Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-10-08
MILITARY ATHLETICS,
Soldiers EnEaGr In n Successful Tourna.
ment ut Denver,

Denver. Oct. 5.-Thc first annual
military tournament and athletic COM
| petition of the Department of the Col
| orado. L. S. A.. was concluded Satur-
day afternoon at the Denver Athletic
club park. The second days games
We're us interesting as those of the
first day, and the special events added
TO the entertainment. General Wheat
on'n plan for bringing the soldiers
within his Jurisdiction into friendly
competition on the athletic field prov
ed Il most successful experiment, ana
will undoubtedly be taken up by other
departments of the army. The tourna-
ment of the Department of the Colo
RADIO is established as IN annual event.
at any rate. and the soldiers at all
posts scattered over the four states of
the department will begin ut once to
prepare for next years competition.
The tournament not only provided
novel amusement for Denver people.
but it aroused an interest among the
soldiers which will tend to bring men
of the scattered commands nearer to-
gether and promote good feeling as
well as proficiency in athletics. These
first games have shown that there is
excellent and even remarkable mater
ial among the regiments and troops OF
the department. Each company was
represented in this tournament by one
man, and in some instances circum-
stances kept the best man ut home.
The contests We're of great variety.
including beside those usual In such
athletic tournaments Il number cspec-
ially fitted for soldiers.
The bIyonct race for infantrymen
was novel contest. Five bayoncts
We're stuck in the ground ut intervals
of ten yards. and each competitor was
required TO bring them, one at Il time.
to the starting point. fixing each one
In rifle. Ross for the eleventh infan-
try, was the swiftest and most dey-
irons, and finished his work first. Mari
Of the same regiment taking second.
The horscmanship contest was quite
like circus performance. Each
contestant. mounted, had to race
around the track. performing num-
bcr of difficult fcats during the ride.
Upon starting he had to draw his sabcr
before reaching hurdle. which his
horse must vault. He had also to
draw his revolver. catching rings sus-
pended from posts with the saber. and
shooting dummy heads with the pis-
tol, the race concluding with the leap
over water course. The contestants
had more or less luck in their ride.
Briggs OF the seventh cavalry winning
with forty-four points out of n possible
sixty. colorcd trooper Ross being Sec
ond.
In the infantry novelty race the con-
testants started from scratch. ran to q
point where rifles lay on the ground
with the bolts taken out. put the bolts
together. fired the piece and ran back
to the starting point. Ross of the elev-
enth infantry won in fifty-two seconds,
Coycll of the sixteenth infantry being
second. 'e@ ....f-
The mounted novelty race consisted
of n race between troopers. standing
in their stirrups. who dismounted at
the end of the course. mounted again
and rode back TO the finish with their
faces to the rear. Colored Trooper
Ross wen this amusing race. with
Barnhill of the second cavalry second
The bareback wrestling contest was
the most exciting of the afternoon.
Troopers engaged in this contest
mounted on their horses backs. and
both animals and men entered into the
| struggle with animation. Men pulled
and hauled at each other. ana when
one was unhorscd he was defeated.
| After number OF exciting contests
the finals were called between Mellow
m. the favoritc trooper of the sercnth
cavalry. and Collins. a youngstcr Of d
troop of the same regiment. The men
struggled through two bouts. McGow-
| an appearing to have the advantage on
account of his size and strength. In
| the second bout the men struggled
iicrccly and the contest finally ended
in n surprise Collins unhorsing his OPP
ponent by a quick move which won
| him the match,