The Meeker herald., 1896-10-10
MILITARY ATHLETICS.
soldisrs Kng.gs In . saecssAfsl Tsssss.
ment at Denver.

nsnt at Denver.
Denver, Oct. 5.-The nrst annual
military tournament and athletic com
petition of the Department Of the Col
orado, U. 8. A., was concluded Gatur-
day afternoon at the Denver Athletic
club park. The second days games
were as 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 most successful experiment, and
Will undoubtedly be taken up by other
departments OF the army. The tournn-
ment Of the Department Of the Colo
RADIO Is established as an annual event,
at any rate, and the soldiers at all
posts scattered over the four states of
the department will begin Mt once to
prepare for next years competition.
The tournament not only provided
novel amusement for Denver people.
but 1t 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 at home.
The contests were of great variety,
including beside those usual h such
ially fitted for soldiers.
The bayonet race for infantrymen
was a novel contest. Five bayonets
were stuck in the ground at intervals
of ten yards. and each competitor was
required to bring them, one at time.
to the starting point fixing each one
in rifle Ross for the eleventh irfan-
try. was the swiftest and most dex-
trous. and finished his work first. Narr
of the same regiment taking second.
The horsemanship contest was quite
like Il circus performance. Each
around the track. performing num-
ber OF difficult feats during the ride.
Upon starting he had to draw his saber
before reaching a hurdle. which his
horse must vault. He had also to
draw his revolver. catching -ings sus-
pended from posts with the s,ber, 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 possible
sixty. colored trooper Ross beiBg Sec
ond.
In the infantry novelty race the con-
testants started from scratch, ran to a
point where rides lay on the ground
with the bolts taken out. put the bolts
together, fired the piece and ran h~.t
to the starting point. Ross Of the elev-
enth infantry won in fifty-two secOnjH,
Covell OF the sixteenth infantry being
second
The mounted novelty race consisted
of race between troopers. standing
IN their stirrups. who dismounfed at
the end of the course. mounted again
and rode back to the finish with their
faces to the rear ColOred Troonef
Ross won this amusing race. Will
Barnhill of the second cavalry second
The bareback wrestling contest wal
the most exciting of the afternoon
Troopers engaged in this contes,
mounted on their horses backs. ami
both animals and men entered into til.
struggle with animation. Men pulldI
and hauled at each other. and whh
one was unhorsed he was defeafeh
After number of exciting contests
the finals were called between Mccoy.
m, the favorite trooper Of the seventh
cavalry, and Collins. youngster of b
troop of the same regiment. The man
struggled through two bouts, McGoE-
an appearing to have the advantage IN
account Of his size and strength. In
the second bout the men struggled
fercely and the contest finally ended
in surprise. Collins unhorsing his on
,'onent by quick move which wok
him the match