Smyrna times., 1883-01-17
The Big Snow.
sLEIGHING INCIDENTS.

week ago to-day was rather extraordi-
nary for our section, and gave us a ,
touch of Winter similar to that pic
tured III the old almanacs. The walk
ing was more obstructed than most
snow storms because of the supplement
tai snow that kept falling lightly, for
hours after the real storm had passed,
which was tramped ON the pavement
with an adhering force as if put there
by hydraulic pressure. The quantity
thrown from the pavements on that in
the roadway made quite formidable
embankments in many places in the
streets that were rather dangerous to
the racers on Main street.-the sleigh
ing race course-sO one of the lovers of
the sport, after enduring it for a day,
brought out a large field roller and
levelled the track so that two or three
could 60 it abreast as a 2.40 speed.
The snow was an unusually dry one,
that would not pack, and the horses
labOred severely when going at high
speed, but that made but little differ
ence to the man who held the ribbons
he had to go. Thursday and Friday
were bright, cold days, and the lovers
of the sport started out at the first on |
vi nay WullC lllC |
sun shines" and they kept it up indus
triOusly from day to day, the track all
the while, growing better. Sleighs |
were at a premium. A man who
brought US an advertisement the day
before the snow fell, had dozen appli-
cations for his "cutter" before the
track was fairly broken. B. B. Allen,
liveryman, made a clean sweep of his
sleighs, bells and all. Mr.. Fairbanks
sold a new one he was just passing
through the finishing process, for $50,
and perhaps might have got more if he
had had the conscience of money
shaver" Beckett g. Mackey also sold
four.
The turnout was good on the first
day but better on the second, and the
streets, especially in the afternoon and
evenings were merry with the jingle of
the bells as the different dashaways
fitted by with their attendants of ami
mated pleasure seekers.
Those who went out for ride simply,
generally took a circuit of the town
and sometimes out in the country, but
the fast nags were mainly circumscribed
to Main street and they-the drivers
we mean-tOok little account of time,
or the endurance of horse flesh. Up
and down they went, the only differ
ence between that and a trial of speed
at the Agricultural Fair being that
there was no stand to give the word
"go" and no purse awarded the team
that made the best time. Saturday it
partOok more of the nature of a carni-
val than the preceding days the
| cnoxy had Y,aolyaA ,1nIaV n
softening weather, the chargers were
in from the country and the people
likewise, and several hundred persons,
some of them the whole afternoon,
stood out ON the snow interested
watchers of the horses and hOrseman-
ship displayed. The latter must have
: been excellent, for there was singular
absence from what everybody prOphe-
, cied, a serious accident. At one time
on Saturday afternoon, eight sleighs
brought up a contest below the Town
Hall, in a confused mass, but no one
was hurt. There was really no Incl.
dent to record only where liquor took
, a part. On Friday evening, Brady
Cooper in company with young lady
friend, was enjoying Il ride when his
team was met by that of 30" Cum.
3 Minis from down the Neck" who wa:
: drunk enough, from accounts, to bt
. abed. Mr.. Cooper reined his steed tC
+; the right and Cummins pulled hi!
:, horse in the same direction. The col
Il lissiOn was fearful one. The shoul
:; der of Mr.. Cooper's animal from the
u livery of HI. ID. BOyer) was pierced fiv,
or six inches by the shaft from tn,
II team of Cummins, while his horse re
0 ceived similar and worse wound
@ In this condition he drove it home
- Such injuries to valuable four year
e old horse, is a heavy penalty for al
Y indulgence at the bar so many person
r, from the country think they mus
7, make when they come to town.
l. On Saturday afternoon, a young mai
;. named Hobbs, in similar condition
J. made laughable upset, but was for
:. tunate in escaping any casualty other
V. wise. On getting his effects together
'. he again took the course, when he s
(. far forgot himself as to indulge in som
IS coarse profanity at some gentlemen
IS accompanied by ladies. Informa
ID tion was given to the officers who wen
ID on the lookout for him but he did nc
ID return on the track, and presumabl
struck out for home.
e, The sleighing carnival is an occasio
for license because it comes so seldom
we suppose) not indulged in at an
e, other season. The town ordinanc
IN against fast driving is suspended fc
ne the time, by common consent, and th
r. merciful man who is merciful to h
I'D beast at all other times, forgets it in th
lie Jingle and frolic of the bells. If th
ifs jaded animals could speak, the officel
K. of the Prevention of Cruelty |
i'd Animals" society, would have som,
he thing more to do than moralize.
he The country roads were fearful
re banked and impossible in some place
70, and sleigh-riding was not the cas-.
lie going thing it is sometimes. Thu
1t, Mrs. Fairbanks and Mrs. Richard
be with colored driver, started for Lei
er sic, were upset in one of these drift
al Mrs. f. losing a gold watch on Il
IN, journey.
in A company of eight ladies who d
rs, not care to be dependent on the me
nd for all the enjoyment of the seaso
chartered w. Frank JeffersOn's b
Of sleigh and had as good time for tv
va, y hours as any of the individuals on Il
has track.
The rain of Saturday night and Su
Nee Nee day morning looked for time as if
OF would put stop to the sport, but Il
ent falling Of the mercury on Sunds
,le, night to 80, only served to give Il
l6e track q efmer foundation and u
III III sleighing on Monday and yesterds
was participated In with consideFah
owe animation.
he he Nothing has occurred this week b
the the colliding of two sleighs and tl
'nS breaking of the shafts Of one. JOSEF
the II. Primrose, who had the fair Eloc
ms Zionist for companion, was at ol
her time In considerable jeopardy. Th'
glided through the town without in'
ed dent until they got ON the turf, whit
his horse was seized with the spirit
IRE the contest and decided to lead in h
MS race. Grabbing the bit in his mou
of and his "eye in fair phrensy rolling
ev. he was soon distancing those at
la side. Mr.. p. wrapped the reins aroul
ng- his arms, but he had as well been pu