Arizona republican., 1904-02-14
A TOMBSTONE FooTRAce.
Story of an Early Day Incident Re
 lated by an Exchange.

Some twenty years or more ago che | Pacific states used to be lucrative | fields for pedestrians
 | Few of the races were on the level | but the promoters coined money just | the same.
 At that time Harry Bethune was the acknowledged champion of the coun- try. He could sprint 100 yards in less i than ten seconds. at any time. in con- | dition or out of condition. | Gibson. Ryan, Harry Downey of l Tombstone. and Pete Musgrove of l Carson City. a bartender, were all ! fast.
 If Bethune was crooked he never dis | played any signs of it in public. He travelled from the British Colombia line to the Mexican border and from the Rockies to the ocean. for several years. His winnings amounted to more than $500,0O0. His packers prob ably made three times as much. Gib- son and Ryan were also ready money makers, but like Bethune. they were fast spenders.
 Gibson and Ryan once raced In Tombstone, Ariza and the. result was most interesting. Gibson looked like young colt, fresh from college. and Ryan would have passed for a divin- ity student anywhere. He came as a book agent.
 Two weeks after Ryan appeared in Tombstone, Gibson arrived at Tucson, only seventy miles distant. He talked foot race from the start. The two daily newspapers took him up and made sar- castle remarks about Tombstone's lack of racing talent Then Ryan dis closed his identity to several of the boss faro dealers of the camp. He was tried out and made good. A syndicate was formed and a formal challenge was sent to Gibson, who had organized syndicate of Tucson sports. It was decided to run the race in Tombstone.
 The distance was fixed at 100 yards. Gibson and his packers arrived in Tombstone three days before tho race day. The runners were formally in- troduced. Both acted as if they had never met before, The men kent 1n training and both appeared to be in the pink of condition.
 The Tucson men played their pile on Gibson and the Tombstone sports were already planning how they would spend their Winnings. Mike Joyce, the proprietor of the Oriental saloon, was the stakeholder. His big safe was filled with money the sports had wagered No one in the camp suspected that Gibson and Ryan were in collusion.
 The night before the time set for the race a sport from Fl Paso reached the camp. He had heard of the proposed race and had gone to Tombstone to play his money.
 He caught a glimpse of Ryan and he immediately turned to chance acquaintance and said. quietly: I'll bet an even thousand that I can de- scribe the other fellow
 The remark caused comment and and explanation was demanded I lost S10.OOO on a foot race in Silver City three months ago" he said. and didn't get a square deal" Then he described the other fellow. His de- scription fit Gibson to a T.
 Late that night a conference of sports was held in the faro room of Campbell and Hatch's saloon. All the members of the two syndicates and the Fl Paso sport were present.
 It was at first decided that the race should be run as scheduled. The foot racers were to he permitted to @eman n ignorance of the presence of the man from El Paso. It was also de- cided that all bets should stand just as they lay and that the bes. man should win the race.
 At the appointed hour the next morn ing Gibson and Ryan, attired in racing harness, appeared at the head of the course. The conditions of the rare were read to them. Then they were told to toe the scratch.
 When l fire my gun you're off. said the master of ceremonies.
 Then raising his voice the master of ceremonies said: Boys get ready" Two dozen men shifted their revolvers in their belts. Take your places" was the second command.
 Two rows of determined-lool1ing men marched down the cinder path and took positions about twenty feet apart. Turning to the mystifed foot racers, the master of ceremonies then said, in a tone that carried conviction with it
 We don't know whether you fel- lows are crooked or not. and we don't care. You fellows have got to make good. If either of you fake or throw the race he will be buried tomorrow with full camp honors. Now get ready. The best man wins. remember and his part of the pool will be paid 10 him."
 Then the master of ceremonies TaiS- ed his firing arm and the next moment the runners were off.