Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-30
ELKS GIVE. THANKS TO
LEAvITT AND GORDON
Gill Ruess and Dick Ferris outstrip
a Large Field in an Impromptu
Foot Race, in Which
Ferris Loses

A real ratzkilling feed was enjoyed
last evening in the banquet hall of the
Maier Brewing company's plant as a
final chapter of the gratifyingly sue
cessful Elks' benefit at Ascot park Sun
day, when the, Locomobile and Stearns
racers turned the gate receipts of their
great match race over to the entertain"
ment fund of the best people on earth.
Leavitt of the Locomobile and Cor
don of the Stearns, in company with
their camp followers were present to
join in the fluctuations of the Elks'
committee, consisting of Eddie Maier
and "Doc" Harry Harrington, over the
financial success of the benefit, which,
incidentally, will result in about $4,000
net being added to the Elks' treasure
box. Others present included Exalted
Ruler McGarry of the Elks' lodge, the
officers who officiated at the race bene-
fit and newspaper men.
An orchestra occupied the music lo1t
of the banquet hall and discoursed some
sweet music, and things went merrily
for q time while the dainty viands pre-
pared by Mine Hosts Maier and Har-
rington were being discussed.
Good natured banter directed Impair
TALLY against Leavitt, Gordon ana
others present was banded about and
no disturbance of any kind was looked
for until near the close of the first
course. when Bill Ruess for the mo-
ment forgot that his official duties as
starter ended with the close of the
race Sunday, and he proceeded TO
"start'' trouble in his usual disorderly
and unscientific manner.
Ordinary efforts were sufficient to re-
strain Ruess until well toward the close
of the second course when he ignored
all track and table rules and started
an unscheduled foot race around the
banquet hall, with Dick Ferris as his
most serious rival, and with the rest
of the field badly strung out and hold
ing onto Ferris hind wheels, Dick act
ing as pacemaker. Thanks to the fore
sight of number of participants
in the race, who were acting as con
trolls" the remaining courses were hur-
ried back to the cold storage and placed
under lock and key, and the racers
finally dropped out OF the unequal con,
test, one by one, until only Ruess and
Ferris were. left, and really not much
left of Ferris.
Ferris will probably be able to at
tend to business by noon today, after
Mrs. Ferris has had an opportunity to
iron out his disordered cravat, usually
SO spotlessly white and natty, and has
restored his hair to it's customary well
groomed curl. 1t is expected that he
will overcome his jumpy disposition,
caused by his recent worry over his
lost balloons In few days.
No permanent damage was done,
however, save perhaps to the temporary
average daily output of the brewery
which is expected to return to normal
figures by the end of the week.
Those present were Eddie r. Maier,
Harry Harrington, John G. Mott, r.
J.. Leavitt, Huntly L. Gordon, Barney
Oldfield, L. G. Warren, Pacific coast
representative of the Stearns; Charles
Hopper, Capt. Robert Atkinson, Will
liam Ruess. w. E. Bush, Dick Ferris.
Charles Soules, Bert Latham, Al Liv-
ingston, Stearns Factory Expert G. B.
Benson, Locomobile Factory Expert
W. j. Orr and a number of others
Eddie Maier requests all guests who
left their automobiles in the truck
sheds to make arrangements to get
them out as promptly as possible to-
day. in order to allow affairs at the
plant to return to normal without any
more foolishness.