Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-08-25
The Shenandoah County Fair.

neatly printed and compares favorably |
with any premium list IN the State or
Virginia. 1t was printed at the Office of
Mr.. w. N. Grabill, at Woodstock. In ad-
ditisn to good races, which the Society |
always has, the Directors have pursued
their usual policy of selecting the most
novel and best sttration, without regard |
to cost.
ThiS year the principal attraction will
be the Military Tournament under the
management of Capt. Duncan c. ROss,the
world renowned athlete of the British |
army. That our readers may form some
idea of the character of this attraction,
we publish the following description
from The Scranton Truth:
THE EVENTS or THE DAY.
The events of the day we're many and
deeply interesting, but the most promi-
nent, fascinating and exciting were the
great sword comba: between Duncan G.
Ross and Lieutenant Mckinney, the
Scotch wrestling match between Duncan
G. Ross aud the renowned Cumberland
wrestler, George Ross, and the fitting
tournament between Duncan e.. Ross and
Lieutenant Mckinney: The inspiring as
semblage fred the hearts of the gladiators
TO a heroic pitch. and their contests were
conducted with earnestness, skill, address
and unmistakabls energy, that lett no
room for doubt as to the commences OF
their character.
THE THRILLING SWORD COMBAT.
although last on the list, deserves to be
mentioned first as of Importance, because
it was undoubtedly the leading event of
the day, and for the additional reason
that in this brilliant contest Lieutenant
C. c.. Mckinney, of Ohio, a young swords
man comparatively unknown in this city,
defeated the world-renowned Duncan Z.
Ross after one of the most exciting COM
bats of the kind that has taken place
here or elsewhere. When the bugle
called the masked and mounted gladia'
tors to the field thsre was burst Of
applause from the audience and cheers
for the combatants as they rode up to the
grand stand to be introduced in words Of
warm eulogy by Judge Moffitt. Then
Lieutenant Mckinney spoke in his own
| behalf. He paid a high tribute to his
opponent, and said he would rather defeat
him than be president OF the United
States, adding that he would do his best
to accomplish that feat and concluding
by saying that the audience was welcome
to protest if he did not succeed in show
ing himself true swOrdSman. IL Will do
nv best before you to-day" he said, mo
man can do more, and no man SHOULD do
less." There were cheers as be waved his
4 sword and rode off to the field. Duncan
C. Ross, who was finely mounted aHd pre-
sented a splendid appearance. was next
introduced. He spoke briefly and well,
and said that if he did not possess the
brain of his antagonist be wonld try and
show bimselfa man in another way. Ross
was mounted on handsome bay horse,
and Mckinney rode a black. The great
audience held it's breath as the two
\ syordsmen advanced in response to the
buele-call, with weapons we'll poised, and
the sun glistening upon their armor, and
and at the first clash of swords enthusi-
astic cheers broke forth in turn for Ross
and Mckinney. The cheers for the Ohio
man we're renewed as he scored the first
point bv touching bis opponent on the
armor with his sword. Then Ross f.lenfb
cried out, ego in; give it to him Ross,
but il was evident that this contest could
not be settled with single sword stroke
across the mask, as was the case year
ago. Mckinney, whose sword arm was
bare from the shoulder to the elbow, rode
"a swiftly as a Bedouin about his OPP
popent. and addressed himself to the con
test with great skill. For time ii was
slash and thrust and the resembling
strokes as they fell upon the armor OF the
com batants. teld that they were in dead
earnest. The fourth bout was thrilling
one. Ross rode down his opponent and
forced the lightning into corner OF the
fl II where a crowd of people had collected
There was a scramble IN the assemblage,
and the wonder was that some Of them
were not trampled to death but the con
testants did not halt, aud they slashed at
each other sayagely among the crowd
fighting their way out from the held 10
the track IN front Of the grand stand aud
back again. The spectators who were out
of harms way cheered and shouted and
urged on their favorities and tor time II
really seemed as If the swordsmen would
cut each other down. The bout resulted
in Mckinney scoring point amid great
applause. The combat lasted nearly hall
an hour in all and consisted Of eleven
points. of which Lieutenant Mckinney
scored seven and Duncan Ross four. When
the combat closed and the judges declared
Mckinney the victor he flung off his
gauntlet, dropped bis bride and stretched
ont both hands to be shaken by the hun
dreds of admirers who thronged about his
horse. Duncan Ross rode up at this
iupcture, his blood at q white heat and
challenged Mckinney to hight for any
amount, but there was NJ renewal OF
bostilities aud 10 few minutes the COM
batents were the best of friends. Dun
can Ross had taken part in all the big
events of the day and this was his first
, defeat-a defeat by the way which fol-
lowed Immediately after his great and
tiresome wrestling match with George
Ross Captain James Moir, Chief Thomas
+ Barrowman. of this city, and John L.
I Williams, of WilkesBarre, we're judges
If the combat and Judge Moffitt seconded
Ross. while Robert Hislop, Of Wilkes
3 Barre, was McKinney's second.
THE WRESTLING MATCH.
The wrestling match between Duncan
C. Ross and George Ross, tho celebrated
. Cumberland wrestler, was one OF the
r leading events of the day. George Ross
made a fine appearance as he stripped to
meet his powerful namesake. and every
eye was intent on the gladiator'. The
wrestling was according to the Scotch
rules, which provide that the wlDnsr OF
fall shall hold his opponent down several
seconds to secure throw. Two more
stal wart men have rarely ever been seen
in such a struggle. Duncan e. Ross wen
, the first fall, George Ross the second, and
Duncan the third and prize Of fifty dol
lars. The wrestling match was spirited,
3 and like all the other trials OF strength
and skill, was full of excitement for the
spectators.
TIE TILTISG TOURNAMENT,
was a most graceful and picturesque feat.
he competitors were Duncan Ross and
Lieut.. Mckinney, who rode full tilt at the
, rigs that were held aloft and gave a
splendid exhibition OF their skill. Both
showed to good advantage in the contest