The Wild Foot Race on Commercial Street

Long before the starting hour had arrived for the race between Budge, Tate, and Johnson, which was run yesterday evening on Commercial street, crowds of people commenced to gather in the vicinity of the coming contest. By the time the runners had made their appearance in running gear, every foot of standing room along the edges of the sidewalks, as well as the upstairs and roofs of the houses along both sides of the street, were occupied by lookers-on. At length, the racers were called to the scratch, and a good send-off was given by Capt. Geo. D. Hill. They ran along close together nearly the whole way, Budge making a spurt at the outcome, winning the first heat by about four feet. Ten minutes elapsed, during which time excitement ran high, but betting was not very lively. The second heat was called, and they did not start so well, Budge taking the start by a few feet. In order that they might start again, the judge called them back, to which order they paid little or no attention, running through. Tate passed Budge when about two-thirds of the distance and won the second heat by a few feet. The runners walked back to enquire if the heat should be counted and were informed in the affirmative. A good start was had the third heat, and all the runners remained close together throughout, Johnson winning by two or three feet. Now comes the fourth heat, which is to decide the race and is of course the most hotly contested. A pretty even start was had, and away they flew. Before running far, however, Tate took the lead, Budge second, and Johnson third. This position was not much changed, except that Tate widened the distance between himself and the other two, winning the heat and race by twenty feet. There was not a great amount of money changed hands, as the appearance of a third man—Johnson—at the last moment, seemed to nonplus the people generally.