RAILCAR GOLD Chapter 10 . . Work . . Part 3
RAILCAR GOLD is a historically accurate multi-generational fictional tale of hidden treasure, primarily set in York County, Pennsylvania during the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. This is Part 3 of Chapter 10 . . . Work. A new part will be posted every Thursday. Recent chapters stand alone, starting here; however new readers may want to start at the beginning.
CHAPTER 10 . . . WORK . . . Part 3
As winter turned into the spring of 1866, George and Dan were anxious to show off their trained jumping frog. They planted a seed, with some of their classmates, about holding a frog jumping contest.
The contest quickly took on a life of it’s own. It grew bigger than anything George or Dan had ever imagined; partly fueled by the Mark Twain story about Jim Smiley and his Jumping Frog. However what really put it over the top was when one of the managers of the fairgrounds heard talk about a frog jumping contest. He decided the York Fairgrounds had to get in on this event and took it upon himself to become the organizer.
It was not long before handbills were posted announcing a Frog Jump at the York Fairgrounds. A day filled with fun and excitement for all was advertised, featuring the Frog Jump and other assorted games, foods and entertainment. All children throughout York County were welcomed to enter a frog in the contest.
Two weeks later, another handbill was posted. This one indicated over 200 children already express interest in the Frog Jump; more children are still welcome. This handbill also laid out the rules:
All types of frogs are eligible and must be named; be creative!
All entrants and frog handlers must be under 18-years-old.
A frog can’t be touched after placing it on the Starting Spot at the center of the Jump Circle. As soon as a handler releases their hands from the frog at the starting spot the timer starts.
Only two handlers are allowed inside the Jump Circle while the frog is jumping. They can blow on the frog, stomp, clap, cheer or anything else; however if either handler or anything from either handler touches the frog while it is jumping, the frog is disqualified.
The Final Spot is the position of the frog after the third successive jump or the position of the frog after one minute from start of the timer; whichever comes first.
Fairground personnel will mark the Final Spot and measure the Jump Distance as the shortest distance between Starting Spot and Final Spot.
All entrants must be at the fairgrounds at 10 O’clock in the morning of Frog Jump Day. Each competitor will draw a starting number tag from a box onto which they must write their name and the name of their frog.
Numbered tags will be called in numerical order. Failure to answer a call to place a frog on the starting spot will move that tag to the back-of-the-line. When going through the back-of-the-line tags, that is entrants only other chance to place a frog on the starting spot.
The frogs with the top five Jump Distances will enter the Frog Jump Championship Round to be held at 5 O’clock that afternoon. Be prepared for pageantry in this round. Entrants are expected to give an introduction about themselves and their frog prior to the competition. The five contestants will draw for starting order in the championship round.
Jump Distances in the preliminary round AND championship round will be averaged to determine the overall Grand Champion Jumping Frog of York County.
George and Dan were a little concerned when they read this handbill. Their frog training, thus far, had solely focused on single jumps for height. They altered their training pattern in the coming weeks for multiple jumps and distance. By the weekend of the big Frog Jump, they felt their frog, Davy Croakett, was ready.
Go to Part 4
