The New York herald., 1879-10-17
TILTING IN PHILADELPHIA.
SPIRITED SPORT BErwEEN MAEyLANDERs, VIA
. GINIANs AND PENNsYLvANIANs.
N ~ IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct. 16

n PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct. 16. 1879.
: The tournament which begun to-day tht
Permanent Exhibition Ground, prelude
to the Yorktown centenary celebration
was entirely successful. The preparations not
being completed early was expected. the
riding did not begin until after four o'clock SO that
only part of the days sport was finished. Tho
lists extended about five hundred
Ffeet along the lawn. parallel with the south
aide of the Centennial Building. From the
upper end of the first arch is $40 feet
Of clear starting ground. The second. aud which
the horseman passes through. is eighty feet beyond
the first. and the third and last arch eighty
feet below. The second marks tho end
Of the 300-foot course. which must be run
by knights inside of ten seconds. This is rule
which was not too rigidly adhered to to-day. Sus-
pended from the top Of the arch by slender wire
and hook, the steel ring. just the size of silver
dollar. hangs level with tho horsenan's shoul-
ders. These rings must be speared and picked from
their hook by the knights at full gallop.
PRETTY SIGHT.
The arches were eaudily dressed with fags and az
the small battalion Of horsemen trotted down the
course on their spirited animals the field
presented very pretty sight. The vir-
ginians wore the ~ Continental suit OF blue
lined with buff. and three-cornered hats
The Marylanders attired In the cavalry suits
of green, with slouch hats and plumes, while the
Pennsylvanians wore buckskin suits and caps. Some
OF the best natural riders III the country
the field and the hrst hour spent III practising
at the rings was perhaps as pleasing to
the spectators as the moro serious sport. The
Marylanders and yirginisns brought their horses
with them and they were well mounted some Of
the swiftest and surest horses to be found In the
country.
VICIOUS HORSES.
The Pennsylvanians not fortunate ia the
way Of horses Those animals who could BE- urged
to requisite speed had ragged gait, which pre-
cluded any proficiency with the spear. good many
knights here and few accidents have occurred.
One horse in particular battle the skill Of numbe1
of riders, and finally WAS taken in hand by p.
Scaggs young man from Prince George county,
Nd He q beautiful rider, ana was probably
right in saying that very few horses in
the world could throw him. But this Pennsylvania
horse was one of the few After difficulty he
managed to ride the animal up to the upper end Of
at q which few horses could follow
Mr.. Scaggs had to watch the horse closely thae
the rings neglected. After coming through
the third arch with it's powerless rider the horse
shot into the air and down with legs stiff
a three-egged stool. Before the knight had recov-
cred from his surprise enough to pick himself on
the neck of the animal its hind legs rose. as IL
seemed to the lookers-on almost perdendicularlys
and Mr.. Scaggs left the saddle with terrific
velocity. He down his hip and arm
and was carried of the track by his friends. No
bones were broken. owing perhaps to the softness
of the EARTH but the unfortunate rider injured
internally seriously that he sent home before
the tournament began.
TOURNAMENT BEGAN.
The tournament began with the appearance the
track OF the knight OF Pennsy and Lancaster.
An address delivered by Gecrg Il. Nelson, mem-
Der of the Baltimore Bar. The running began very
spirited manner. Tn. lance work in some cases was
wonderful. Maryland's men obtained the best score
of the day, although only rum out OF tho three
to which each player is entitled. was ridden.