The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-12-26
HOW CRESCEUS DID 1T,
Perfor ms nce at Columbus a Spectacle
that Made $1,000 shout.

that Made $1,000 shout.
The fastest mile ever trotted would
naturally have its interest for the pro-
fessional horseman who would enthuse
over the result as an accomplishment,
but to the lay spectator such a per-
formancc has sensational features that
prove most fascinating. Not one or
the great throng of people who saw
George Ketcham drive Cresceus to bis
own and the worlds record of 2:02ti at
Columbus. Ohio, on Aug. ., will ever
forget the day. A strong wind had
been blowing all day and the trial was
deferred until late in the afternoon
with the hope that the wind would die.
and it was not until o'clock that tb..
great horse, driven by his owner, aY~
peared on the track and was greet.c
by royal welcome. The running
horse. Mike. The Tramp. who formerly
prompted the king of racers. STA. Point
er, :59A, hitched to an ordinary sulky
and driven by Tim Murnan, trainer of
Cresceus, was the pacemaker.
Cresceus was started immediately
and came down in grand style with
the runner hustling along behind at top
speed. ketcham did not nod for the
word and Cresceus vas brought to
standstill. and taken back to score
again. The second attempt to get away
did not satisfy the driver, but ut the
third trial Ketcham nodded. and as
the great stallion. now on his stride,
swept Under the wire ut lightning
speed. the starter shouted CO. and
the great struggle was on. The run
ming horse, covered with lather. urged
by several singing blows of the whip.
now sprang forward in supreme eff
fort. The first quarter was reached in
:29%. seconds. There was not a skip in
his work, and he moved along with an
ease and grace that was charming to
the eye. He was truly Il superb eN-
ample of the trotting horse, and it was
with feeling of suppressed excite
ment that the vast crowd watched his
every move and hoped for record. AT
the half which was reached in :59'A
seconds, a mighty roar Went up from
the $4,000 spectators, which quickly
subsidized, however. and the crowd wait
ed and looked with breathless expect
ancy for the mark for the three-quar-
tiers of the mile. At the half he was
joined by second runner and both
pacemakers were on even terms with
the stallion and setting hot pace
When :30A was announced for the
three-quarters, the suspense was bro
ken and the pent-up excitement was
relieved with the widest demonstra-
ton. 1t was twO-minute clip. HE
will break the record" "He will make
it In two minutes" and like express
sions were calculated from thousands
Of threats us the great, gamey son Of
Robert McGregor swung into the
stretch At the third quarter he faced
4 a wind blowing at the rate of thirty
miles an hour, but not for an instant
did the lion-hearted Cresceus falter.
With a runner on either side and going
wide, with eyes flashing determination.
nostrils dilated and mouth wide open,
with nerves of steel and muscles of
iron, he came laundering down the
home stretch with speed that was daz-
cling to the spectators. Without urg-
ing with whip or voice and with a
stride that was grandeur itself, Ores
ceus, king of them all, rushed on to
the wire, scoring triumph in every
step, and made new worlds trotting
record, 2:O2A.
There was cheer. then roar. and
then tremendous volcanic eruption OF
sound as the stallion finished the mile
, the greatest performance in the history
Of the turf