Wichita eagle., 1889-01-27
THE RACE.
Kittleman Defeats Bethnne 1t the Riverside
Park-A Magnificent Race Between
Two Of the Leading Sprint
ers Of the World,

Two Oh Tic AcduluR SpTlut-
Of the World.
The Kittleman-Bethune race was run
yesterday afternoon at Riverside Park at
$50. The day was cold and raw, and there
was in attendance but a sprinkling of
those who would have attended had II
been as pleasant as the preceding. Yet
the 300 or 400 who went to see the race
were all men who could and did appreciate
such an important sporting athletic event.
Besides the men from Wichita there were
present quite a number Of Kittleman' s
friends from Harper, a few sporting men
from other places in Kansas. and +. 5.
Ormesby, proprietor of the Turf
and Field" Dad Druyfoos. an
old sport, and Charley Purvis,
of the Purvis road house. all of Kansas
City. The carriages and hacks were all
drawn up around the stand where the
track had been made. 1t was a level piece
of ground, part of the old track, which
had been especially scraped for the occa-
sion and running east and west. 1t was
hard and had been frozen by the cold of the
night before until there was absolutely no
spring to it.
The two sprinters with their hackers ap-
pearing upon the ground Bethune's hack
was drawn up near the starting place and
at the other end of the track kittleman' s
was stopped. They soon emerged, Bethune
in white wooden hose and dark blue
shirt and kittleman in tights of old gold,
and commenced exercising upon the track.
Both men were in excellent condition and
tba muscular dQValOnmpnf
and movements of both attracted attention
and superior athletes.
There appeared to be feeling with
every one present that it was a race for
blood and no hippodrome. There was no
staggering nor boasting, no one with
tips" nor any great amount OF
money bet upon the grounds.
Everything was quiet and orderly and the
two rivals as they toed the mark look firm
and determined.
McMahan's patrol which had charge of
the grounds, as soou as the distance had
been measured off endeavored to align the
spectators so that all could see and yet not
interfere with the sprinters. AT the east
end the 'string"was held across the track;
end, Kittleman upon the left. Dad
Druyfoos stood behind them, pistol in
hand, ready to give the signal.
In some manner the pistol was firea pre-
maturely, and Kittleman started, but was
called back.
Again the men were ''set," the pistol
fred and each sprung from the mark like
IA fia7h. Kittleman was ahead quite dis
tanee from the start, but Bethune, with
most commendable grit, Kept gaining very
rapidly upon him until they had gone
about seventy-ive yards, when he was
almost even with him. Still his gain was
not sufficient to give him the race, for
when the kansan breasted the string
the Canad an was about three feet behind
him.
The time given was 9$l seconds, yet the
Gentlemen Woo kept the time say that
from the instant the pistol was fired till
III. tleman struck the string was but eight
and one-haif seconds. 1t appears from
this that one of the men at least must
have started before the signal, and such
was contended by many who saw the race,
saying that Kittleman leaped before the
shot was fired, and thus had an advantage
which Bethune had to overcome, and that
the performance of the latter was by far
the most phenominal.
Kittleman's friends, however, said that
such was not the case, and that the only
advantage he had was the wonderful
springing start, for which he has always
been noted.
Bethune is quite gentlemanly fellow,
nd had NOTHING IN Say on rha matter fIlr-
Their than that the race was declared
against him, and that was all there was in
it, He had no exceptions to take to his
treatment here, as it was fair and upright.
He blamed himself for not seeing TO it
that he had professional starter, and not
trust so much to a man who seemed to be
utterly ignorant of the rules governing in
such cases. His friends were, however,
very positive in the declaration that he
was unfairly dealt with, and that his race
was truly wonderful one
Mr.. Kittleman with his brother Frank,
who is rising young athlete, left last
evening for his home at Harper. Mr..
Swain, his trainer, went to Kansas City in
The hopes of arranging another race.
Mr.. Bethune left in the evening, too,
going to Detroit where he will run race
Monday afternoon.
Mr. Rogers was upon the ground with
his camera and took an instantaneous
photograph of the start, which he intends
to offer for sale as soon as finished.
Negotiations are now pending for anoth-
er match between these two men at De-
troit, Mich, in a short time. Swain at
the conclusion of yesterdays race offered
to put up a 1000 forfeit that kittleman
could outrun any man in the United
States; and this challenge may be accepted
at the race to be run at Detroit.