Telegram-herald., 1891-10-16
CHAMPION sTeNocRAPhER.
A Former Grand Rapids BOY Wins the
Proud lille Easlfy


Proud Tile Easily
Frank +. McGurrin, a former Grand
Rapids boy, whose parents stall reside
here, has just established a chsmpl,u-
ship record in stenography and tyne
writing in Portland, Ore. The Even
Ing Telegram OF that place gives this
account of a contest in which he was
declared to be the winner:
At the exposition building last night
q large concourse OF people assembled
b twitness the shorthand and type
whiting contest which took place be-
tween Frank E. McGurrin, OF salt Lake
City. Champion OF the world: G. al.
Macdougai court reporter OF Butte
City. and +. Z. Sanford, X "A. Brown,
w. j. Leonard and o. J. Mitchell. OF
Portland. Within a space reserved In
che music hall several taE.es were
placed, those supporting the type-writ-
ing machinery On the north side OF
the central floral display, aud thoss
on which the stenographic contest
took place on the southern side. The
first contest was between the short
hand Writer'S. Some trouble was cx-
pericnced at first from the fact that
the dictation was too rapid. AIR. Mac
dougaIl, however. volunteered 10 do
the debating. and after that. every
thing went on smoothly. The repre-
sentative of Portland started in first,
and scored an average OF ITO words =
minute- Then L. T.. McGsrrin's trial
commenced. During the first trial
he wrote $50 words a minute, in the
second a7s words. which is twenty-six
- Al ~ -
trial he wrote 2S6 breaking the record
by n score OF thirty-four words r. A.
Macdonald was then dictated TO and
made a score of PA words a minute
Later in the eve1'tng. in the presence
OF the judges. Mr.. McGurrin wrote
from dictatzon 311 words in fiftv-nine
seconds, at which time his pen broke
and prevented him from writing the
full msnute He then picked MP his
notes and read them back correctly
10 HIS dictator. The first puhiic con-
test In shorthand writing was held at
Lake George. \. Y. I'm August. 1855.
This contest was won by Isaac &
Dement,. o. Chicago. with score Of
252 words n minute. The record
made last night of 2sS words
easily places Mr.. McGurrin champion
Of the world
The fs'pev-rifinr competition the1
took place. II consisted IN two trfale.
writing from dictatio1. The Portland
boys started in frslt and did good
work. Their scores. however. could
not he ascertasnod last night. but VIII
be ascertained and published
later on. Mr. McGurrin was
then hlindfolded and he wrote
from dictations 10s words His
fingers fairly dew over the KEYS stril-
inx them faster than the eyes could
follow. He then wrote from copy aud
IN this made record ~ 100 words,
Mr. McGerrin, at New York. in July.
1883. In a typewriting contest made
record Of nine-fise words min
ute. In Cincinnati during the same
month he wrote ninety seven words
and in August of the same year, at
Toronto. the same number. Ills rec
ord last night places him far 20 ths
front ia the manipulation ~ the ma
cblue. During the contest c. J. Peter
son end Charles J. schnsbsl. Of Port
land. acted a. judges Mr.. Mcsurrin
was awarded the firsf prise both i1
sts.sorraphy and typ~vrifsne. and Mr..
Ncpouxsi received seccnd prise In sfcp-
o<-f aphy. In private exhibition Mr..
Ns5urrfn wrote 335 words In q min
ate, ali new matter 20 him.