Telegram-herald., 1889-05-28
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
willie Day = l. al ox ki<h1sss. ~ 10 " IA
4B Eight Nile kaa Over DiteEss 4Dd
k~aess sad - al4a D8Wa D4ls ia
L@-- ThAa forty-slx Minutes


L1liAissSfs Ia t1sif sazlcsU4k.s, they scClt t-s
b4Ltls from af2r OF
4 oonEsst - ~hleh no Attle interest has
beea attached Is thar Of the Prospect H4T-
rlsrs u bTooklyas aEd th- PssTiz1e al Olyrn-
pies x As~ York Tie prize as tns chan
pLonship q the National CToas Country asso-
csaEloa of America, AM tAs race was r1n.
beginning al Fleetwood PErk, \. Y.
FIFTY ak pooYts. soI8s II them champions,
partlcip ip4tsd-a bare lssged tFocp u The do
"a die sort, really - wAde a crcek II II was
TO vide 10 leap, climb fences, ealter across
rhs lsFsl places Cr pow through ths s~aIups
The course sas eight niles long, bUs through
II Al. going Exs = race horse, Wllio Day, a
lad of Is. lod tbs way from start 70 finish and
came Ia . winner q mile aAead OF al the
other famous runners II the deid. covering
the distance Ia The unprecedented time Of
Is minutes. 81 Is seconds
Compared with some Of bis sturdy competi-
tors he 5 as a sapling 20 al oak, and rs the
oil athletes followed bis light, graceful figure
bounding up hill END down, never paazing in
bis course, and at the finish almost as fresh
as at the start, IL Is not wonder they gave
him the name he now wears as THE cham
pion among champions"
The phenomenal performance has naturally
excited mRch commeas in athletic circles,
and The suddenness with which tho meteoric
burst has occurred accounts for the frequent
inquiry: 'Who Is hei-where did he come
frornF' IL happens 70 be tho privilege OF the
writer % be neighbor Of his family, and
therefore IN a position 20 speak with a GER
tain amount OF freedom, although the present
notes are printed without their knowledge.
II q good pedigree marks the value OF a
race horse, why may il not be used 20 meas
urs the qualities Of mani Some two or
three years ego had occasion 70 examine a
number OF cid paintings in tho residence Of
Col. Day, tho father OF the runner. and from
there turned 20 look through colonial histories
and the history of the revolution, IN order 10
prepare for publication an article describing
tho scenes depicted The memoranda then
made are singularly apropos at the present
time in illustrating the old saying that
"Blood viii tell," for they concern q long
and honored line of men and women from
whom the lad ia directly descended
The ancestors Of the young champion were
among the original settlers Of New Haven,
Hartford and the Massachusetts, Bay colonies
30 years ago, ard In the city Of Hartford q
monument 10 tho memory OF ono OF them,
Robert Day, is still 10 be SEEN They began
their careers as fighters in tho Indian wars,
and from that time down 10 tho ruction be-
tween the north and south, they have been
found in the forefront OF battle and among
the distinguished soldiers and sailors Of the
country.
Capt. William Day, Of tho royal navy,
after whom the champion is named, is IA
nous for ono Of tho most daring naval cx-
PLOTS OK his time. In 1902, during the
French war, he sailed from Plymouth. and
with single vessel attacked the entire
French feet, consisting OF seven ships lie
captured first the adnlirai's line-of-battle ship
before the others could como up, and, man
ming her with part Of his crew, gave battle
% the remainder, and compelling their sur
render brought them safely into port A
painting Of the scene by John Singleton Cop
ley, in l7c}, is now in possession OF Mr.. James
Ingersoll Day, OF New Orleans, together with
tho pistols OF tho old hero and his commits
sion, issued by George II Tho late Hon.
Judge Charles Dewey Day, solicitor general
Of Canada, also preserved In his family many
of tho trophies Of his famous kinSman.
Another grandfather was Capt. Elisha
Hinman, Of tho United States navy, OF whom
the old chronicles say: "Ho was ono Of the
bravest naval heroes OF the revolution On
his frigate, the Alfred, tbirty-two guns, tho
first American ensign ever shown on an
American IEan-of-war was raiScd by First
Lieut.. John Paul Jones. This YVES the old
''Pino Tree Flag" The Union fag with thir-
teen stripes and n representation of a rattle
snake with tho words Don't tread on me. y
under which Paul Jones subsequently won
his victory on the Bon HOmme Richard, was
also displayed. A superb monument now
stands in Stonington, Conn, erected 10 the
memory Of Capt. Hinman By bis grandsons.
James Iugcrsoll Day and Thomas Day, tho
latter now Gn old gentleman os 10, being the
father Of tho runner.
This monument bears this inscription,
which serves the purpose Of q biographical
sketch:
'In memory Of Capt. Elisha Hinman,
United States navy, patriot of the revolu-
ton, born March 10, 1874; died August
10, 1901, aged 73 years At tho ago OF
Is no went TO sea; n captain at 10, and
for many years sailed to Europe and tho
East and West Indies On tho commence
ment Of tho revolution, ho abandoned lu-
crnsivs business and devoted his whole SER
vico to his country. lie was one Of tho first
appointments by congress 20 tho navy. and
served with honor throughout tho whole
vcr-successively commanding tho Marquis
do Lafayette, twenty guns; tho Deone,
thirty guns tho sloCp II var Providence and
tho Alfred. thirty-tvo guns. Cspt. Hiaaan,
IN command q tho Alfred, saued ia conf
panT with tho Ralsigh, thirty guns. Capt.
Thompson In ths month of March, 1773,
they were chased b. two British ships of the
line. the Arladae and Ceres. aud tie Alfred,
sftsr lighting bravelJ and being deserted by
tho Raleigh, through the cowardice OF her
captain. vas compalied 70 surrender. Hs
vas taken 20 England and imprisoned, es-
caped through the assistance Of friends, was
taken 70 London. y here Be saw handbills e.
fer-ing reward & $500 fer hl. head. describ-
lnz his person. etc. lie finally escaped 70
Francs. On his retarn Caps Thompson WIS
court martialed and dismissed TIC service, re-
sDectin< The loss of tae Alfred. and Capt.
Hinmaa vas honorably acquitted In i1J4,
when the Cous;itufiou ,old Ironzdesl was
launched, tho command was ten6ered %
Capt Hinman. but from his advanced age he
declnsi. Re died fuu & years. leaving bis
character as 4 nan q uuimpeachahie integ
ritT and sterling worth, a rich legacy 70 bis
desc-ndGntsr
T5e vie q Capt Hinnan vas Abigail Dol
bears. the granddsughter q Sir John Dol-
bears. barolet Il IS she who gives her mid
dIe uarle 20 the champion. Wien TIE rrassa-
ere = Fort GTisvold occurred s-d Nsw Ion
con as burned hT tho British unlc- com
n7and 4 Eenedic- Arnold. SIC witnessed the
devastation fr--a tae window of her resl1ercs.
which tsd heen spared By Arnold on account
- Former soquaintsncs a retrestfa-
American soldier TAD left h.s r1uszst IN her
hcrlse and. irs>e-Sed bv IA Szht II Arnold
sittiag ~ his horse and directing TIE trocp<
IN their w'rk Z suol. Sc seixes3 -he weapon
sri 1rawln.r hsai r.,-ls>i The t-iz-..r I-ar.