever occurred in the State, OF
even ia the West. The day was
beautiful, though a little windy, with
just enough of sunshine and chill to
make wood-sawing almost a positive
luxury. The affair was witnessed by
not less than one thousand persons
as near as we could judge, though
people kept almost constantly coming
and going, on foot, horseback and in
carriages and wagons. The process
sion formed IN the following order:
/. Lafayette Silver Cornet Band
p Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton zine, as follows: Col Thomp-
son, J. ". Graham, N. q. Hoover,
Frank Il. lowering, ID. Ell, Flynn,
VIM I. Underwood, Edward Ball.
G.. Clay Smith and ThOs. Emerson.
3. Hoosier Base Ball Club nine, as
follows Messrs. Martin, Tinney,
Hood, Brown, Gallagher, Jenners,
Rhoads, Weisenbergar and Kurtz.
4 Unknown (Fenian) nine, as fol-
lows: Messrs. Murdoch, Conway,
Haggerty, Geary, Swift, Monahan,
Cornell, Griffin and Downey.
3. Independent nine, as follows:
sGrieve, Ellsworth Watkins, JEFF. Will
stach, Preston, Sleeper, Snyder, ms
keep and Mccormick.
6. Earl & Hatcher's three mule
dray, loaded with bucks.
z. Citizens and friends on foot
The line of march was, as previous
" awannged, up South Street to
Fourth, up Fourth to Main, up Main to
Sixth, up Sixth to Brown, up Brown
to Ninth, up Ninth to Elizabeth, up
en- which street, at the junction with
Ninth, the wood was stored in four
beautiful piles of nine cords each.
The savers marched with their saws
at what tactics call right shoulder
shift. The Hoosiers were dressed in
the uniform peculiar to the club to
which they belong. The other boys
were CARRIED in their working clothes.
and all wore that martial and deter
mined look so noticeable in those
who have resolved to do or die
Arrived at the ground; some little
time was consumed Ia arranging the
preliminaries. The principal or pri-
mary contest being between the Hoos-
iers and the Young Men, these two
organizations tossed up for the choice
of piles. The former winning first
choice, selected the pile at the south
end of the west side of the lot, the
Others taking the north pile on the
same side. There was some little
difference-in the quality of the wood
furnished for the contest, but none
10 the measurement. except IN that
for the Independents, which was
nearly three quarters of a cord short.
A portion OF il was also seit wood,
aud much easier to saw than either OF
the others II the other three piles
the quality was about equal. though II
anything. the UnknOwns had little
the most hard wood.
Everything being arranged and the
savers in position, at the tap Of the
drum and music from the band, the
fun commenced amidst the almost
-deafen NJ shouts Of the spectators.
At just twenty five minutes alter ten
0 clock each man sprang for his stick
simultaneously, and each saw com
menced at almost the same instant.
1t was indeed a grand sight, and such
a one as was never before witnessed
In the country. Thirty-six wood saws
all rasping through the wood and
.splinters at one time-some of the
boys going In with all their might and
strength, others taking it slow and
easy, after the manner of experienced
knights of the saw and buck. The
friends of each party rallied around
and encouraged them by their pres
ence and counsel, while others stood
back and offered bets at odds in favor
of their winning There was little
perceptible difference noticeable in
the saving of each until the first hour
or hour and half had passed, when
the piles of those who took it slow
and easy began to grow gradually
larger.
At little after Y o'clock the labor
was suspended for thirty minutes,
while the savers partook of a lunch
and hot coffee furnished them by
Messrs. Taylor & Son, of the Bramble
House.
After lunch the labor was again
resumed without intermissien until it
was completed At intervals during
the day buckets of water were passed
round to the sawyers, and boys stood
ready, bacon rind in hand, to grease
the saws. a =
AT five minutes past o'clock the
Independents completed their last
stick-having made their nine cords
(threo quarters short) in just three
hours and ten minutes. The result
was hailed wi deafening cheers.
Miss Lydia Brockenb ough then Step
\ =. IL -I-.--....-.-.-l L q