Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-06-03
THE DEAD CHAMPION.
Another Victim OF the Six-Day
RoIsr-Skating Match
bis Srset kass Wssrs Hfaa Oot aa1 Ne
fA.ils Faiis siesissa a. Disa4ss-T2lk-
ins la f1ls Lat Baars 81 a Match as
Hoped 90 wiss- Ds4th Csasasr.-


X = sun
" .ll am DonoFau . "a glls . lx-days race
"a roller skat=s ia Mailsoa square Gar
i-a, 4ad Esok enc snlning gold champion
naesial as balsam f9r his biis-eret feet
ana so4udsd kusa The SO in r.oney.
too Was fortune f9r the poor Irish lad
sno Nas bootblaek Ia Elaiira. Young
Donovan came % Ssw York ~ith his little
fFssnd Tommy Tobin. ami started in the
race With single pair of skstes yeu him
> ni. mates in Elmira. AMI 40 food ou as
stomach. The way hs whirled around the
track. leaving miles AMI his c0mpetit rs
Den al him, attracted attention, aud Tom
Davis took an interest la hlm, fed him.
trained hul, b0ag ght him skates, aud al the
close ~ she match GA Saturday evening.
March 5fh. saw him finish .09z miles-ths
winner over Boyst ~ for " seven miles.
he had s&ated ~ hours, aud rested twen-
~ William Doaovau, just eiz htsen years
GA, Was looked upon as a phenomenal
f roller skater.
Trainers Tom Davis and Jack Smith
thous ht they had got a prize. After the
rae they gave the boy oatmeal Cruel, two
f soit boiled eggs. and toast and tea. aud
F tucked him Ia bed az the Putnam House.
+ DR.. F0sburgh said the boy had worn HIM
+ self out, but by resting quietly a week no
would regain his siren 9Th aud be all right
7 ior another trial But little D0n0van's
+ fame had stirred Elmira. The newsbovs
and bootblacks were bowling for Donovan
T. come there The lads father. a railroad
iaborer, who had seen the last days OF the
great race, was determined 20 take the
champion right home with him The
trainers strongly opposed moving the boy
Tor a week, but the father said bis Toy was
under age, and be would DO with him as
he pleased. An uncle aad an aunt sided
with the father. and az last the sporting
men gave Ia. On Tuesday following the
race, raw. damp morning. the skater was
taken % Elmira by his relatives. Jack
smith accompanied him.
Donovan was met az the Elmira depot BY
half the town, and the same evening big
reception was given % him az the rink.
He was the hero OF the hour, and was ex-
hibited az Hornellsville and other neigh
boring towns. Jack Smith was dismayed.
and telegraphed 20 Tom Davis
Come up. Thev'll XIII the boy
Davis got 20 Eimira on Sunday morning,
and when he reached Donovan's home
heard the boy coughing. The skater was
lying down, and had severe cold. Call
ing Mr. Davis 20 his side he said:
Don't leave me here Take me TO New
York w.tb YOU TO night"
Mr. Davis said ha would Long before II
was time for the train 10 start little Dono-
van was a the depot, with his satchel in
his hand and his chums around him. He
AL. a
and talked all the way to New York OF
how soon he'd get over his cold. and how
many miles he'd cover in his next race.
Upon arriving in New York, Donovan and
lis trainers went 70 the office Of the Turf
Fteld md Farm, where arrangements were
made for race with Kennett b Skinner in
Way Ine party yyudsn tasn TsRfp TS6sRfpiained Of feel
ing unwell, and was put % bed. DR..
Charles :. Wood was summoned and
found that pneumonia had attacked the
bov's left lung. He ordered haxseed
poultices put on Donovan's back and
breast, and prescribed for him every day.
Davis and Smith nursed the boy day and
night. and a week ago the boy was conval-
escent On Wednesday the disease had
entirely left him. and the doctor told him
be could go out in few days.
tie wanted to watch the people going
into Barnum's circus. and went TO a win
dow. A strong northwest wind was blow
ing. and. though the window was closed
ne caught cold He Immediately COM
planned Of pains in his stomach, and be-
gan coughing again. Dr. Wood came in
haste on Thursday evening and found
Donovan dying Of acute pericarditis. His
neart dilated at the rate II 10 beats a
minute. Early in the morning the boy
was quite cheerful, aud talked Of bis APP
proaching race.
IN win it," he said, putting his hands
our for Davis and Smith to take them,
and then I can pay back. Tt's very kind
of YOU both 70 spend all your time with
me-"
The one thought that seemed 70 worry
little Donovan all through his sickness,
his trainers sly. was how he could show
them hs gratitude for their attentions
Toward morning yesterday Donovan
seemed to realize that he was dying.
+ While it was s.il dark in the room ne
/ called his watchers to his bedside. He
f took rom under bis pillow his gold medal.
and put 10 in Mr. Davis hand. saying:
+ Keep th =. Tom. it's tte only thing ! have
- zive vou." Then turning 20 Happy
Jack smith. he sad. poor Jack. " sh 1
hat one for y0u. too
RE dfe.i At $50 a. rl- The news ~ the
tov'. death was sent to his her. All
who were associated gvit1 him SPOKE of his
death yesl erdtv with genuine sorrow.
Dr. Wood said the race in Madison
square Garden had ieft the boys heart in
very weak condition, and ade him
very susceptible % cold. The cause Of
death was exposure AZ or recovering from
as unesE aHd che pneumonia. which ex-
hausted the ssa er's sysrem. was contract
si bv bis being outdoors - som after his
sxertioni IN The race