The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-03-17
TYPE..SETTING ENTRAORDI.
NARY.
Great Contest Against Time The Typo
GRAPHICAL VelOcipede's Latest Feat-A
Challenge to the World.

Great Contest Against Time The Typo
GRAPHICAL VeIOcipede's Latest Feat-A
Challenge to the World.
On Saturday afternoon Mr.. George
Arnesberg, better known as the ''Veloci-
pede," a composition employed on morn
ing paper in this city, accomplished the
extraordinary feat of setting 2,O64 ems
of solid minion type in one hour. The
trial took place to decide wager between
Il. III. Donaldson a printer, and also
noted as a boat puller, billiard player,
and base-ballist, and Mr.. Arensberg,
Donaldson wagering two to one that the
''Velocipede" could not set four stickfuls
of solid minion in one hour, he to be en-
titled to one break line containing two or
more words in each stickful. Quite a
large amount of money was staked on the
result, 'ftime" being the faVorite.
AS the time for the trial approached the
composingroom presented a lively and
somewhat excited appearance. Typos
from the other offices dropped in to wit
ness the trial, and to invest little on the
result-the outsiders generally backing
modating all who came, their faith in the
eIOClp6ue DeIuB strung.
The judges were Mr.. Stanley on the
part of ''time" and Mr.. Payne on the be-
half eff Mr.. Arncsberg. Both were pro-
vided with stop watches-Mr. Stanley's
being of celebrated foreign market,
while Mr.. Payne's was of American man.
ufacture.
At precisely o'clock the Judges gave
the word, and the 'velocipede" common
ced picking up the types. He staretd off
at rapid pace. Many thought he would
not be able to keep it up, but would
break down before completing his fourth
stsckful. The hackers of time felt quite
jubilant, showing more greenbacks,. which
were promptly covered by the friends of
the 'tvelicopede." His first stickful was
completed in Is minutes and 55 seconds.
This was extraordinary time, and his
friends were correspondently jubilant. =
AS he started upon his second stickful va
rious were the surmises as to whether he
would be able to keep up his gait, the
hackers of time" evidently thinking that
ne would not, and investing few more
greenbacks on the strength of that sup
position, but when the result was announ-
ced, it was found that he had done it in
IL minutes and 90 seconds, thus beating
the time of his first stickful by FIVE sec
onds.
This rather staggered the hackers of
satime," and as he now had over Is min
utes for each Of the other two stickfuls.
some of them began to look for an appor-
tunity to ''hedge," but the time for that
had gone by; every one wanted to bet the
same way. He started on his third stick
full with apparently undated speed, and
completed it in just IA minutes.
This left him Is minutes and 48 seconds
in which to complete his fourth stiekful.
The excitement at this time was intense.
Nothing but an accident could prevent
him from winning, and his friends were
wild with joy, while those who had bet
against him were correspondingly defect
ed. One individual offered TO bet $40
that he could set 1000 ems in the hour,
and this was speedily taken by one of the
unfortunates who had been investing on
slime" who hoped in this way to regain
some of his losses. He completed his |
fourth stickful in IA minutes and 10 sec
onds, thus setting the four stickfulls in 55 |
minutes and so seconds. This won the |
original bet, with four minutes and five |
seconds 70 spare, but another stick was !,
passed him and he kept on until the hour |
was up, when it was found that be had !