The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-03-04
Caused Excitement In
the Old Days.
He MADE A RECORD
Driving His PAGER Between
Canton and Massilion, In
80 Minutes--Horse
Notes.

Commissioner Richard Crawford was
In a reminiscent. mood Friday and
talked of the rivalry between Canton
and Massillon horsemen in the days
just after the war. In those days a.
$3.50 horse was whirlwind In the
eyes Of the people, and ]. p Burton
had team that he delighted to bring
to Canton to clean up the sports. He
had Red Ribbon. that could go In 2:3o
and a mate for him that was not
quite so fast. The pair, however, could
SO down the pike at 2:40 clip. and
that was too much for the Canton
crowd.
Away back in 1856 there was a con.
test of speed and endurance that ex.
cited the people of both cities. Addi.
son Meyers had gray PAGER that he
thought a good deal Of He boasted
that he could go the eight miles be.
tween the square in Canton and that.
of Massillon in 30 minutes. The road
was then vastly inferior to what 1t
now is. 1t was a very poor country
road running up and down hills,
. tuIOu6h oWdtuDo anu
no one thought he could do the trick.
Meyers was ga.Ge and took bets on
the proposition. He evidently had
tried it, like William A. Lynch's beer
drinker (But that is another story.)
He found plenty of tai'crs for his
money and there was unusual interest
la, NhA nt.,v, v,c
went to Mass;llan to see the fli.ish.
and all the rest of the people in this
city were o'lr 10 sec the start Some
ambitious horse1ien even tried to fol-
low him, but were soon left in tho
distance.
Meyers made the distance In q lii.
tie over 2S minutes and won a latful
of money and bunch of glory. and
the feat was il subject Of comment in
both cities for many years The
horse could pace in 2.30 and had great
endurance. He made abo,t mile
in four minutes for the entire dis.
ttanco.
Lady Alice, Psi, was owned in
Massillon about this time. She had
been to the state fair and had taken
first premium. This made her celeb
rity and was distinction enough to
make the whole city proud. The
mare never did anything else to dis
tinguish herself and soon after drop
ped out of sight.
Since those early days the old rival
ry still exists, but it Is not manifest
ed in the same spirit.
County Clerk Casselman is looking
for roadster with all the qualifica-
tions that any one could hope to find
In speciman of the equine race. II
must be handsome, speedy and well
bred. The mare that he has been driv-
ing has been sent to the woods and
Thomas must have something to use
ON the roads. He has been mixed ur
with the flyers enough to know a good
one. He Is In corresp pondence with
several owners and expects to land the
right nag soon.
1t is thought that since King Ed.
ward Of England and President Roose-
VCiC nave ditt'SC SIMULTANEOUSLY con-
demned tho custom of docking horses
tails that The cruelty will no longe. ID
practiced In this country or Grea,
Britain. In the United States ir was
done ~ those who wished to ape ult
English but has been outlawod 10y
nearly every state in the union.
So far as known, there will he nc
professional trainer at the Cantor
track the coming summer. Trainer
Humphris has decided to go back t.
Alliance, where there are more horse.
that will be raced. Canton las lotl
OF &; I'd ones, but few are TO be racer
the coming season and there is littl,
for trainer tn do.
- Although there is little probability
of much professional training, 1t |!
evident from the rivalry that exist
that there will he number of no
matinee races pulled off at the fai
ground track. The records no longe
count against them and the boys will
cut tho horses loose.
L. p D. YOsf Of Canton has enter