Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1907 — SPORTS HAVE TALE OF WOE [ARTICLE]

SPORTS HAVE TALE OF WOE

A g iod-sized bunch of sports answered to a hurry up challenge to come to Rose Lawn Saturday with the unconqnered Sportsman, the colored foot racer, as there was a game there for them, and they took the 3:30 train and a bunch of coin and responded with many a chuckle that it meant some more easy money for them. It was hoped to pull off the race in time to get borne on the milk train, and the arrangements were hurriedly made, and the Rose Lawn sports and backers of the white racer they had imported from Chicago, were given somewhat the best of the bargain in the manner of the race officials, for instance, the Bose Lawn backers of the white boy were given the starter and two of the three judges, and the starter, Gene Rice, by name, was empowered to start the race by a pistol shot, and if the start was not even to fire another shot and call the contestants back. After two failures to get away even, the Rensselaer sports say an absolutely fair start was made and at the 25-yard line the deer footed Sportsman took a commanding lead of his adversary and then Rice fired a return shot. Of course a great yell went up from the Rensselaer bunch, and then they found that their money, about S4OO worth, was largely up in the hands of Rose Lawn sports. At the same time they hard the milk train whistle.

= Rose Lawn wanted to rpn the race over, but the colored boy was too nearly out of breath to run without a rest as he finished the race, and then the boys here began to get wise to the advantage Rice had and'to learn that he had some S4O bet on the race and that he would probably not give a fair start, and they wanted a new set of officials. The milk train pulled in and out again and the sports were still arguing the matter. Sportsman’s manager offered to run the race after a reasonable rest, or to run it Sunday or Monday, but the officials wanted it run right away and threatened to declare Sportsman the loser unless this was done. It looked for awhile as tho all their money had gone up in smoke, but finally at about 9 o’clock, they decided to declare all bets off, and everyone got their money back. There was now another difficulty that presented itself; there was no way to get back home until 11 o’clock Sunday morning, apd there were no available hotel accomodations. One young man is said to hav“ been turned down when he offered a woman $2 to sleep all night on the parlor couch. It is said one generous citizen permitted a half dozen of the sports to sleep in his hay mow. It was a tough proposition, but the sport is not expected to have a primrose path to travel, and they expect to make it all back the next time. It is said the white fellow who gave his name as Swartzell is really named Williamson, and that he is quite a feature in Chicago University track athletics being a 220yard runner. He was far too slow to mix up with the spindle shanked Sportsmans, so those who saw the race say, and he refused to meet him at any future time. In the meantime the manager of Sportsman continues to look for matches for his man, and a lot of Rensselaer sports are ready to risk their money that he can’t be beaten.