The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-05
STILL ToIAING ON THE TRICK.
Permitted - the Police, aTs~ Shooting mt
Several Persons, 10 he ut Large.

p. L. Van Nest was toilng around the
track Yesterday in tho Fifth Regiment Armory.
Tho man was evidently half mad and horribly
oycrworkod. He had to walk half a mile in
overy half hour. lut he was nearly asleep on the
track In the afternoon. and when he had walked
three laps he unconsciously turned in when he
came 20 the door OF his dressing room. But il
required eleven laps 90 make the half mile. so
his trainer pushed him forward. clappng him
encouragingly on the back and walked close to
him until he had finished his half mile. At the
end Of each lap Van Nest stopped for second
at tho Judges stand. and said that he was being
unfairly dealt with, but he was determined to
stick to the track until Sunday afternoon.
When the half mile. over which the reporter
watched him walking. WAS finished. he retired
to his room. threw himself upon his bed. and
was sound asleep the moment his head touched
the pillow. The young lady who was walking with
him {" to relieve the tedium Of his performance
alone" as Mr.. Armstrong. the referee. re-
marked). was in but little better condition. Her
task was to walk quarter Of n mile in every
quarter OF IN hour, but when the boy called her
Shr refused 10 come out. and SAID that the bell
had not been rung. The boy asked the referee
10 nave 1t rung again, hut this the reirrec re
fused To do. and added TINT II she did not como
out at once and walk her quarter Of Il mile. then
her next walk would be in the direction Of her
own lodgings. Ia thirty seconds aitrrwurd she
WIS walking YEARLY around the track.
. II was useless to attempt questioning Van
Nest ns to the cause OF his extraordinary con-
duct on Monday night. but Mr.. Armstrong told
the story:
never eaw him in better trim" he said
" than Yesterday afternoon. Toward night n
number Of his friends came to see him. among
them Alderman Reddy. They began by drink
ing lager beer. and rs Van Nest was Of course
greatly fatigucd and excited. even that affected
him badly. His friends remained with him
about three hours. and during that time. so far
ns know. they had several drinks OF different
kinds.
Il knew il was dangerous but did not like TO
interfere. and Van Nest did his half miles reg
be cross. and wien he was called he did not re-
spond promptly In the middle of his 111sth
half mile he rushed from the truck and went
into his sleeping room. lie was brought back
with difficulty, but he soon broke away again.
and ran into his dressing room. His trainer
went IN after him. md found that he had drawn
pistol which friend had given him. None Of
W. knew that he had It with him. The first shot
Inflicted a painful wound in his trainers shout
der. Mr.. ;. Low, hearing the report. tried To
thrust his head into tho room 20 see what was
the matter. He was not entirely successful. for
he had only got his hat through the door, when
Van Nest lrcd. and sent the ball through it,
The other shots did no damage. and the police
were here in a few minutes but they did ncss
make any arrests. | think Van Nest is in good
condition now. though he is OF course. greatly
fatgued."
The sergeant Mt the Mulberry Street Police
Station SAYS that nobody made any complaint
against Van Nest and consequently the police
had no right 10 arrest him.