Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-03-09
fYPE.sErTING EXTRAORDINARY.
Great Contest Against Tyine-Thei
Typographical VeIocipede's Latest
Feat-A Challenge tosthe w OrId. e.

Great Contest Against Tim e-The
Typographical VeIocipede's Latest
Feat-A Challenge to,the w OrId.
From the New York Sun, Feb. p. EEs
On Saturday afternoon Mr.. George
-Arensberg, better. known as the ''Veloci-
pede, compositor employed on MORN
ing paper IN this city, accomplished the
extraordinary feat of setting 2,064 ems of
solid minion type in one hour. The trial
took place to decide wager between T. A.
Donaldson, printer, and also noted as a
| boat puler, billiard player, and baseball
| ist, and Mr. Arensberg, Donaldson wager
ing two to one that the s'Yelocipede" could
not ct four stcksfal of solid minion in on
hour, he to be entitled to one break line
containing two or more words in each
stickful. Quite large amount of money
was staked on the result, ''time" being the
| favorite.
AS the time for the trial approached the
| composing-rOom presented a lively and
somewhat excited appearance. Typos from
| tie other offices dropped in to witness the
| trial, and to invest a little on the result
the outsiders generally backing ''time, !"
and the boys Of the office accommodating
| all who came, their faith in the ''Yeloci-
| pede" being strong.
The indges were Mr.. Stanley on the part
of s'time" and Mr.. Payne on the behalf of
Mr.. Arensberg, Both were provided with
stop watches-Mr. Stahleys being of q
| celebrated foreign market, while Mr.. Payne's
was of American manufacture.
/ At precisely O'Clock the judges gave
the word, and the ''Velocipede' eommenc-
ed picking up the types. He started IF at
a rapid pace Many thought he would not
be able to keep it up, but would break
down before completing his fourth stick
full. The hackers of time felt quite jubil-
ant, showing more greenbacks, which We're
promptly covered by the friends of the
| s.Velocipede." His first stickful was COM
pleted in l3 minutes and 55 seconds.
| This was extraordinary time, and his
friends were correspondingly jubilant. AS
he started upon his second stIckful various
were the surmisessas to whether he would
be able to keep up his gait, the hackers OF
| time" evidently thinking that he would
not, and inves' ing a few more greenbacks
on the strength Of that supposition, but
when the result was. anpounced, 1t was
found that he had done it IN 13 minutes
and so seconds, thus beating the time OF
his first stickfUl by five seconds.
This rather staggered the hackers OF
'stime, and as he now had over IS min
Utes for each of the other two stickfuls
some of them began TO look for an oppor-
| tunity to ''hedge," but the time for that had
gone by; every one wanted to bet the same
way. He started on his third stickful with
apparently unabated speed, and completed
1t In just Il minutes.
This left him Is minutes and 48 seconds
IN which to complete his fourth stickful.
J"he excitement at this time was intense.
Nothing but an accident could prevent him
II on winning, and his friends were wild
wi tn joy, while those who had bet against
him were correspondingly detected. One
individual offered to bet $50 that he could
set 2, 600 ems in the hour, and this was
spec Oily taken by one of the unfortunates
who had been investing on "tlme, who
hoped in this way to regain some of his
losses. He completed his fourth stickful in
Il minutes and 10 seconds, thus setting the
four sticktuls in 55 minu tes and so seconds.
This won the original bet, with four
minutes ard five seconds to spare, but ano-
ther stick was passed him AMI he kept on
until the hour was up, when it was found
that he had composed 2,064 ems.
Immediately upon the announcement Of
the result he was surrounded by his friends
including those who had bet against llim,
and heartily congratulated upon his sue
cess. This is without doubt the fastest
type-setting on record, and if Mr.. Barber
or any one else think they can beat it they
may be accommodated with trial at any
tlGe they may wish. Immediately after
tthe close Of the match Mr. Arensberg's
fri ends announced that they would match
him against any printer in the world to set
for one hour or one week. 1t may interest
the public to know that the type will aver
age three letters to an EN-, so that R1r.
Arensberg actually placed 6, 1872 pieces of
metal in D, osition within an hour. His
II wac MN ono w aip-T