The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-28
How the Butte Man Defeated the
Englishman in Splen-
did Struggle.
Marvellous Time Made in q High
Altitude on q Poor
Track.
Helena Nearly Went Broke ON the Re-
sult-Another Match Probable
Sprinters' Gossip.

De expected uuQeT Tue circumstances. luey
went, saw and ''got left'' But they saw q
speedy foot race. There was between $12,.
COO and $4,000 up on the result. 1t ia
rarely indeed that foot race is run on itf
merits but none who saw Sundays race
will doubt that it was run
for "blood.'' 1t was about the
only thing talked about in Butte Sunday.
lttook place at the race track. 1t is said
that neither of the contestants knew what
the other was capable Of doing. On the
Sunday previous the men ran 100 yards in
10 1-5 seconds, the Butte man, Anderson,
winning. This was only "feeler' and the
outcome was the Sunday race at 12O yards
for $500 side. Graham is long distance
runner. or rather $50 yards is his favorite
distance. He endeavored to have the race
that distance, but Anderson, who likes 100
yards, declined to entertain the proposition
and they compromised on 120 yards.
About 2:3O the race track was black with
people. The distance was measured OF and
Granam won the toss. Hon. II. L. Frank
WAS agreed upon as starter. he delayed
the race about two hours by not appearing,
and during the interval it was rumored that
the sheriff would stop the run. That official
did not appear, but he expressed his inten-
ton of prosecuting the directors of the race
track, If the race was run. Both sprinters
looked fit to run for life. Graham selected
an uphill course. The rise, however, was
barely perceptible, as there was not ten
inches of grade. Anderson would not 60
until everybody was off the track. VIM.
Frazer, formerly of this city. was chosen
we're cast upon them. They're Off was
shouted. but they did not score we'll and
Mr.. Frank called them back. Once more
they got into position. Bang went the
report of pistol, and ere the smoke ceased
curling from the barrel the great race was
ended with Anderson, the Butte man, about
twenty-five inches in front. 1t was very
fast race. Anderson made jump at
the score and was fully three
feet ahead of Graham before the
latter knew it. On they came ranqh a for for
as the 1OO-yard post was reached Graham
had closed up gap of about one foot but
it was evident that he could never catch his
man and in a great deal less time than it
takes to tell it, Anderson had run against
the loosely hung string and won the race.
The 100 yards was run in 81 seconds, a
quarter Of second less than the record,
and for the 120 yards the watches split at
IL 4-6. This was very fast time. Many
bets were made that twelve seconds would
not be beaten. When Anderson passed
winner his friends rushed around him with
WIFI 0UCuu6lU61u anu UOEc I'LL hlOlt III VuOlI
arms to his dressing room. Graham looked
tagged out and painted like a quarter horse.
He felt very bad for it was the first time he
had ever been beaten on an even start. He
had placed all his money-about
$1,7OO-on himself. In conversation
reporter: 1.-The bloody fellow run me h'of
me legs in the first 'undred yards. Hi knew
something was h'up and that we were going
q fast clip and when Hi saw the time hat
terward Hi was not surprised"
OF course the Helena delegation went
broke on the race. They knew what their
man could do, but did not know about the
Butte man. They felt satisfied that to win
the race the Butte man would have to run
faster than he ever did in his life and they
felt that he could not it, but in this they
were disappointed. Anderson's right name
is said to be Flynn, and that he halls from
living could have beat q. him SUNDAY. Ora.
ham, who trained in this city during the
week, was considerably choked up by Butte
smelter smoke. Anderson is not over %
or % years of age and in BALD is some
what below Graham, who is about
IS OF 81 years Of age. The latter's appear
time as was made in Sundays race. the
track and high altitude considered. it may
be Rald that the time of II 4-5 seconds is
simply marvellous. 1t was a great race, and
nobody has been found who thinks it was
not square" race.
fully. Harry Woolrich lost $4,000. He
still has confidence in Graham, but wants
q race at longer distance, After the race
he put up $500 forfeit with MIR. Cluett, An
derson's backer, for a 25O-yard race for
$500. Mr.. Cluett had his money ready.
ett's hand and would not agree to run that
distance. No arrangement hns yet been
made, though there is talk of getting up a
race at l50 yards for from $3.50 to 5000 a
side.
So seldom Is foot race run on its merits
that people have very little confidence in
them. The Helena and Butte public have
had considerable experience in this respect.
Harry Bsthune ana Archie McComh, both
noted sprinters, have made good deal of
money in Montana. A story is told about
how james A. Murray, of Butte, was 'done
up" by McComb several years ago. He
backed McComb, and the whole affair was
fixed for McComb to win. II is said that
Murray had about 5000 on the race. II
took place on the race course. McComb
lost, but he never stopped running. After
he passed second he kept ON running until
he was outside the grounds, where car.
riage was waiting for him, and he haf
never been seen in Butte since.
The same McComb is said to have cleaned
up about $4,000 in a race in California q
few years ago. He went to work as grader
on railroad, but nobody knew him. He
remained quiet about three months. At o
time when the contractors had received
money on estimates amounting to about
$4,000 sprinter appeared. McComt
made himself known to the contractors and
a match was arranged. He had a good
deal of money himself and managed indi.
rectly to meet all the bets offered by the
contractors. He lost the race and again
skipped out.
It 10 generally understood nowadayi
among sprinters that there is no money fol
them in legitimate contests. The recent
wrestling matches between Quinn and tn.
Jap can hardly, in the light of subsequent
events. be considered anything less tina.
"fakes." These people are now in Denver
and Niegler is managing them. Last veel
the Jap allowed Reddy Gallagher, q puRilis
of some note, to throw him, and now Quinn
. going to wrestle with Gallagher, while
Marc Christol, who Was here few week
ago. 10 also in Denver and ID going to wres
tie With the Jap. But the American peopl,
like to be humbugged. Whether Sunday
Yaoe vas huDbuR or not the Helena SUP
IS ~k~-~