The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-16
SPORTING NEWS.
Eddie Mitchell Turns a Clever
Trick in Arizona.
Works the Running Nate of
Cresceus as a Ringer.
WON BUNDLE OF MONEY
ssMike the Tramp" in a Cowboy
Carnival at Tucson.
Amusing Affair Where Mustangs
Look Like Turtles.

Toledo o., Jan. 16.-Since the return of
George H. Keteham with his champion
trotter, Cresceus, it has leaked out that
Cresceus is not entitled to all the honors
of the recent campaign His running
mate, Mike the Tramp. also had few
experiences and gathered in a laurel or
two now and then
While Tim Murnen drives Mike the
Tramp in the races of Cresceus against
Father Time Eddie Mitchell practically
has charge of the homely old runner For
Mike the Tramp is one of the homeliest
pieces of horsefiesh that ever appeared in
public. Eddie Mitchell has for a long time
been one of the Ketcham campaigning
party, and he is shreWd enough to turn
trick nowSand then that opens the eyes
when cresceus went his exhibition mile
at Tuseon, Ariz., recently, the event was
followed by running race between cow
% be SIS It was an event for fun and big
side betting. The entries for TINS race
of the cowboys knew one horse from an
other. When the time came for the mus
crowd who recognized under clever dis
guises. Mike the Tramp, with Eddie
had been hurriedIy fitted out with high
pummeled, loudly decorated. feathered
iousiV big stirTnps and the diminutive
rider wore a somhrerO. tasseled and tin
vided himself with a whoop that would
have frightened an Apache Indian of his
Mike the Tramp and they guyed the
rider and the horse most numerically.
Eddie Mitchellis face was as expression
less as that of an old COW.
Out in that country the sporting men
were ready to lay down their last nickel
on Cresceus, but Mike the Tramp was an
unknown quantity to them, even had they
been appraised of his Identity A rev OF the
wise ones discovered what the horse was.
and they argued that if he could run fast
enough to beat CreSceuS he must De
good one. and they began TO back the I'M
calmly beast. Owners of Arizona ponies
were backing their nags to the finish, and
the coin that went up in the last ten
minutes on pools would have driven a
circus ticket seller to the tremens: over
81 900 was put up by hackers of Mike the
Tramp, and the bookieS We're hit Tor thou-
sands. Some of them began to mlstrust
something was up late in the game and
wiped Mike the Tramp off their states
With the horses off. Eddie Mitchell held
Mike the Tramp well out in the center OF
the track. second in the race, with a big,
raW-boned frontiersman. in a red shirt
setting the pace with what seemed dea q
one in comparison with the Tramp II
was evidently the purpose OF the leader
TO set the pace all the way around, nay
ing confidence in the endurance of his
horse. But the others began to creep up
nearer. The Tramp, under a double wrap
and the bunch sped around the first turn
and into the stretch on about even terms
Mike the Tramp swung wide at the turn
a trick he learned long ago in his romps
ing bowling crowd that saw them fight
it out. There wasn't anything to It,. so
far as first money was concerned, when
the stretch was reached. Mike the Tramp
swung wide, and with nothing but the
shouting crowd in front of him. ate up
the distance like Cresceus coming down
~ 1~St 80 - a. Csf0l,1TobS,S as c,rn-
mer. OF course. Eddie Mitchell won first
money. and few dollars on the side
poor one at that. Some one asked Mitch
ell where he and his horse were from,
and he replied:
mo matter; we've shown you, whether
were from Missouri or Texas.