Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-04

fciency Many o. the men entered in
events they had never tried before and
did well In them Il is expected that at
the different posts scattered over four states
training Will be begun al once for next
years games. II is probable, too, that Co.
eral Wheatous plan will be adopted In
other western departments OF the army.
The contests were held Oh the grounds OF
the Denver Athletic club and besides the
regular field and track events there were
special contests for infantry and cavalry.
one OF these was & broadsword combat for
mounted troopers. After the preliminary
contests OF the first day the field narrowed
down 70 a colored trooper named Ross. who
figured prominently in several other con
tests. and BErnhill OF X troop. Second
cavalry They had fought two draws on the
first day but the decisive contest was =
brief one. After few passes Barnhtl cut
OF Ross pompon, winning the tournament
a novel contest was arranged for the in
tantrymen. For each contestant five bay
unets were stuck in the ground al intervals
OF ten yards. The contests consisted in run
ming from the starting point 10 the first
osyonst, carrying il back and fixing il 10
a rife then going after the second. and
the others in succession until every one had
been put in place. Ross Of the Eleventh
infantry won this contest and Mari Of the
same regiment was second.
FEATS OF SBMANSHIP
In the horse manship contest each trooper
was required to take a hurdle q short DIS
tauge from the starting point and 10 draw
his sabre before reaching it. Then be had
TO draw his revolver the rest Of the con
test consisting in shooting dummy heads and
In LrEnshXiuE rings with the sabre both
classes Of objects being fixed al intervals
round a ring. The highest possible score
was 50 and the winner, Briggs Of the
Seventh cavalry. made a. Ross the colored
trooper, was second.
A novelty race for infantryuen was a run
from a mark 10 a place where a number Of
rifles with the bolts removed. had been
placed These had 10 be put together and
fired after which there was a run back 70
the mark Ross Of the Eleventh and Covell
OF the Sixteenth were first and second. Then
came a race between troopers standing in
their stirrups The riders digmouured at
I the end Of the course, remounted with their
faces 10 the rear, and rode back in that
position. Ross won. with Barnhill second
The most exciting event OF all was bare
4 back wrestling contest between troopers.
When q trooper was endorsed he was de-
feated The finals were between MCGOWAN
and Collins. both Of the Seventh Collins
was a youngster. and il was generally ex-
Terte1 that MCGOWAN would have an easy
victory The result was q surprise. Col
Inns and MCGOWAN tugged and hauled al
each other until both were exhausted, and
their mounts were in a state OF great ez-
element. Time Was called, and after q rest
they went a. II again In the first boat
MCGOWAN seemed 10 have the best OF il. but
or the second round Collins by quick and
lucky move, endorsed his opponent after :
few minutes.
The mounted potato race was similar TO q
potato race on foot, except that the troopers
used their horses. Some picked up the pO-
tstoes without dismoUntiuE Other dis
mounted each time MCGOWAN led in this
race until the finish when he forgot 10
mount his horse after putting the last po-
tEtO in the basket; Collins beat him. Ross
also finished before MCGOWAN had corrected
his error
The lD0-yard race was won by Morris. the
chaplain" Of the cOlored troop. His time
In the race was 10 40 as his competitor
dropped out before the finish Immediately
after. however Morris ran the distance in
lO1-5. The colore1 soldiers also did good
work in the broad jump which was won by
1926 feet. Doyt The Sixteenth Infantry
won the pole vault with eight feet
half mile relay race IN which teams OF
four men each were entered, WAS won by
the Seventh infantry. In this contest the
men carried full compliments Of arms and
aecoUtrementB, weighing forty pounds 10 the
man. The contests wound ~ with mounted
gymuastic exercises, IN which q dC2rr tr9sp-
ers took part. The horses were ua4e to
lie down, 10 rear and buck ana 70 do other
feats. MCGOWAN was the winner and Barn
Hill was second
At the conclusion OF the program gold
and silver medals we're presented TO the
winners by General Wheaton with a word
Of commentator 70 each The medals were