Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1912-02-03
.GYMKHANA A SCREAM
Freak Contests at Naval Academy
Wherein Middies Fight For
Points Worth Going Miles
to See.
FOURTH COMPANY WINNER.
Clowns and Comical Chariot Race We're
Additional Attractions While First
Class Celebrates.

4 NinSo NchSBEdkcS. -
Last nights initial Gymkhana at
the Naval Academy wherein the en-
tries of the Fourth Company proved
themselves the best freak racers, was
such a bowling success that there is
| little doubt that it will become an an
| nual affair.
The settling of the winner Of the in
| ter-company competitions was stiff
proposition, but even at that there is
another point yet &c be settled. One
that will possibly not be finally de-
cided until physicians and surgeons
have made a thorough examination.
This is as 10 which have the sorer
muscles, Midshipman Ramsey, who, as
a tumbing clown, seemed devoid of
bones as he Topped and tumbled
| about the floor of the gymnasium for
the host of spectators who laughed
until the tears came and their sides
ached.
The event, in a measure, marked
grand passage through the shoals
of mental examinations for the lirst
! class who, with but one more pass
age at arms with The Academic
Board before they graduate, were
allowed to open the program with
costume serpentine dance TO the
tune Of lone More River to Cross. "
Midshipman Ramsey with his pal
"Gussie" Wilbur, although not act
ually participating in any of the con-
tests, were a show in themselves.
Dressed as clowns, and with clownish
doings that would have put to shame
many crude "three ring" circus fun
makers, they kept the audience in
good humor in the periods between
events. A mock chariot race. in
which the characters held precarious
footing on a pair of ordinary brooms
| one foot on each-that were drawn
by team of three of their fellows also
made big hit.
While large and most enthusiastic
audience cheered their favorites to
the echo. the young tars struggled to
outdo each other at obstacle, three
legged, sack, potato collar, button,
leap frog, wheelbarrow, tunnel and
relay carrier races. While the meet
was won by the Fourth Company
lads with a total of 80 points, it
was not until the last event was de-
cided they were safe, the Second
Company running a close second, with
| % points. and the Third and Sixth
| companies trying for third position,
with 20 points.
The other contestants finished in
the following order: Fifth Company,
l6; Eighth Company, IL; Seventh
Company, 10; First Company, s.
Although the events were all of a
comical nature as viewed by the thor
oughly amused audience, to the young
CONTESTANTS each race was a real battle
which meant points for the honor of
his company. The collar button race,
in which eight middies with small
sticks grasped between their teeth,
rolled an ordinary bone collar button
the length of the big gymnasium floor,
proved a sight worth journeying miles
to see.
AS most of them lost sight Of their
buttons after long shot, the major
ity of them were hunting about tn
floor of the gymnasium while their
more cautious opponents crossed the
line. Brown and Howe the two giants
of the football team were the motive
force in the two leading teams of the
wheelbarrow race and Brown won by
a nose.
In the obstacle race the contestants
had to pass all manner of gymnastiC
apparatus, a dense barrier of tangled
ropes and through a canvas tube sc
feet in length, such as one used or
shipboard to give ventilation to the
lower decks. The summary:
Company Totals-First 6; Second
25; Third, 20; Fourth, 80; Fifth
lS; Sixth, 90; Seventh, 10; Eighth
IL.
Obstacle Race-First, Zacharias
(sixth) second, Montgomery, (third)
third, Kieffer, Fourth.
Three-legged Carrier Race-First
Gilchrist and Redman, Rhodes ant
Cochran, (second) second, Hamilton
and Conger. Chandler and Adams
(eighth) third, Hull and Mack, John
son and Adams, (third.)
, Sack Race-First, Wood. (second)
second, Dickins, (third); third, Gil
lette, (fourth.)
Potato Race-First, Richie. Fourth
second, Royal, (ffth) third, Vickery
; | (sixth.)
Collar Button Race-First, Apple
, ton, (frst) second, Wagner, (second)
! third, Powers, (eighth.)
Leap-frog Race-First, Sevent
Company team; second, Fourth Con
pany team; third, First Compan
team.
Wheelbarrow Race-First, Brow
p and Reynolds, (fifth); second, How
and Searle, sixth; third, Rabbit
and Hunt, (seeond.)
Tunnel Race-First, Fourth Con
pany team; second, Sixth Compan
e team; third, First Company team.