The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-04-21
Great Sleighing Contest.

serve that took ON the nature of a contest
between several counties took place in the
winter. of 1886. The record of the
long drives and the endless professions Of
four horse teams is tale still told to the
children of the older inhabitants of the
Reserve. The winter of 1855-56 was
just the kind for making a record on run
ners. The snow was abundant, while al
ternete freezing and thawing kept the roads
in firm condition. There were almost daily
light SHOWS to "grease up the sleighing
and invite the sport loving population to
enjoy their privileges, and this weather
lasted for three months.
In February the people of Solon made
up a neighborhood party of seven four
horse loads, and started off for jolly good
time. Among their hasty decorations they
carried muslin steamer, five or six feet
long, with rudely painted negro face on
it 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
Reserve was pretty sure to be well cared
for.
As the sfeighing party rode across from
Cuyahoga. county into Summit county, the
people of Twinsburg were pleased to look
upon the invasoin as challenge, and de-
termined to take the banner away from
Solon. They collected sixteen 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.
From this time the rivalry spread
throughout the two counties, from one
township to another 1t was the same
story day after day-a new township had
turned out with bigger crowd than any
previous one, and won the trophy, only to
lose it 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-o -one,
seventy-three, in rapid succession, until
some of these parties zig Jagged clear
across the two counties, making trip
of forty or fifty miles over the beauti-
full 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 round up of all
the bob sleds Of three counties was pro-
posed; Medina being invited to join, and
the banner was to 90 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 Sum
nit county, where the three counties
joined, and Saturday, March Is, was ap-
pointed as the date for this three cornered
battle of sleighbells 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 tbe winter sky above; now the
summit revealed 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 collection of
horsehesh Big, well kept fellows, in well
matched teams; scrawny, sorry plugs brok-
en- 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 cur
rycombs. 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 be-
tween 10, 900 and 1000 people came out
on that great ride 1t is said that all this
frolic took place without case of drunk
enness, 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
III 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 moulder
on their hands to any appreciable 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
victors.
Memories of the great pioneer hunting
parties came to mind, for had not their
county been the scene of the great Hinek-
ley hunt, the wonder of its day? Their
horses were not jaded, since they had just
entered the contest More than that,
Summit had raised but tbirty-one 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 gaining
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 dis
puted point-mules had never appeared at
previous meets Shall bunch of these
long earned, ugly beasts win the day
against them and allow rival to take
away the banner2 But Medina finds that
they can afford to be generous, for their
four horse teams number 1872, good
margin of eleven over Summit record of
Saturday, SO they throw in the mules for
good measure, thus winning the prize
without any cloud on their title.
"We'll 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 on
their way over, and had to take to the
roadside for many mile OH their way
home. issssa
The famous banner will be cheerfully
surrendered to any delegation that will call