Daily camera. [volume] (Boulder, Colo.) 1891-1928, 1900-04-14
SLEIGHING CONTESTS.
Rivalry That Became a Craze in
Ohio Many Years Ago
Four.Horse Loads of Merry People
Entered Into the SpOrt-TOwns
That Were Completely
DepOpulated.

Reserve that took on the nature of
contest between several counties took
place in the winter OF 1s55-56. The rec
ord of the long drives and the endless
professions of fourhorse teams is tale
still told to the children of the older
inhabitants of the reserve. The winter
of 1886 was just the kind for making
a record on runners, says the Chicago
Record. The snow was abundant,
while alternate freezing and thawing
kept the roads in firm condition. There
We're almost daily light snowst to grease
up" the sleighing and invite the sport
loving population to enjoy their privi-
leges, and this weather lasted for three
months.
In February the people of Scion made
up neighborhood party of seven four
horse loads and started off for a jolly
good time. Among their hasty decora-
tons they carried muslin streamer,
five or six feet long, with rudely paint
ed negro face ON it and the inscription:
You can't come it." Such decora
ton was appropriate in those days of
the underground railroad, for the run
away who reached the Western Reserve
was pretty sure to be well cared for
AS the sleighing party rode across
from Cuyahoga county into Summit
county, the people of Twinsburg were
pleased to look upon the invasion as
challenge and determined to take the
banner away from Scion. They col
lected 16 teams and returned with it
few days later. The people of Bedford,
Cuyahoga county, then organized and
won back the banner across the county
line again.
For weeks otherwise sane people
would drop everything to join the sport,
until news of the mammoth sleigh rides
spread over the whole country and ac-
counts of them were published even in
the London dai.ies. Finally the crowds
outgrew the townships and a grand
roundup of all the bob sleds of three
counties was proposed, Medina being
invited to join, and the banner was to
go to the one furnishing the most four
horse and siX-horse teams. The great
meeting was to take place at Richfeld.
in the northwest corner of Summit
county, where the three counties joined.
and Saturday. March Is, was appointed
as the date for this three-cornered bat
tie of sleighbells and buffalo robes.
The Oldest inhabitants will never for
get the stirring scenes of that great
day. Over the hills the great loads
poured from all directions. Now their
way was overarched with great oaks
and walnuts; now they clambered up
rising vista that ended abruptly in the
winter sky above; now the summit re-
vealed a beautiful view of the valleys
below and bells jingled furiously down
the steep slope. They came in troops,
like the rats at the Pied Pipers notes
big, four-horse loads. in lunches and
companies. 2n1 such collection of
hOrsefesh! Fig. well-kent fellows, in
well-matched teams; scrawny, sorry
plugs broken down by the winters
campaign; teams all alike and we'll
mated; teams picked up from all round
the neighborhood, no two alike in size
or color, and innocent of currycombs.
And as for people-some towns were
completely depopulated that day, for
these 462 loads were attended by many
one-horse and two-horse loads that did
not count at all, and it was estimated
that between 10000 and 10000 people
came out on that great ride. 1t is said
that all this frolic took place withouta
case of drunkenness, although it is adj
mitted that big sled boxes and abun-
dant buffalo robes really make Stats
tics on this point uncertain.
Summit had the largest representa-
tion-171 four-horse teams-and re-
ceived the prize with the injunction
to preserve it among the treasured
archives at Akron, their county seat.
But it did not molder on their hands to
any appreciate extent, for they had
no more than put it in cold storage for
future generations to gaze on when
Medina flung: out defiance to the vic
tors.
Memories of the great pioneer hunt
ing parties came to mind, for had not
their county been the scene of the great
Hinckley hunt, the wonder of its day?
Their horses were not iaded since they
had just entered the contest. More than
that, Summit had raised but 81 teams
more on its own territory. So they
arose the following Tuesday and turned
all eyes toward the hilltop city of
Akron.
See, this winter caravan is now gain
ing the heights. Now the smoking
chimneys of the busy little city are in
plain sight. In the city cannons begin
to boom, whistles shrek, bells ring
royal welcome from besieged city
to an invading army.
The judges count horses. There is
disputed point-mules had never APP
peared at previous meets. Shall a bunch
of these long-eared ugly beasts win the
day against them and allow rival to
take away the banner? But Medina
finds that they can afford to be gen
erous. for their four-horse teams num-
Der 1872, good margin of II over Sum-
mit's record of Saturday, so they throw
in the mules for good measure. thus
WINNING he prize wit hOut any c1ou1