American Amusements.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 March 1910, Page 4

American Amusements.

*—' PIE-EATING CONTEST. American newspapers describe a great pie-eating contest for the championship of the state of New Jersey. In the United States pie is a national dish, and the machine made variety with which the competitors have to struggle consist ot a layer of pastry about a quarter ol an 'inch .thick, overspread with canned fruit, preserved with benzoate soda, the average weight being jibIt is not particularly digestible dish and partly explains why Americans as a race are frequently inclined to despepsia. "Amid enthusiasm," we read, "thirty-five young men, trained to the minute, entered the contest for the championship. Tho state record of twenty-six pies in ha If an hour fell during the battle. Walter Tappin, of Tiloomfield, New Jersey, was the winner. He managed to put himself on the outside of twenty seven pies in the allotted time. besides the honours which go with the title, he receives the chnmnionship belt and a five-dollar gold piece. Tappin, after the victory,, declared himself willing to sign articles with any opponent on three months' notice. Second honours went to John Winthrop, who disposed of twenty-two pies. l< or a long time at the start ot the race he was leading by three mouthfuls, and he explains his defeat by the fact that when his face "slipped cm No. 17 he changed by ""stake from peach to mince solvestor. loMit last year's winner, was third. 'Me declared while being lead from the arena by friends, he was satisfied to have been able to even enter the the contest and not let the title rro by default. More than 300 enthusiasts witnessed tho competition. Tappin is not only the premier pie-eater of New Jersey, hut has beaten the records in several other New Jersey pastimes, such as oyster opening and wood-chopping.