San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-13


Again the bugle sounded clear and
shrill as the four contestants turned at
the distance flag and galloped abreast by
the crowded stands Then, as il from
one impulse in the vast multitude, rang
out the wild applause. Shouts, clapping
OF hands and stamping of feet made rude
accompaniment for the musical pat of
dainty gloves ana the rustic of waving
parasols
Again the applause rang out as the
four riders passed the generals box with
whips at salute, and the grim soldier
rose and raised his hat. Then checking
their horses in mid career Chavirac and
Won Schlegen wheeled and fronted tho
judges stand, dead silence again falling
on the crowd. -.
For the third time the bugle sounded,
and Col. Campbell, the senior judge,
rose and read the challenge and an
nounced the conditions of the race:
1--WE, Philippe Victor, count de Cha
virac, staff captain of the army of
France, and Heros, baron Won Schlegen,
of the German lancers, as friendly
test of riding. do challenge all corners,
not professionals, to a race of one and
one-half miles, over hurdles and water
jumps, as decided: each entry to ride his
own horse; catch weights, no allow
ances, and no horse to have record: the
prize to be one lady's riding switch. and
no rider to wager upon the result: race
to take place over the Metairie track and
inclosure no: later than 8 o'clock on
Monday, Feb. s, 1866, and entries to be
open until that day and hour"
Col. Campbell folded the document
and added: Il call the challengers:
Capts. Chavirac and Won Schlegen, such
are your challenge and conditions?'
Both bowed their heads-the German
silently, the Frenchman with the AFRO
CANT words:
Il made the challenges: viii ride and
win it fairly"
AS the challengers turned towards the
gate Col. Campbell called out:
. do any riders accept the challenger
Hoyne-Cecil rode. up answering cheer
lily:
II, Herbert Martindale Hoyue-C Cecil,
captain of her majesty's ifeguards, ac-
cept all conditions, and ride for En-
gland"
And |, Manuel Jesus de Ia Vega
Cambria, ensign Tenth Mexican bat
TALON, accept all conditionsr cried the
Mexican. ...
And the moment after the four rivals
were about the scales, where young
quartermGster took their weights. for
form sake only.
as there any other accepting this
challenger All entries close at 3 p.m.,"
again called out Col Campbell. He
looked unoasily at his watch: it showed
one minute left.
No answer came, and ChaviIac. turn
ing to the Creole near him, said:
LAS | supposed! This Yankee Don
QuiSote who would ride unframed
against me is Punchinello! VoilaT
Twenty seconds more of dead silence;
then people began to turn their eyes
from the judges stand. 1t was evident
that the rumor of an American accept
ance was false.
Brilliant eyes flashed amused glances
under long black lashes at the generals
box, where his brilliant ribbons 1uttered
gayly, and then their owners, caressing
the colors on their parasols, turned to
their escorts with that pretty little moue
that only The Creole woman can make.
AL this for twenty seconds-time
enough, with opportunity, to win a
woman or TO lose world! Then clear,
sonorous voice. like the order to charge,
rang out:
"Here!"
Round to front the judges rode 1.-THE,
erect figure, in white shell jacket, blue
breechcs and red sash; blue cap, and
riding boots fitting like gloves and SEEM
ingly as light, completing the dress.
The horse he controlled with hight
hand was jetty black, his coat shining
like satin in the sun and his small head
tossing continually, as though seeming 4
the contest and eager to begin it.
Rather long limbed for absolute beauty, \
his Sutherland height was enhanced by
flatrcss Of forcarIns that Quivered with
elastic muscle; but his depth of chest
and long sloped thighs told of power
and stay equal to the intelligence de-
noted by breadth between the eyes.
There was dead silence on the crowd.
The Creoles, the Diegos, even the Ger
mans and English-who had so applaud
ed the known entries-had small SYM
pathy with the unknown federal sol
der: less with the Gag for which he was
champion.
As the rider first appeared tall Pier
rot, standing near the gate, had swung
his hands together to start applause.