St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-08-14
BUNCOED AGAIN.
LyndonvilIe Sporting Blood Loses some
Rright Bed COrpmscles.

were several gentlemen INTRODUCING
'new" and highly interesting amuse'
ments, among them the three shell
game" the money in the candy bag
and others of a kindred nature. Lyn-
donville was in a maelstrom of excite
ment. The gaming spirit was king. 1t
was Monte Carlo transplanted, and not
until the games were over and the Win
ners gone, did the sporting blood of that
town realize that it had betn, as we
term it now, "up against it," History
repeats itself, and how often in these ad-
vanced days are we reminded that:
eve are the same that our fathers have been,
We see the same sights that our fathers have
seen,
We drink the same stream, and view the
same sun,
And run the same course that our fathers
have run"
Since that day thirteen years ago,
thirteen is an unucky number beware
of the year 1914, calm, as it were, has
rested on the sporting bosom OF Lyndon
donvie. Unbroken, except by the mild
excitement of horse race, ball game, or
perchance a sudden drop in the stock
market. But the sporting spirit was not
dead, and at any time a careful listener
might hear its mutterings of unrest be-
meath the surface. All it needed was the
opportunity to spring again, into all the
glory of its former splendor. Last week
the opportunity came and never did
true sporting blood boil more magnih-
Gently.
This is how it came about. A few
weeks ago a young and progressing
man calling himself Miller pitched his
tent within the corporate limits Of Lyn-
donville, and announced his intention of
tarrying awhile. He asserted that be
was an amateur runner, with marvel
Gus record in 100 yards dash, and it
is to be presumed that he sought this
quiet spot to escape for a time the
plaudits Of an admiring world. In
little while be had surrounded himself
with circle of admirers chosen from
among the best sporting blood OF Lyn-
donville. Frequently he would array
himself in his athletic garb and sprint
about the streets, showing at times
bursts of speed that fairly amazed his
newly acquired friends. Once, it is said,
he left town long enough to go to Mon
treal, and win new laurels. But back he
came to the quiet and rest of Lyndonville.
Presently a happy thought struck
some one. Why have an inviucible and
unconquerable Splinter in their midst,
and not embrace the opportunity to
fitch from the great outside world some
of its wealth? A true sporting com
munity's duty surely. Miller was will
ling to aid in arranging a running
match, and in fact directed the anxious
ones to a place where possibly a man
could be found to run against him. They
did as he suggested, and as result, an
other sprlnter came with his hackers
and gentleman from New York, who
claimed he was part owner of noted
sporting paper in that city, and OF
course an enthusiast in the matter of
legitimate sporting events. The alleged
sporting editor was chosen referee and
stakeholder, and it was not long until
he was called into active service in the
latter capacity. The visiting athlete,
whose name was given as Meehan, had
admitted that he was not in the same
class with Miller, and again at the
stable which was used as headquarters,
Meehan was overheard to tell Miller
that it was useless to try and beat him.
All these things more firmly convinced
the Lyndonville crowd that they had a
"cinch," and increased their willingness
to bet.
Finally the arrangements were COM
pleted and the race was scheduled to
take place at the Fair Grounds at St.
Johnsbury, Tuesday afternoon, August
9th, at 4 O'Clock. That afternoon the
town was invaded by all the true sports
from the Willie. They had with then
their golden trumpets all tuned to Civ,
forth the glad notes of victory. They
wanted to sound them in joyful anticipa
ton, but refrained, lest ST. Johnsbur,
sports should catch on to the scheme an(
profit by their enterprise. At the APP
pointed hour all hands wendell thei
way to the field of action. 1t happened
that few st. Johnsbury boys, learnin,
that something was in the wind, oinet
the crowd and were witnesses to tn
great event. There were few, bu
enough to tell the story. When tn
grounds were reached a 100 ward
course was measured off beginning a
the wire and reaching up the stretch
The track was carefully scraped and a
was made ready. But somehow tn
event did not take place at the schedule
time. Fifteen minutes, half an hour, a
hour, and still the race was in the future
1t was not quiet hour, however, fo
Miller was cavorting over the course i
a manner that delighted his backer
while Meehan kept modestly,in the bacl
ground. Neither were the gentleme
from New York idle, but all the viii
they were looking for more BITS and ne
without success for the amount in tt
hands OF the sportsman-l journalist stak
holder grew considerably. Finally {
about SIS the 1etting became slac
and as the gentlemen from New Yoi
no FOL, -.