The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-10-08
6enrral SntelIi9ente.
THE GREAT GOOSE RACE.
Ten Thousand acknowledgement
Sporting for ChieRgoans.

Ten thousand spectators-Congeniai
sporting for ChicRgoans.
From the Chicago Tribune.
II the immense number of people who
lined the basin bank Thursday afternoon
may be taken IA n criterion, then the goose
race which took place then and there must
be conceded to be the great sporting event
OF the season. II was funny, and, better
still, il was free. Consequently n crowd
numbering at least ten thousand people
were on hand to witness the novel affair.
For two or three blocks along the east side
of Michigan avenuc-from Putney to Mort
lake, as IL were-men, women, boys and
girls were deusely packed, with n plentiful
s~prinkling Of carriages further back; while
the breakwater opposite served the purpose
of Hammersmith Bridge, and afforded an
eligible outlook for at least a thousand
more. II was a particularly respectable
gathering, too. No uncomfortable element
OF the crowd was made up of merchants
aud business men, while nearly a hundred
stylish equipages were halted in order that
the iair occupants might see thei fun.
PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS.
The race was originally made between
those famous disciples of minstrclsy. Billy
Emerson and Bob Hart the latter having
fhfA hAkNhiA az - kAhfAN AAAtAhN RAAAAAAAA ~
fairs. Then George Morris, the well-known
billiardist, took ahand in, and, after q purse
Of 5000 or thereabouts had been made up,
the race was definitely fixed for yesterday.
On the day previous eighteen i~ull-grown
geese were rented of an old lady ut the
Stock Yards, who required a deposit or 81
each as collateral, and a similar amount for
tine service of the whole number. They
had no training whatever, further than that
conferred by nature-to stick together and
go straight ahead. True to their proyerbial
unreliability, some Of them went back ON
this, even. Tbs terms OF the match re-
luired each OF the drivers TO sit in an ordi-
nary wash tub, aud be drawn by three pairs
Of geese. Let no one infer from this that
oua's self in a wash tub u.the water, ones
equilibrium, arc easily rendered compatible.
IL IL not the case. Amau's weight will not
sink the tub, To be sure, but let him vary 80
much as the thouRandth part of an inch
from the absolutely perfect perpendicular
ity, aud he gets spilled to u certainty. To
obyiate this difficulty the goose drivers re-
sorted to an ingenious continuance, which
consisted Of u platform Of inch pine boards,
about three and half feet wide and five feet
long, i'm which was made n circular hole
large enough TO slip through q tub. To this
float was attached II pole with cross bars nj
the extreme end, from which were stretch
ed laterally two stout cords ON either side,
between which the geese were tied by the
wings, and AS firmly secured as a horse
between the shafts Of a wagon. When
ready TO start the driver got in the tub
which was then tightly wedged in the
tue float, and there was no tipping over,
the float sinking a few inches below the
surface and out OF sight. Considerable de-
lay ensued in properly Harvesting the
geese and arranging the tubs, Bob Hart
was the first to get his six-in-hand hitched
mp, aud 80, while the other two- George
Morris and Jim Mas, of the Winter Garden,
who took Emerson's place, was getting ready
lac turned ont to exercise the team. lie
got along firgt-rate, barring a good deal of
hutter and Hopping Mt first, and would have
showed oil TO excellent advantage but for
the embarrassment occasioned by the sew
erRl hundred boats which had been hired
by spectators, and which literally covered
the surface of the basin. In lodging about
among them Bob's tub worked loose from
it's float, and he was obliged 10 swim back
10 the shore and make fast again, which he
did in hort order, and soon after three
o'clock everything was in readiness for the
race.
Each of the drivers was in light costume
hat, shirt, pants and stockings-ready 10
swim, If necessary. Their iorethought was
amply justified anon. A long carriage
whip, with which 10 urge on or alter the
course Of the geese, and a paddle to steer
the craft, comprised their accoutrements.
Morris drew the pole, Mas the middle,
and Hart the outside. An entirely even
Bend-off was effected ut once, and away
they started, accompanied by the boat OF
the umpires, referee and reporters, who
were sufficiently close to enforce fair play.
Morris and Mas at once pushed for the
front, and their urging resulted in a series
OF bad breaks. Mas off-wheel goose lost
his feet wholly, turning II summersault and
coming up facing the driver. She couldn't
be brought To work again, but swan back
wards for a long distance, 10 the serious
impeachment Of the rest Of the s~eXtette. Bob,
like an experienced jockey, took the matter
cody, simply administering an occasional
punch to a refractory gOOge, and
soon had gained a strong lead over
both the Others. But Morris waa
not idle. His team had a weakness for the
shore, and his agsiduous Efforts with the
paddle, necessary 10 keep them in the
water, h 'lped him 10 that extent that lac
was enabled 10 overhaul Bob, aud go to the
front. Bob saw his disadvantage, and de
clafed the excessive padding 70 DE foul, "
but by no means fowl" "GeOrge il no
goose" said Bob, 'and / bar his paddle"
But there was no choice; George must
either paddle or be ignominiously towed
ashore against his will, and so Bob's pro-
test was unayailing, Mas, whose pervert-
ed wheel goose had placed him badlyi in the
rear, having somehow contIiyed 10 change
ends with the recalcitrant bird, now showed
extraordinary burst of speed, and was
fast closing the gap. Had the remaining
distance been greater, he would have seri-
endangered the success Of the Others.
As ii was, the contest rested between Nor
rs and Hart, the former having a slight
lead. Bob called upon his white thorough
for an extra effort and il was intensely
udicrous TO see the earnestness with which
hey seemed TO respond. They actu-
lily 'took turns" First, the middle pair
would vigorously ply their web feet for a
minute, perhaps; then the leaders would
in for dear life, 10 be in turn ''apelled"
the wheelers. But all would not do.
lIorris' gray team were good stayers. and