New-York tribune., 1918-10-17


Under ordinary circumstances Wars
Clouds triumph should furnish the
theme. But yesterdays circumstances
were far from ordinary. They were
extraordinary to be ultra-conservative.
Roamer, the gamest horse of them all;
Roamer, in his big heart indirectly
the most patriotic, too, was possibly
the victim of one Of the widest patri-
otto displays of turf history.
Roamer, a few days ago, contributed
100000 to the fourth Liberty Loan
drive. That was the price Arnold
Rothstein paid for plate the seven
year-old gelding carried in his men,
orable successful assault against the
long standing record Of Salvador for
a mile. Always having done his best
the public confidently expected Roamer,
at distance he likes, to excel himself
yesterday afternoon. And SO he
AS the field of four great thorough
breds was parading to the post an
airplane dropped down out of the blue
vault to the west, dipped over the
judges stand scattering Liberty Loan
literature, crcled and re-circled the
clubhouse and stands so slow that
everybody half expected it to dive
among the crowd at any moment. And
then, two more joined the demonstra-
ton. They buzzed about so frequently
and so near as to get on the nerves of
the restive crowd One may we'll
imagine the effect upon hgh-class,
high-strung thoroughbreds.
Horses Get Skittish
The start of the mile and seventy
yards course is right in front of the
Il tbo +,olH linaj
of the airplanes volplaned down almost
to the horses. Old Roamer didn't seem
to mind it much, for he is horse of
sense. But War Clour, Corn Tassel
and Dorcas were skittish as kittens
and misbehaved terribly. The result
vas that the horses were kept unusu
ally long at the post fact that was
anything but conducive to the chances
of Roamer, which conceded eleven
pounds or more to each of his com
pany.
Moreover, War Cloud in his resent
ment against the buzzing aeros, lashed
out with his heels and kicked Roamer
heavily just before the start. This
may or may not have affected the ulti-
mate result. Perhaps Roamer could
not have beaten War Cloud at the
weights. But the long delay at the
post and the kick certainly did the old
fellow no good.
The aerial demonstration prior to
the start of this feature race was as
nothing compared to ono which fol-
lowed closely upon its termination.
Before the buglc called the horses 10
the post rumors of Germanys uncon-
ditional surrender had reached the
clubhouse. The news ran like wldfire
to the Lawn and through the stands.
The question was on the lips of every
one: Can it be really true ?''
After the race it was decided to
make the unofficial announcement. As
Jack Adler Liberty Loan announcer,
mounted one Of the stairways to intro
duce His Honor William J. Waln, the
Mayor Of fonkers who was to act
as herald. tho band leader, in on tho
know, called for the national anthem.
AS the first strains OF the anthem
blared hilarious introduction the
crowd simply went mad
Cheer upon cheer rent the air And
as the last strains died out Bedlam at
its noisicst would have been a void of
silence III comparison. Hats. canes
overcoats were tossed high in air.
Everybody on the lawn huggcd his
ncighbor or thumped him on the back.
The women in the stands were smiling
or laughing, but smiling or laughing
through tears
Uproar Lasts Five Minutes
Scarcely dry eye could be seen
anywhere by eyes that could sec at all
The demonstration continued five min
utes And the lusty American cheers.
with exultant tigers. that greeted the
names of President Wilson. General
Pershing, Marshal Foch and all our
brave allies must have reverberate
even to the halls of d certain marble
palace in Be i'm
War ciogd Yesterday was up to his
very best form. He stepped the mile
and seventy yards in 1;45 fiat, just one
fifth second outside tho track record
tor the distance. And he stepped if
without once having been forced to his
heartiest effort. The Polymelus colt
was surely up to record speed had he
been pressed Whether or not the long
wait at the post and the kic from War
Cloud were responsible. it must be con-
fessed that Roamer did not run his
iace. Many We're Of the optLion that
the old campaigner was stalIny off when
Star Master took R0amers measure
the other day, despite the fact that
Star Master had to break a track rec
ord to win by an eyelash.
Though Lotus was off last with War
Cloud he raced quickly up on the out
side, till at the first turn he was al
most tapping the speeding Corn Cassel,
which broke on the rail. Roamer, pock-
eted by the two. had to be eased up by
Schuttinger until the old gelding
trailed in order to work clear. Round
the turn Schuttigger raced Roamer up
past Dorcas.
At the half Corn Tassel and War
Cloud were racing as team, with
Roamer length back. In the run up
hill to the far turn Roamer collared
Corn Tassel and made bid to over
haul the fleet War Cloud. Lotus, ever
on the alert, gave his mount headway,
and War Cloud began to draw away
again. 1t was evident early that
Roamer never could get the pacemaker.
LOTUS Sits Tight
Schu.tinger rode with everything at
his command, but Lotus just stat tight,
serenely confident. Corn Tassel, which
hugged the rail all the way, saving a
great deal of ground at the stretch
turn, moved up on Roamer again as
the field swept into the stretch. It
was a case now of Schuttinger saving