Chariot Racing in California 261 



drivers of the time of the Cresars, drove up to 

 the judges' stand and received their instructions: 

 twice around the half-mile track to constitute a 

 heat, and the winner was the one who took two 

 out of three races. It was seen at the onset that 

 the " Lucky " Baldwin four were crazed with 

 excitement, being high-strung racers, and excited 

 by the cheers, the gay streaming flags, they 

 presented a magnificent appearance. When the 

 bell rang they fairly sprang into the air, West 

 keeping them to the pole, the Carman team 

 following at the wheel. As they passed the 

 grand stand the audience rose on the instant 

 and went fairly wild over the splendid sight. 

 Around the turn the horses dashed, West's team 

 running away, Carman's horses leaping into the 

 very air in their efforts to keep up. 



For three quarters of the race the teams were 

 so close that the drivers could have touched each 

 other with their whips, but at the last West 

 spoke to his team. He did not have to use the 

 whip, and they came down the line with a roar 

 that woke the echoes and sent the great throng 

 to their feet, the deep reverberating sound ris- 

 ing and creeping on like thunder or some strange 

 subterranean sound, to burst into acclaims as 

 West crossed the line ahead, with Hogaboom a 

 good second. The time was one minute thirty- 

 nine and one half seconds. 



The second heat was won by the Carman team, 



