The San Francisco call., 1897-04-23
The TOURNEY A
THING Of THE PAST
Events Presented Yester-
day Were All of a Mill
tary Character.
The Section Contest and the
Drivers Race We're Most
Exciting and Interesting.
In the Broads word Melee Two of the
Troopers Had Their Heads Cut.
Baseball to B. Played To-Day.

The great military tournament, the first
of the kind ever held on the Pacific Coast,
has come TO an end, and there are thou
sands besides those who actually partlci-
pated in it who will rememb Der it with
pleas ure.
The men who engaged in the several
events, si1ty-three in number, did so in all
earnestness, and there was not man who
came to the scratch who did not think if
he did not come in ahead he would at
least be second on the list. In their work
they were encouraged TO the utmost by
the officers of the department, who were
detailed in various capacities to carry on
the many events. OF the many officers
who were on the field director-general OF
the games, Captain Alexander Rodgers,
Fourth Cavalry, is deserving of special
mention for the executive ability he dis
played; also First Lieutenant Leon S.
koudiez, quartermaster First Infantry,
who as secretary and treasurer of the de-
partment games committee was in greater
demand on all sides than any other officer
at the post. To his excellent judgment
is due much of the success OF the tourna-
ment
There was an increased attendance yes
terday and the day was almost perfect.
The luE-of-war, mounted, which was
the first event, was not without Its at
tractive features There were teams from
the light battery and the cavalry. The
teams consisted of one captain and five
com petitors. The limiting lines were ten
yards, each team IN column facing the
direction OF the pull with horses standing
at distance OF three yards from Group to
head. None OF the competitors was per-
m1tted TO catch hold of his saddle or
name of his horse. The first heat was
won by Light Battery F of the Presdio,
and the second by Troop of the Presi-
dio. The time in each instance was five
seconds, and it was remarkable fact that
the teams that won were those headed
toward the stables.
The $50 yards go-as-you- please race in
light marching order had six entries, but
only four came 10 the scratch. Puckett of
g company was suffering from the injury
TO his left knee, and he was not in condi-
tion, still he came in good second.
Chalmers OF Company h, of San Diego,
won in 2:54 2-5, Dougherty of Company B,
Benicia. third.
For hign lump ping mounted with 25 yards
start, there were five entries, but only two
starters, Robertson, Troop B, Pres1dio,
and Sergeant Hart of Troop /, who,
though but Jew days out of the hospital,
volunteered TO enter Just TO make con-
test. Robertson had splendid horse, that
jumped over the bar III fine style, and he
made record of feet 2 inches Hart
was satisfied with feel inches
Another novelty was the retiring sharp
shooter race. Tue contestants started at
scratch, with cartridge belt and five rounds
of ammunition, ran 10 their pieces, fifty
yards distant, with bolts taken out and
apart. On reaching that point the men
sat down, Assem- Dled bo Is, inserted them
in the pieces and retired to scratch halt
ing every ten yards and firing one shot to
the front in prone position, the last shot
being fred at scratch. Pickett won this
IN st 1-5 Lung of Company D. Banicia,
second.
There was another obstacle race be-
tween a team of men from A Ccmp pany of
the Preside and one from D Company of
Benlcia. This was the same as the
obstacle race run the previous day,
but was more exciting. The winner was
the team of Company A, in 20 seconds.
Henrik and Engstrom, who ran this race
the previous dav, ran again. Henlix was
the winner IN 26 1-5
The section contest between team
from Light Battery and one from Light
Battery +, both of the Presidio, attracted
close attention. Each section consisted of
chief, caisson corporal, gunner, four
drivers and seven cannoneers There
were four-horse teams. These were on
the ground line 100 leet from the firing
line, the harness was on the poles of the
pieces packed ten yards in the rear of the
gound line. Al a signal the men har-
messed and H1tched their horses, advanced
and came into action 'In battery" on the
firing line and fired one shot Then the men
changed piece wheel with spare wheel
fired one shot TO the rear, lin bered up
and went to a picket line, made counter
march and halted with heads of each
team OF pieces at the picket line The
first team reaching that line was the
winner, II it had complied with all the
conditions. Fhis was full of action and
was one OF the most exciting OF the entire
tournament. The men were on their met
tie in the matter of hitching up and nj ak
ing a change OF wheels. Battery lost
the contest because of some trouble with
the traces of the caisson team. Battery
won in $40, Battery f scoring in 6:GS.
The winners were enthusiastically cheered
by soldiers and civilians.
Then followed the semi final of the
mounted tug oi-war, which was won by
Battery BIS team in seconds.
Then there was wall-scaling over the
ten-foot wall, the same as at previous
contests minus the firing at an imaginary
enemy. The first heat was won by Com.
pany D of Benicia in 19 LIS seconds. and
the second by Company A in 10 2-5 sec
onds.
The next contest was one that required
great deal of steadiness and nerve. The