The New York herald., 1873-07-18
THE CHALLENGE CUP.
Spirited Contest for the Bennett College
Running Cup at Springfield.
Hampden Park Crowded with
Carriages and Spectators.
A SPLENDID RACE.
Three Competitors Start from
the String.
Bowie, the Canadian, Carries Off
the Cup.
The Two Miles Ran in IL Minutes
l8 l-2 Seconds.


SPRN0FIELD, Mass, July II, 1873.
The running race tor the silver plate offered by
Mr.. James Gordon Bennett occurred this morning,
and resulted in . closely contested victory for
Bowie, OF McGill University Montreal Canada.
Phillips OF Cornell, came in second and Benton, OF
Amherst, withdrew on the last quarter, after being
passed by both Of his antagonists.
There is no disputing the fact that this race was
OF the most interesting features Of the regatta
week. II appeared an exceedingly appropriate
contest for academicans, and revived In the minds
OF all the classical students visions OF the athletic
games which formed such an important feature in
the old Olympian carnival. Here IN Springfield
there was witnessed just such scene as that re-
corded Of the Grecian heroes away the plains OF
windy Troy, and the same sport served, as IN the
olden time, to beguile the time preceding the
struggles which were to come. Hampden Park,
the OF the contest, Is located Just outside of
Springfield and the promise Of such an interesting
feature was suficient to attract large crowd.
The game Of base ball playing between two class
mines OF Harvard and Brown Universities was de-
serted in q few minutes alter
THE BELL OF PREPARATION
was sounded. The Grand Stand with car acity Of
seating several thousands, was crowded to its
utmost and carriages thronged all parts OF
the park from which even o partial view OF the
with gayly dressed parties of ladies and gentle.
men. all wearing conspicuously displayed the
colors of the several colleges with which their IN
terests or friendships were associated. The ap-
pearance Of the athletes, dressed in skin-tight leg
gngs and shirts, was the signal for general con-
centratiOn OF the vast multitude towards the
judges stand.
THE FEELING OF EXPECTANCY
became so strongly intensified that the signal for
the start was awaited with breathless interest.
Mr.. Wilbur r. Bacon, captain OF the Yale crews Of
'64 and '65, was selected as referee, and the
string over the starting point was soon stretched.
The three contestants stepped lightly out into the
arena First came young Phillips, OF Cornell,
slender In build and as brown as wal
nut, attired in blue knee-breeches and white
shirt. Then followed Benton, the Amherst
man, strong limbed and muscular. wearing white,
armless shirt and knee breeches. Finally came
Bowie, tall and lean, with gauze shirt and drawers
and blue silk breech cloth. Phillips won the
first position, Bowie second and Benton third-tbe
first taking the inside OF the course. The referee
then explained the manner of starting the men,
and announced that the course, one-half mile in
length, must be traversed four times.
THE RACE.
1t must have been pleasing to the representa-
tves OF the prominent boating and athletic clubs
that were present to see the interest expressed
in the faces OF the thousands that filed the Grand
stand when the referee ordered the men on
the track. 1t plainly showed the love Of
athletic sports inherent in the American race,
which only required little encouragement
to become a national pastime. There were many
regrets expressed that the snort nctice given pre-
vented many from competing that would other
wise have taken part in the contest, and they all
agreed that next year there would be race for
this cup OF q magnitude and interest never yet
excited over pedestrian contest in the United
States. The following gentlemen were entered for