New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-28
BEGINNING A LONG TRAMP.
FOURTEEN MEN START N A SIX DAYS RACE
MADISON SQUARE GABDtN CROwDEr-THE COM
PETToRs AND THEIR RECORDS.

already been several hours in their beds. II an
uounced the beginning Of the six days go-as-you-
please match Fifteen men had started on the long
tramp Little appreciation Of the terrible strain
which that meant for the successful. aud many OF
the unsuccessful contestants. to be seen in the
eXultau+ faces Of those who 50 loudly appiaud'd
the start. Yet spectator was heard To remark.
being knocked down 10y Sullivan ISL mere 6agateIle
compared TO covering five or six hundred miles IN SIX
days; but the contestants stepped out right JSunt-
ily when the signal was given.
The crowd began to gather without the building
10y o'clock. Before the doors were opened at $50
1t had -welled to several hundred But the interim
passed without many signs Of Impotence; the
crowd bcgung itself By telling much that 1t dId
know and much that it did not know about the
racers. For speculation of this latter sort there
plenty Of room, for among the entries
were several dark horses. The man could not be
found who would tell much of George Halne5' ex-
cept that he came from Pennsy lyanla,
and that his trainers felt confident that
he would win. He did not start. 1t
was remarked by observers that the unanmlty
with which every trainer expressed unbounded
confidence in tho success Of his simply
amazing. in view Of the fact that only one could
win. Little information also current concern
ing William Wallace Lounsbury, excepting that
he had once been bookkeeper had tired of quill
driving, and had become enamored of the idea
that he could make more money ont of his legs
than ont of his pen. William II. Burrell, the negro
who had taken Harris place, was another rather
dark horse. He is said to have developed much
muscular energy by beating carpets, being carpet
cleaner by trade; but he had been smttcn with
the idea that going-as-you please was easier bust
ness than pounding carpets, and having 0it IS
alleged got over some ninety miles in eighteen
hours, he thought that he could Keep 1t up lor SIX
days.
SPECULATION ABOUT THE INDIAN.
But romantic speculation centercd on Nitav-Ec-
Elbow the Indian runner. Il was said that he had
covered 352 miles iu three days running over hill
aud dale either scalp hunting or buffalo hunting.
or deer hunting; and that to run for six days with
out sleeping wink was. for him. the easiest thing
ia tie world. The pronunciation OF h.S name FUR
utshes n fruitful theme for discussion. People who
are not gifted Iuyu.,ts got around that easily by
clubbing HIM "N.ck-E,bov." His fellow contest
ants who are ayerse to anything but leg exercise,
eascd their tongues by calling him "Peel-a-boo'
The managers Of the race reg gard him as good adj
vcrti,ng card and are by no means anxious that
tie mystery which surrounds him should be lifted
too quickly Doubtless il Will turn out before the
match is over that he Is descended from long
line OF noble ancestry, aud is a Chief Of tie most
unauthorized sort in his own right.
samuel Day, Of rmiugham. England WIS also
much talked about especially b. those who affected
Anclo-pAopil
When the crowd entered the bu.lueit was
brilliantly liz mp by electric lights The seats were
arranged much as they were whom BarnUm had the
garden. On one side smoking is permitted; tie
other side is not that side is reserved for ladies'
But division affords little relief to those who have
arepuguauce for the odors Of the weed divine"
The people Oh the eide spportioned to the smokers
perhaps. because they not allowed 10
so'ace themselves also with feminine society smoked
with so much persisteucy and energy and at cigars
of appsrentIy not the most delcctable kind, that
bre cloud aoated near the roof Of the building and
the odor of tobacco was everywhere.
TIE GATHERING AND WAITING CROWD.
II wasa long wait from the time the doors wore
opened until the start was made but peo-
pie seemed to be in waiting humor and came
early and IN large numbers 50 that by 10 O'Clock
most OF the seats were full, and there we're many
people on the floor and otherwise dispersed about
the building. generally in the ARCADE or crypt"
asitwas sometimes faccteusy called. This isa COW
cred way beneath the seats occupied by the snok-
ers On either side were booths from which sand
witches and other eataJ.es usually par
taken of by transient guests were sold
TO the hungry, and liquors dispersed TO
the thirsty The latter were III an overwhelming
majority. For every sandwich sold there were
hundred glasses Of lager, or some more potent duid
disposed Of
Iuucs's band dispensed music Of the character
prevalent AT Sunday concerts and occasionally
called ".a,rsl." with great hberahty. The ceatral
area. which had been foorcd over, furnished good
promenade. The track ten feet wide, j, closely
fenced iu all around. II is made Of oam and tan
bark with a surface of sawdust. II IS SOFT aud
suolgy to the feet, something like English turL
Row THE MEMS QUARTERS LOOK d.
The z4rn'. quarters are ranged together near the
Tourth-ave- entrance. just outside tAc track.
Externally they were destitute OF any omameura-
ton, and looked like fifteen boxes 'aaeed side by
side, with a door to ga. b and a number rough y
daubed thereon. Within the interiors were hardly
more inviting. Trainers and others We're >t.l en-
gagged in fitting them up. They were about the
size of an average hall bedroom. In each Was
plain bed-tead with generally hair mattress, OF
Jy no means luxuriant sottness The bed must not
bc made too Inytng to the sjX-Iay go-27-yoU-
please man. In the rear of each hut is shelf In
those where the propretOrs We're most advanced
this shelf contained i gas stove ana variety OF
bottles The labels on some udCs that the con-
tents were compounded of beef tea, wine and iron
But most of them We're without labels. aud when
questioned as to their contents the trainers lo0Hed
grave aud declared that that was a secret. IAey
were unanimous IN declaring, however, that they
contained no Whls4iey.
On the door Of tampaul5 hut is horseshoe 10
tempt good luck, If luck can have any place III
sIX-day match. lhomusou'- door had the same
emblem. Alderman FltzEerads trainers smiled
complacentIy when asked what chances tneIT |
man stood. 90 wish | had bouse ana
lot to bet on E.m' SAID one Of tEem'
TIE EVE OF THE START.
The crowd continued 10 increase after 10 o'clock
unit! there VAS barely room TO move around ia t.e
central uciosGrc, and every seat was taken ln.ie
was ID constantly changing series OF co!ors o. the