Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-10
AFTERNOON.

AFTERNOON.
Shortly after one o'clock the bugle
sounded, the assembly and the Gardner
Rifles fell in line and were supplied
with about 1000 rounds of blank anu
milton.
Captain Crawford who was to lead the
attack took the first platoon to the east
side Of the grounds aud formed his line
in the brush. Lieut.. Hooper assisted
by Lieut. Wood took the second platoon
to the west side of the grounds and
after throwing out some pickets about
100 yards to the front of his battery put
his men at rest; the stars and stripes
were planted by the battery which
consisted of one "a pound brass howit
ger handled by some old artillerymen
who knew what to do with it when the
time came.
Captain Crawfords men were soon
discovered advancing through the
brush and Hoopers pickets opened q
Struggling sl1irmish fire when the enemy
were seen to deploy in double time by
both fanks and although they succeeded
in keeping concealed they advanced
very rapidly pouring IN such hot fire
that H0opers pickets were soon driven
back to the main body. The ponies
had fight in them and now poured it in
red hot, put almost before they realized
1t, the enemy had closed up with fixed
bayonets and were sweeping across the
field in perfect line on their first charge.
The ponies and artillery were to much
for them and back they went but were
soon rallied and sent in few good
yolIeys followed by a few struggling
shots, which showed them to be out Of
ammunition when again they came at
another bayonet charge only to be met
as before bv a red hOtfire but also q
counter charge by iioCpers men and
back they went fOy the last time with
the ponies close on their heelsand flank
inc them and the thousands Of people
present screaming give it to them
boys" the white flag was soon seen
and in ten minutes HOopers men had
passed the grand stand with their dis
armed prisoners within hollow square.
This ended the first sham battle of the
Gardner Rifles which was pronounced
| by old soldiers present to be far more
realistic than they had supposed poss-
| ible with enc company of men. II
clearly demonstrates the facility with
which the breech loader can be used
as the battle occupied less than hall
an hour.
RACES.
Next came the trotting race, foul
minute class. Sweeney's Crazy Dam
and "Blue Belr' Brundage's "Prince'
and H. w. Lords "Henry" were en-.
tered. The first heat resulted in Prince
getting first place, Crazy Dan second
Blue Bell third, and Henry fourth
In the next two heats there was nc
change in their positions.
In the running race, half mile heats
/ the following horses were entered:
Ed Bonham's black; Stringers gray
Dr.. Ridgman's Broncho; and Johr
SchnibIey's bay. The race was won by
Bonham's pIack. The gray taking the
second place, the Broncho third anG
the bay fourth. Considerable sport
was created in both races.
| BASE BALL.
AS expected the game of base bal
was the attractive feature of the day
for the young men. The game was
called at $50 with MIR. Frank Lumbard
of Tomah, as umpire. The Grand Rap
ids boys went to bat and scored five
runs in the first inning really winning
the game in the first inning. This made
the success of the game look rather
dubious for the Merrill nine The
Merrill boys failed to score until The
third lining when they scored one run
After thefirst inning the game was hotly
contested and resulted in score of t.