The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-06
WINNING AL THE WIRE.
A VERY EXCITING FOOT RACE
betmcen the Champions Of In nslani anil America.
Myers. the American. Carries on Tho Laurel.
ofths First Day. C0at.st-ln Ea,hu.lss,Ie
Audltnct-litcords Of the Two Men.

cs'ed III out-H0of sports ffavC looked for.
ward with great expectation, was decided
at the l'olo grounds this afternoon, when
Z. L. Myers, the American amateur cham.
p'on runner defeated w, G. George, the
long distance champion Of England. I'm.
usual interest hsd been excited in Tho
match between George md Myers, from
the fact that when the latter made his tour
In England the former was i'll, and tho two
ehahipions failed to meet. Mr.. George was
so anxious TO try conclusions with the feet
looted American that he crossed the sea 10
meet him Oh his own turf The records of
tho two men showed that uce between
them would not be a tame contest, Mr.,
George was born OH the 10Th Of September,
1888, in Cainc, Wits, England. In six
races he has made the best records, and in
one mce has made tho best time in En-.
land. On September 6, 1850, ut Stamford.
bridge, he won II iour.milc handicap race
in 10 minutes and i0l seconds. On No.
vcmber 8, Mt the London Athletic Club
meeting, le won n thrce.nlile lundicap
race from tho scratch in IA minutes and
i34 seconds Iii the match of the pres
ent year he won a seven.mile handicup
from the scratch in s. minutes and 55l
seconds. In May he took the Challenge
cup Of his club, the Mosclcy ilarriers fer
ten miles in 63:56 2.l5. On June S he wa
first in mile race ut Lille Bridge. h:a
time be'ns4:l93'5. III July he was The
winner OF the two mile handicap ut S,a,n-
ford Bridge in 9:2535. He was first in tho
thouAnd.yards race in August, lis time
being tho best record in England.
PIG 10. Mr.. Myers has for long time
been regarded rs Il phenomenal runner
in this country. His first imrortant
victory was over Il. Merritt, whom he de-
lt"ted ut quarter OF Il mile in S seconds.
lle has run ii half mile in los 3.5 twice in
l:5G twice, and i'll l:5E!. In the spring of
| 1851 he went to England, and lowered the
record Tor 4 quarter in that country three
times, and he also reduced the record there
from l:574 to l:56. His quarter mile record
Of IS . seconds is the best ever made by
either amateur or professional. lie has
won twenty championships, eleven Of
America, eight OF Canada, and one Of Eng
land. 1t was, therefore, naturally expect-
Ell that q crowd would GATH
er yesterday to see him run against
the English champion, and the num-
Der OF spectators, not exceeding 1900, was
q disappointment. Some Of the sporting"
men present ut the race said that II
had not been properly advertised, Mr..
George APPEARED OH the track II lew min
utes before his opponent, and was greeted
with applause. lie measures 5 feet ii j in
! ches in height, 81 inches from the base of
his neck 10 his hips, 37l inches around the
chcst, thigh 2la and cali Is. His legs are:;
feet "A inches long, and he weighs AZ
pounds in his running costume. lie wore
dark blue costume and his head was nm.
covered. His position in running changed
as he increased his gait. When running
the race he carried himself yery erect his
head bent slightly backward, bis shoulders
and elbows high, and his chest thrown we'll
out. He did not raise his feet lipb. either
in front or behind, but seemed To- throw
himself well forward from tho halI
OF his foot at each step. Ills
strides usually measured nearly seven
ieet. lie worked his arms considerably,
and carried his hands well up in front Of
ms chest: Mr. Myers is smaller man than
the Eligl'sl'man, standing 5 feet II inches
in height nnd weighing ll4 pounds. IIis
chest measures 32 nches thigh 10 and culi
III: lie appeared ia costume OF white
and had y white handkerchief tied around
his head. He run III his best form. curry
ing his head and shoulders well buck and
moving his hands. which hung below his
hips, very little. His stride usually meas.
'lrc u trltie under eight feet, but yesterday.
until near the finish, lie kept time with III ,
opponent, as il the two were PLAYING n
Duet upon the cinder path. The men wer"
started Oh The .urnat the end of tho back
stretch opposite the western entrance IN
tho grounds. Thuy ran to the finishing
point. ,.and;thence ON around the track. Al
the pistol shot George sprang away with
the lead, Myers leapins into his footx,rn.
about yard behind. The American in.
medlaeiy closed up this space until he put
his lett loot down ut euch stride almost
into the spot from which George lifted his
right. III this position the two men turncI
for the first time in the quarter stretch
Neither appeared to be running fast. vct
the celebrity with which they slipped by ibc
grand stand, the four legs working like mis-.
ton rods, showed that tho pacc was no
clild's play. George was at his caso ~
they went by tho finishing point the i|rst
time, and while Myers ran with marvel,us
spring and buoyancy, it was still @ nnv
mans race. As they turned into ia
back stretch The EHgiisAmau hGvon r,,io
by little, to let ont the snsed that was % ;M
him. The effort BY Shicl, he iucreaseI ran, IL
the pace was plsinly .perceptible from Tho
grand stand, and the spectators urged him
on by applause and cheers. 1t was impos.
slblo 10 discover that Myers did ponn,l
more Of work, aud yet there he hung iike
grim shadow, his left foot coming down.
with IL fatal regularity into the spot from
which the othe r man lifted his right. The
llttlo American WAS on the outside OF the
track, and llad to 20 further in rounding
the turns, but he took no more stems to In"
second than his adversary, only ienrti,cn.
ing the wonderful strides. Atlpnrth tIrtwo
men, without having changed their REIN.
tive positions, came to the final. turn
into tho home stretch. And hers
little Myers unmaskcd his battrrv
lie turned well out into tho mid.
die Of the track and shot alongside NJ
George ut n terrific pace. The EurIishman
responded bravelv 10 the cballenpe o.,I
for moment it looked rs if the last nm. @
dred yards were to be lou: :hl inch nv ;nri
But George had done all the work In, ''I". i.
could, and suddenly he foil behinl h;s "s
competitor, "ao bounded across the line,
I'M Inc win winner ,, by three yards, in 1:56s, with
IN ease that showed that he could have
moro than doubled his lead lie was frcsL
anu. unwearied' while George looked dis.
tresscd and painted heavily. The en,bns.
las1lc cro%d, cheered themselves hoa.sc,
anu several persons made an attc,1pt 10
carry a,,;; Myers a upon their shoulders, but he
Quickly escaped TO the dressing room. It
was unaefssGod thnt considerable money
ehansea hands on tile rate. the betting b.
lIs IN 'ayor o. Ieor'e early in the DAY, but
a''G,"a!aS u G ssaading at even figures. W.
- y. ta1lio was =, !ne ,eseree and OH. Curtis
me s!arter; VII Caldeeott, Evan rurn.
Daen', ". w. Carr and &. lf.BaJeau were
ia .lIluVpg nj Tim lN..