Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-12-07
Foot Race of 200 Yards between 7.
Kelly Davis and Henry Crandall-Five
or Six Thousand Dollars Wagered.

Kelly Davis and Henry Crandall-Flve
or Six Thousand Dollars Wagered.
Our citizens will remember that
on Thanksgiving day at Lancaster
certain local rivalry, aided by a
few mercantile runners and sporting
men, brought about a race of 100 yds
between Kelly Davis and Harvey
Bonham, the latter to have ten feet
advantage at the start. The assem-
bly, was small and bets were confined
to but few The race was run as
agreed on, resulting in BoLhams ia
vcr, and about thousand dollars
changed hands
This led - another race between
them, Bonham putting il subsJi-
tute named Crandali, which was ar :
ranged to come off at Lancaster last
Saturday, for purse of thousand
dollars; and by noon of that day
side bets had increased the amount
to FIVE thousand dollars, while it is
estimated that the value of horses,
watches, jewelry, suits of clothing,
etc, wagered on the race, added an
other thousand to the stake. Excite
ment ran high, and pools were sold
to some extent. Both the Davis aud
the Crandall faction were perfectly
confident OF success, for private rea-
sons, on tho strength OF which they
were willing TO hazard thousands.
THE MEN
arc Young, athletic, 1.-the, and well
proportioned for running Their
forms and movements We're scanned
with eager eyes by all those who
hoped TO become suddenly rich by
their agility, and though each had
his admirers, all agreed that both
were very fine animals. In public
they kept their own counsel and
were silent and gentlemanly of as
pect. They are said to be old racers,
Davis having been under training
fifteen years and claimed by sports
men as champion Of all 200 yard
races while Crandall has been five
years in the business and is called
the champion runner of l20 yards.
HOW THEY TRAIN.
For some time previous to the race
they had been undergoing a regular
training, similar to that of horses.
Each is compelled to walk fifteen or
twenty miles daily, and il then
stripped, curried, scrapcd, pounded,
groomed, and bathed in arnica and
spirits, by his trainer. Eoting is al
lowed to limited extent, but smok-
ing, tipping, or luxury of any kind
is firmly interdicted
THE RACE
came off at P. NJ. at the fair grounds,
and was witnessed by large con-
course. Judges were chosen and the
time keeper and starter appointed.
The runners appeared at the score,
dressed Cor addressed if you prefer
in the complete regular racing suit,
consisting ola breech-cloth and shoes.
Each had set track, and was to run
from a standing start, at the report
of a pistol. The first start was fair
and even Crandall kept ahead the
first 1910 yards, but Davis passed him
and won by coming out a rod in
advance. His time was twenty one
seconds.
Having nov gwen the facts that
the sporting fraternity would like
p. Dilshed, we wish also to Wow the
stand point that probably nine-tenths
of our readers viii take, ana speak
Of It's moral, social and legal aspects.
Distant readers must understand
that there are many in this place
that not only did not bet or see the
race but feel deeply panied and NOR
titled at the disgrace brought on the
fair fame Of Lancaster.
There is a growing mania through
the country for turf gambling. 1t
seems to be the offspring of the
trials Of speed at country fairs, but
if SO, the child has outgro@n the
paIeut, for racing now absorbs the
interest and is what protects and
keeps alive the farmers seattle
show" But it has u deeper source
OF origin, while the lessons of last
week are blazing hot in the public
mind
There is u general desire in the
heart of every one whose action is
not ruled by virtue and co nscience,
to acquire value without rendering
an equivalent-to get something tor
The common law express
ly enioins that there shall be no one
sided bargains, but that in every
trade there must be a "quid pro quo"
something of value in return for
something else. The desire of ava
ricious souls is to evade this just law
and get something for nothing, or
nearly nothing.
Very often two such rogues at
tempt to practice on each other, and
the sharpest and boldest wins. The
unskilled gambler risks money on
cards, thinking that luck may give
him a pretext far taking his friend
money while the adept at cards
is determined to win what be can
fairly and the remainder by foul
play. The country boy sends q dol
lar TO some swindler to learn how to
make enormous profits with no out
lay. Religious societies hold fairs to
raise money by the pretended sale of
articles; they secure the money but
the buyer seldom receives for it any
thing useful or ornamental. Lotter-
les, ring-cakes, fshing-pools and 9TH
er ''pious frauds are gotten up to
obtain money to buy Sabbath School
books. each invention being favored
with the same spice Of chance or
hazard that suits the popular mania.