The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-11-14
Our" MAJOR
IS ALL RIGHT
BUT IT TOOK TWO HORSES TO
GIVE HONOLULU MAN RIDING
TEST.

The Examiner says;
Twas Major Dunning, big of vest,
Who undertook a grueling test,
Twas difficult, he knew it.
His task was this: to ride a horse
Full fifteen miles; no one, of course,
Believed that he could do it.
He did it, though, and gaily laughed:
I'm not as big as one Bill Taft"
Cavalry Stable Drivel
Major S. w. Dunning, an army Off
Ger of some considerable girth, was
the principal figure in the second rid
ing test held yesterday at the Pre-
sidio in accordance with orders from
President Roosevelt The President is
making an effort to discover how
many officers in the United States ar
my can ride a horse fifteen cOnsecu-
tive miles-five miles walking, five
miles trotting and tve miles galloping
and live.
Major Dunning, who weighs between
$50 and 300 pounds completed the
cts t,but the horse didn't. Two horses
were required for the major
Intermediates yesterday were Ma
jor Dunning, who came all the way
from Honolulu; Colonel Alfred Rey-
nolds, Lieutenant-Colonel George f.
Cooke, Major Daniel A. Frederick, Ma
jor Jacob F. Kreps anu Major Reuben
S. Turner.
The only candidate for equestrian
distinction for whom any appreA en-
sion was felt was Major Dunning, who,
it was feared, would find his weight
a trife inconvenient during the fiji
teen-mile tryout. Major Dunning,
however, did not appear to experience
any inconvenience whatever. The
horse found the major so extremely
inCOnvenient that after twelve miles
he had to be assisted to his stall and a
fresh animal substituted. At the end
of the test, which was successfully
met by all the candidates, Major Dun
ming was observed to move a little
stiffy, and General Funston apologet-
ically explained that the major had
been unfortunate in his mounts, as
both had manifested a curious desire
to change their gait.
Neither horse was interviewed, but
there was a general impression that if
they could have been free to talk for
publication they might have beer able
to throw some interesting sidelights
on the object of their experimental
style of lOcomotion, which it is be.
lieved may have been because it was
found restful to occasionally shift the
major.
AT the conclusion of the ride. which
was made at an average of one mile
in nine and one-third minutes. the Of
ftcers were required to go to the hos
pital there to be informed as to theil
physical condition. There was a feel.
ing among the riders that they them
selves knew quite a number of things
about their condition, but as it was
feared their opinions might be some.
what prejudiced it was thought best
to send President Roosevelt the dis.
passionate, disinterested view of ex
perts who had not been riding.
This body of experts was composed
Of Major l. J. Ives, Contract Surgeon
George H. Richardson and Contract
Surgeon Arthur c. Delacroix.
1t was General Funston's duty tC
accompany the riders as timekeeper
it being optional whether he should dc
so on a horse or in an automobile. But
as little fifteen-mile canter is a mere
incident to General Funston, he chose
a horse as a mode of conveyance, anC
became inspiration, object lesson anC
pacemaker as well as timekeeper.
Colonel Joseph w. Duncan accom-,
panied the riders in an automobile
for a purpose that remained a triht
vague and underlined, but was sup,
posed to be in the event of casualties