The evening world., 1891-12-04
sPOR7|MG NOTES AND News.
Capt. Collett on the Early Days
Of Cross-Country Running.
The Outdoor Clubs Show Big In
crease in Membership.


Athletic Club Harriers, said: "1 am exceed
ingly interested In cross-country work. hav-
ing indulged in 1t for fifteen years. I ran IN
the first individual championship held IN this
country over the Fort George course in 1888.
The run was held on Election Day, and the
weather was freezing cold. Delaney finished
first.
Peter Golden second, myself third, q. d.
Phillips fourth, sparrow" Robertson NTH,
=" Lon" Myers sixth. Malcolm W. FORD came
In eleventh only to discover that he had lost
a pair OF gold sleevc-buttons. In 1884 the
championship was run from Fort George, and
won by McTaggcrt, Of canada.
In 1885 the start was made from the N. Y.
A. {. Grounds. Mott Haven, and won by L. Z.
carter. Carter won the championship over
the same course In 1856, ana In 1887 the first
team championship was run from Fleetwood
Park. The most enjoyable evenings ever ex-
perienced by cross-country runners were In
1sS0-9O, when the dinerentclubs gave invita-
tion runs. The club giving the run would
provide q light lunch and smoker The boys
enjoyed 1t hugely. 1t would be great thing
II the practice would be taken up again.
will guarantee that the st. George club will
give such run II the other clubs will fall
into line. The st. George Club pack averages
twenty-five men every sunday. The st.
George course is five miles.
"Cross-country running Is one OF the best
outdoor exercises a young man can indulge
In" said L. j. Mccormick, Secretary OF the
Prospect Harriers. "Of course, like every
other exercise, It can be overdone, but when
practised moderately 1t always proves bene-
llC1al."
1t strengthens the muscles Of the legs and
greatly improves the wind. have been rum
ming cross-country for the last ti7e years. and
have never felt any Ill effects from II on the
contrary, know 1t has greatly benefited me.
| The sport is becoming very popular, as is
shown by the large increase In membership
| OF the various clubs that devote special at
| tention to outdoor running
Capt. James p. Findlay, OF the Union Ath-
! letic Club, says: "When l went into cross
| country work was In rather poor condition,
| but my whole body has been benefited by
the exhilerating sport. man Is out In the
open air away from dust and unhealthy at
mosphere. and his lungs have chance to ex-
| pand and give him more breathing space.
"lt Is an excellent method OF training for
sparring matches, wrestling and all other
athletic sports. 1t gives one endurance,
| pack now numbers about 30 men, and we run
every sunday over the Bay Ridge course"
j. r. NcMullin, Chairman or the Athletic
Committee or the Varuna Boat Club, said: !:
| "Our members are becoming interested in
cross-country running and walking. Our
regular pack has not been organized yet, but
1t will be very soon. Our Fresh Air or Walk
ing club, under the ,captaincy Of capt. Chas.
Edison, is booming"
Harry Dimse, q member OF the Board Of
| Managers OF the Metropolitan Association,
and Chairman OF the Committee Of Arrange
boxing tournament, In showing the beautiful
prizes that are to be. given to the winners at
the coming tournament, Dec. 23, said:
"Those are the only prizes that any man
they don't want to fight for them they will
not be compelled to. will turn the events
/ into wrestling bouts or anything else before !
/ can to put down the pern1cious practice Of
paying cash to boxers. 1t Is time these fel-
lows were brought up with short turn"
Judge Tighe, President of the Varuna Boat
defeat at the hands OF Charlie Pierce, OF the
Nonpareil Athletic Club, said: :" am sorry
for Mike. He would not have been defeated
had he been well, but he Is very far from 1t.
! will advise him to rest until Spring, and
think by that time he will be in FORM"
Larry Ford, Of Brooklyn, and John Boggs,
or Hoboken, are matched for handball con-
test, to take place at Mike Boyle's Court,
Hoboken, Wednesday. The conditions OF the
match are the best three In tive games for a
stake OF $40.
The Epiphany Lyceum prides itself upon its
strong football team. They Will play the
Xavier Athletic Association team at Xavier
oval on sunday next. The Epiphany team is
anxious to hear from any strong amateur
team, the Varunas and Sylvans preferred
Communications should be sent to $50 sec.
oId avenue.
The stuyvesant Athletic Clubs cross-coun.
try team had an exciting run over theiI
course last evening. j. j Dean, Stuy.
vesant A. c.. finished FIRST; j. Flanagan
Star A. c., second, and Capt. Melville, OF the
Stuyvesants, third.
The Prospect Harriers, OF Brooklyn, viii
hold their annual cross-country champion.
ships over the Bay Ridge course on Washing.
toms Birthday.
The indications are that new match will
be made between Tommy Kelly and Bill
Plimmer. Kelly'S hackers will confer with
Pllmmer's representatives tonight and try
and effect O compromise. p. II. Black, Kelly's
manager, said last night: "TOmmy Is not as
sick as we thought he was We have decided