The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-10-29
TWO :FORTY.NINE.
The sixty Mile Ride at Waco Last
Saturday.

ride performed by Mr.. Riley A
Ford, of Middle Bosque, which tool
place on the last day of the fair a
Waco:
The great feature of the day, tn,
sixty mile ride, was now announced
This created more interest than any
thing else during the Fair, not only
here, but in other portions of The
country. We are reliably informed
that in San Antonio alone sports
men had wagered as high as $780,,
600 that the feat could not be nc
complishcd. And on reflection
i it is one of the most difficult and
astonishing exhibitions of physical
endurance ever accomplished, not
excepting Captain Webb's great
swim across the English Channel,
from Dover to Calais. BY the stip-
ulations, the rider was required to
ride sixty miles in three hours,
changing horses at will, which
would be an average of one mile in
every three minutes, without halting,
save to change horses. Only one
man was willing to make the at
tempt, Mr.. Riley A. Ford, of Middle
Bosque. Mr.. Ford is apparently
about twenty years of age, medium
height and build, and n splendid
physique, with . superabundance of
muscle. His entire life has been
spent about stock ranches, and his
known qualities of endurance were
so strongly conhded in by his
friends that they backed him freely.
His father, however, seemed to fear
the result, and offered him $500 not
to attempt the ride, but with no
avail. About thirty horses were
standing ready saddled and bridled,
and at 1871 p. M, at the tap of the
drum, Ford dashed off on his diff
cult ride. The first mile was made
in 2:15 and fresh horse was
mounted almost instantly. The
general feeling of the spectators
was that Ford would never
make the ride, and at the beginning
mono but his immediate friends
would have wagered dollar on his
success. The crowd seemed to ad-
mire his pluck, but doubted his
ability, still thousands looked eager
Iy on. But steadily he rode on.
The tenth heat was made in 2;32,
twentieth heat, time, ola; thirty
eth heat, 2:11. Ford's friends still
adhered to his final success, but the
crowd doubted. The rider also
began to show signs of fatigue.
About every other round he took a
draught of spirits, and about ten
seconds were devoted to rubbing.
He was lifted from one saddle to
the other. At the fortieth round
he came In in 2;27. People predic-
ted that he could not stand it much
longer. He seemed moro fatigued,
but rode erectly. ~,
Fiftitieth round - this accom-
plished the fifLieth mile, and was
made in 2.2S. Two hours and
eighteen minutes of the three hours.
were now exhausted, leaving AZ
minutes in which 10 complete the 70.
maing ten miles,
Opinionnow began to change as
to the result, and the interest grew
intense and deep, His friends han
died him with consulate adroitness,
and he showed no evident 81 gns Of
failing.
The fiNy.fifth round was made in
800, and he still had an average of
five minutes each in which to make
the remaining five miles.
Fifty eighth heat - time 2;3o;
Only two miles more to make, and
fifteen minutes to make them IN.
His success was now foregone
conclusion, and as he dashed on on
the ffty.ninth round, thoS excited
multitude began to give vent to
their fcelingsin cheers. The round
was made in 2;l3. The sixtieth and
last heat was made in 2;O7, the
shortest Of the ride, and as'hel rode
in erect and steady, the enthusiasm,
of the people knew no bounds ana
they made the welkin ring.
Ford was lifted from his horse,
and his friends took charge of him,
and attanded to his physical needs.
The premium offered by the As
ISOLATION for this great fete was only
$50, but q purse Of probably soo9
was instantly made up and rendered
him. .Wtl9Tbus closed the
great sixty mile ride, which
was made in a total time OF
and forty.nine minutes, eleven
minutes loss than the stipulated time
We do not think q similar feat is on
record, and Mr.. Ford is richly enti-
tied to his bravely won honors.
After tho conclusion, Mr., Ford
stated that he did not feel greatly
worried, and thought BIO would soon
feel all right, but we must think
thatit will DO several days, II not
weeks, before his muscles and limbs
recover from the severe strain TO