The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-07-09
Celebration at North Arson.

The celebration in this village was a
decided success despite the rain in the
early morning hours, the dark, cloudy
forenoon and showery afternoon Young
America began to manifest itself as soon
as the day was ushered in and the latter
part of the night was made glorious by
the firing of guns, ringing of bells and
the swapping of fire crackers. The
small boy surely owned the town this
time and there was no one to modest
him or make him afraid.
The rain in the early part of the day
kept many away that would have been
present, but by the hour of @ the people
from the surrounding towns were gath
ering fast and when the fantasies ap-
peared at 10 O'Clock the streets were
well filed with sight-seers. Prizes were
awarded as follows in the street races
and fantasies in the forenoon:
Fantastics-Frank Crymble, 1st; The
odore Steward, End Harry Beal, Sd.
Potato race-Joseph Norton, 1st; VIII
Quint, I'd.
Cracker raee-Dan Steward, 1st; En-
nest Pratt, 2nd.
Wheelbarrow race George Quint LIST;
Mr.. Walker, End, Mr.. Quint took the
wheebarrow, making the distance
around the square in l minute and 81
seconds, while Mr.. Walker made the
same distance in . minute and IS sec
onds.
A shower about II o'clock made
the prospects for the races look dubious
but as the hour for tile starting pulled
arDuA hapop IL,
attention to the program of the after
noon and the people started for the
trottng park.
Several of the Horses entered were on
the ground, however, and claimed the
right to start for the purses. An exam
nation of the track proved it to be in a
Ipassible condition SO the gates were
thrown open and preparations were
made to start the two classes which
were filled and in readiness to start
| Before the horses. were called out the
rain came down in torrents which held
up all proceedings for an hour or more
| The track was now in bad condition and
| the horSemen who We're anxious for
start little while before now wanted Il
| postponement, but the large crowd
| brought by the special train from Oak
| land and way stations who were com
| fortably sheltered in the new grand
stand called loudly for horse trot. At
| the first indication OF the cessation of
| the rain fall the management gave the
order and starter Welch rang for the
> 10 class to come out Three horses
were in readiness, but one horse threw
shoe, causing a delay to have it set.
| This race was finished in five heats.
Long John had the pole the first heat
| The time was slow because of the heavy
track, but the heats were hotly CON
tested throughout.
Four horses responded to the call of
the Free for All and drew positions as
follows: Alexander Boy, list, Elizabeth
N, I'd, Tom Drew, Sd, Cylex 9TH. This
race was as sharp struggle as was ever
seen on this track. Everybody forgot
the rain and the mud in the excitement
of the fight between Cylex and Tom
Drew. A misplaced boot caused the
driver of Cylex to content himself with
the second place IN the first heat, giving
il to Tom Drew in slow time. Cylex
got the second head by a desperate
! fight. Tom Drew went under the wire
| in the third heat with slight lead but
was set back by the judges for erowding
Cylex out of position on the home
stretch. The fourth heat was exceed
ingly close and sharply contested, the
| two horses coming in from the three
quarter pole almost as close as though
| hitehed together, with both drivers ply
ing the whip freely. In consequence of
the mud and rain the time Was neces-
sarily slow.
The Judges were George A. Welch,
Lewiston, starter, Ernest Williams,
Boston, Charles Day, Skowhegan, Ben
Moore, time keeper.
| Below are the summaries: