Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-09

Judges gave the DlaCk InG race. III oe
$1O0.
BASE BALL.
The game of base ball was called at
O'Clock. The contestants were from
PittsvilIe and Stevens Point. A prize OF
S25 was given to the winning club
After the first four innings it was plain
ly to be seen that the Stevens Point
club was much stronger than the Pitts
vile nine and they led from the start
The Pittsyille n1ne suffered from the
want of a good battery. Their field
work was fair. The ninth inning re-
vealed a score Of 80 to 10 in favor OF
Stevens Point.
SHAM BATTLE.
This was called at 4:3O o'clock and was
the crowning feature Of the day. The
portion of the fair grounds in which the
battle took place is specially adapted
for such a purpose on account of the
trees and the thick brush on the South
and East
The Veterans occupied the fort with
infantry armed with 0reech loading
shot-guns and one gun, in command of
Capt. Cotey and Capt. Otto. One gun
fully equipped with horses on the right
flank in command of Lieut. w. A.
Keycs. The infantry right flank was in
command Of Nj. s. Pratt and the left
flank in command Of Leanard Smith,
while the Sherman Bummers in COM
mand OF c. j. Carman were sent out to
look up pTOyender for the army. While
the veterans were being placed in the
above named positions, Captain CraW-
ford led the Gardner Rifles out Of the
grounds by the main entrance, but re-
turned through secret enterance be-
hind the brush where he depIoyed his
men entirely under cover. The battle
was opened by Lieut. Faughan's skirm~
ishers on Pratt's right flank. The
reports of their guns and puffs Of light
smoke which appeared from the brush
quickly reminded the old veterans of
the days Of 1851. The infantry and
Keycs' artillery soon silenced them,
when Immediately putfof white smoke
was seen from CraWford's right flank,
then came a fuiI yoIIey from the whole
company hid in the brush. Lieutenant
Keyes yuicIly moved his gun to sup
port the Veterans left flank which was
being rapidly pushed back. All this
time the Gardner Rifles were rapidly
sBuIking forward through the low brush.
From this time on the firing was
rapid on both sides and the interest and
excitement became intense, while the
large crowd of people swayed back and
forth to witness every movement of the
contending forces. Suddenly Lieut..
Hooper dashed forward with the right
flank Of the Gardner Rifles, bayonets
fixed, drove off Lieut.. keyes' gunners
and captured his gun, he getting away
with the Timber. Hoopcr's men and
the crowd chccred loudly. Capt. Cotey
at this moment brought forward rein
forccments from the right center at the
double quick and clubbing their pieces
they dashed forward and soon recap
tured the gun. At this moment Carman
came in at Crawford's rear with his
Sherman BummDrs and from this time
on 1t was give and take all over the field.
Capt. CruwfOrd's trumpctCr now sound
ed the rally and with his company in a
circle he kept them off until his anu
milton gave out, when the white flag
appeared. He was ordered to march
his prisoners to the Fort and stack
arms. Although Sherm.n's Bummers
had done severe fighting they now
brought in the proyender and bounti-
fully fed the opposing parties.
We were informed that the previous
arrangements for the battle, by the
officers, was carried out to a letter. The
old soldiers who had witnessed several
sham battles were free in expressing
themselves that this was the most real
they had ever seen. All those veterans
and the Gardner Rifles who took part
are certainly deserving of the thanks of
that large assembly who witnessed it.
1t would seem to us that the state can
i'll afford to allow these wide awake
Gardner Rifles to longer remain with
out state aid.