The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-20

James Sarsfield Mitchell, Tipperary lad
of q, is model of the modern giants who
are now doing battle in various fields of ath-
| letic sports for the amateur championship.
One shows his superiority as a wrestler, an
other as an oarsman, third as a boxer,
others as runners, leapers and filters; but the
speciality of young Mitchell is the marvellous
skill and strength exhibited in the throwing
of the 16-pound hammer and the putting, u
as it is technically called, of the 56-pound
weight. In measurement he is a man 615 feet
tall, with Il weight that ranges from 226 to
23S pounds Around the arm tape line calls
for 1874 inches; around the chest, 40 inches;
around the hips, Az inches, and around each
thigh, 281$ inches. This mass of well devel-
oped muscle has lifted dead weight of 7e0
pounds. He came to America with the
famous Irish team of athletes year ago.
Like most men of mighty streng 9Th, Mr.
Mitchell is quiet, modest and transformations,
not easily responsive to the questions of the
curious and, unlike most of the people Of
his nation, he is singularly laconic Never
theless, the writer enjoyed conversation
with him recently, on the grounds of the
New Jersey Athletic club, where he has been
practicing for the last two weeks, and elicit
ed a number of facts that viii be interesting
to the readers of this paper, and especially
those to whom athletics are never ending
theme of discussion.
His personal history may be given briefly.
He was born in the town Of Emily, county
Tippersry, Ireland, on the 3lst of January
1855. His father was an exceptionally strong
man, and inasmuch as his grandfather died
at 96 and his grandmother at 102 years Of
age, it is not difficult to account for his ex-
traordinary Yirility. At the age of II he
made record Of five feet ten inches in high
jumping, and was famous throughout his
neighborhood for speed in running The
first prize Of young Mitchell was won in
1854, when he was but 10 years old, tall and
thin, but exceedingly muscular, and with a
weight of $50 pounds. At this age he began
to make weight throwing" speciality, and
since then has been first in 267 contests, hold
ing three years championship in England
and for four years being champion of Ire
land At the present time he is champion of
America
''On coming to America, said Mr.. Mitch
ell, II found very nearly the same style of
work prevailing in America as on the other
side The training here, however, is more a
matter of business than it is yonder. If
have any objection to make in my peculiar
department of athletics, it is that in the
United States every man may choose his own
hammer, and some of them being practically
not up to the rules of the competition, an adj
vantage is thus obtained. While one person
may bring a hammer that is like a mere
lump Of lead attached to a walking stick,
another will play with the regulation form,
and hence the competition is uneven. Now
the difference between iron and lead in pass
ing through the air is as nine to fourteen, in
favor of the former. On the other side, the
hammer is regulated by the rules Of the COM
mittee; it must have an iron head with a
handle four feet long, the whole weighing
sixteen pounds. In America, on the other
hand, man is permitted to bring into the
field any style of hammer he may be accus-
toned to. Therefore follows a perceptible
difference in the styles of throwing and their
results.
''The 56-pound weight also differs in the
two countries In England and Ireland they
use an ordinary shop weight which measures
twelve inches over all. Here they use a
weight specially made for the purpose and
it is supposed to measure sixteen inches On
the other side man has to throw with one
hand only. In America a man may use two
hands, graspiug handle which is flexible.
The advantage is therefore in favor of the
American method"
The writer inquired wherein constituted
the peculiar skill, outside of mere muscular
force, required in throwing these weights.
''An active, alert mind has much to do with
success" was the reply. SIN ordinary prac-
tice one easily observes his mistakes, but in
competition every element of your nature is
brought into being. Nervous, brain and
muscular power all must work in harmony.
When you hear of man out Of form, be
sure of it that something he may not even
suspect has interfered with him.
Training? Yes, such a thing is Of tie
utmost Importance, but in my own expert
ence, no one taught me. 1 tried every style
of throwing and working l could think of,
and consequently III the end | reached what
l believed to be the most effective. SO far as
can judge of myself, l do not seem to use
much exertion; at least don't feel it; the
doctors tell me l throw from my hips. As
regards the use of any special food, that's a
matter I have paid little or no attention to.
Like the most of farmers sons in Ireland"
s'What difference between American and
English or Irish athletes do you finder was a
further inquiry. Little or none If any
difference may be commented upon, it is that
a larger class Of people indulge in athletic
sport on the other side than here, and they
do so from pure love of the sport. Chiefly,
they are the SONS of farmers and pupils in the
schools and colleges. Their parents being, as
you say in America, pretty well fixed" and
many of them athletes in their own youth,
they encourage the development of rivalry in
feats of strength and skill. Therefore you
will find in almost every English or Irish
neighborhood a cinder path and training
grounds.
SIN Ireland this love of athletic SPORT is
sven more prevalent. The Gaelic association
alone is composed of about 1900 clubs, which
are scattered through nearly every village
and parish in the country, SO that from time
to time from football and hurting, which is
the national game, the best men are brought
out. Once week there are local meetings
of these associations, usually under the direc-
ton of the county committee, and contests
ensue for the championship of the province
or district in which they are located. After
wards these champion clubs play with each
other, and the winning club then becomes
the champion of all Ireland.
$50 general Is this devotion to outdoor ex-