Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-21
GREAT sLEIGHrNG CONTESTS.
Rivalry That Became a Craze I'm Ohio
Nearly Fifty Years Ago.

Rivalry That Became a Craze I'm Ohio
Nearly Fifty Years Ago.
From the Chicago Record.
A sleighing party in the Western Reserve
that took on the nature OF a contest be-
tween several counties took place in the
winter OF 1S55-.S. The record of the long
drives and the endless professions of four
horse teams is a tale still told to the chill
dren OF the older Inhabitants OF the Re-
serve. The winter of 1886 was just the
kind for making record on runners. The
snow was abundant, while alternate freez-
ing and thawing kept the roads in firm con-
dition. There were almost daily light
SHOWS to grease up the sleighing and in
vite the sport-loving population to enjoy
their privileges, 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 jolly good time.
among their hasty decorations they car
ried a muslin streamer, five six feet
long, with rudely painted negro face on
1t and the inscription, You can't come it
Such decoration was appropriate in those
days of the underground railroad. for the
runaway who reached the Western Re-
serve 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 a challenge and de-
20 hiiiicu " Adhe the udIllfeT away from
Scion. They collected sixteen teams and
returned with it a few days later. The
people of Bedford, Cuyahoga county. then
organized and won back the banner across
tne county line again.
From this time the rivalry spread
throughout the two counties. from one
township to another. 1t the same
story day after day-a new township had
turned out with a bigger crowd than any
previous one and had won the trophy only
to lose 1t the next day to another and
larger delegation. From thirty-two loads
the number increased first to forty-four
then to sixty-three, sixty-six, seventy-one
seventy-three. in rapid succession, until
some of these parties zig-zagged clear
across the two counties, making a trip of
forty or fifty miles over the beautiful
wooded hills Of the Reserve.
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 accounts of
them were published even in the London
dailies Finally the crowds outgrew the
townships and grand roundup of all the
DOB sleds of three counties was proposed
Medina being invited to join, and the ban
ner was to go to the one furnishing the
most four-horse and six-horse teams. The
great meeting was to take place al Rich
neld 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 battle of
sleigh bells and buffalo robes.
The oldest inhabitant will never forget
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 alb
ruptly in the winter sky above; now the
summit revealed 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 Piper's
notes-big four-horse loads, in punches and
companies And such a collection of horse
wall lra,a4 ea11
matched teams; scrawny. sorry plugs
broken down by the winters campaign;
teams all alike and well-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 49, 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 1900 people came
out on that great ride. 1t is said that all
this frolic took place without a case of
drunkenness, although it is admitted that
big sled boxes and abundant buffalo robes
really make statistics on this point uncer-
tain.
Summit had the largest representation
Ill four-horse teams-and received 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 more than put 1t in cold
storage for future generations to gaze
when Medina flung out defiance TO the vic
tors.
Memories of the great pioneer hunting
parties came to mind for had not their
county been the scene of the great Hinck-
ley hunt. the wonder of its day? Their
horses were not jaded, since they had just
entered the contest. More than that Sum-
init had raised but thirty-one teams more
on its own territory So they arose the
following Tuesday and turned all eyes to-
ward the hilltop city of Akron.
lie of,nir
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-a royal welcome from a
besieged city to an invading army.
The judges count horses. There is
disputed point-mules had never appeared
at previous meets. Shall 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 generous, for their four-horSe
teams number 49,. good margin of eleven
over SUBMITS record of Saturday, so they
throw in the mules for good measure, thus
winning the prize without any cloud on
their title.
Well have it back before Sunday" was
the farewell Of Akron to its guests. But
Medina had shown greater strategy than
her rivals in choosing the last day Of
sleighing for her final attack. In fact, they
had about worn the sleighing out their
way over and had to take to the roadside
for many mile on their way home.
The famous banner will be cheerfuly sur
rendered to any delegation that will call
for it at the county seat, Medina, with 1S-i
teams. You see. they never really yielded
that point about the mules at all. Such
delegation will find most cordial greeting
at this quiet little town, but let all sleigh
ride parties be sure of settled winter
weather when they come, for Medina mud
sticks like poverty and the bottom of it is
somewhere in China
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