Look Back: Running the race, 19th Century-style
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(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a reproduction of historical newspaper excerpts and contains a description of a person that is understood to be outdated and wrong, and would not be used in print today.)
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The Races
About 300 people, the majority of whom were in carriages, assembled on the fair grounds [now City Park] Tuesday evening after supper to witness the foot races.
The attendance would have been three times as large had not the managers made two grave mistakes. The first was in putting "weather permitting" on the bills, which, as the weather was damp and threatening in the morning, had a tendency to keep a good many people away; and the other was in letting it be known during the day that the races could be postponed. On account of a rumor going out that there would be a postponement, a large number of people who expected to attend went home under the impression that the races would not come off as advertised; but they did come off and were as interesting as any attractions ever offered on the track.
The first race was between Mr. George Bradish and John Taylor - a mile dash. The two men started from the scratch, side by side, running at a gentle trot, Taylor keeping slightly in the lead until the half mile post was reached when Bradish came along side of him and ran with him to the three-quarter pole, at the opening of the home stretch, when both men began running at their best speed. Bradish gradually forged ahead and came in ahead, winning by 18 feet in 5,44 戮 [minutes?].
The second race was a half mile run between Harry Robb and Will Taggart. Both young fellows were lithe and active, but neither we judge, had been subject to any toughening athletic exercise, and their running surprised their friends. From the start they ran evenly, both forcing the pace, and they came down the home stretch at a fearful gait, considering the distance run. Robb came in the winner by only a few feet, making the distance in 2, 31 陆.
The next race was a quarter mile dash between seven members of Parkersburg fire company and the same number from the Sixth Ward company. The Parkersburgs were represented by Messrs. Schafer, Burke, Paxton, Richardson, Ditman, Farrow and Ogden; while Messrs. Robinson, Ernest, Gossage, Gaskell, Wilt, Ellison and Francis made the race for the 6th Ward.
The purse was $20.00 to the first man in. Schafer was the favorite in the betting but Ernest of the 6th Ward company came in winner in 1.04.
The next race was a quarter mile race, which grew out of Bradish offering to run any one on the grounds that distance, giving his opponent 30 feet the start. The challenge was accepted by a man named Shinn, but Bradish beat him easily in 58 seconds.
The next and last race was a free for all for a purse, distance 120 yards. About 25 started in the race, Bradish being of the number. Quite unexpectedly to every one a colored boy named Bob Watkins was an easy winner. This closed the evenings performances, and to every one present it was a treat and a pleasure.
Notes. There was no rowdyism and no drunkenness on the grounds.
We regret to know that the managers lose something by the races. It was not gotten up for the purpose of making money, the intention being merely to furnish an evening's sport, hence the loss is more to be regretted.
Taylor, the loser of the mile race is, we are told very anxious to again try his speed with Mr. Bradish, and it is very probable that another race will be made at an early day.
The track was in very bad condition for running, being in places very muddy, and in other parts covered with a coating of gravel, rather unpleasant to run over.
Ogden was nearly the winner of the $20.00 race when he slipped and fell. He was running as though he would get in when the accident happened.
The Parkersburg Sentinel,
June 7, 1879
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.