, 1891-05-24

steT, the famous author Of the dictionary
that bears his name, and a man of frail
physique. 1t Is therefore quite apparent
that Ford's remarkable physical develop
ment was not inherited. For some not
very apparent reason he displayed n great
interest in athletics from early youth. The
best feature Of school life, in his opinion,
was recess, for then he could show all the
boys what poor runners, jumpers and
wrestlers they were. He eNcelled them
all, and paid so much attention to sports
that his father took him out Of school at
fifteen.
Ford never lost an opportunity to devel-
op his muscles, and to this fact, and the
fact that he has lived a natural life, he at
tributes the phenomenal growth of his
physical powers. His mental development
has not been neglected, however, and
psychic force has doubtless been a strong
factor in his athletic career. Body and
mind always work in unison when some
great feat is to be performed. Ford first
became prominent in 1883, when he won
the running broad jump C2l #. ~ I'M and
the running high jump g #. 81 in at the
national championships, and the running
high jump at the Canadian games. In 1884
he won the American broad jump and the
100 yard race. In 1885 the same events and
the 22O yards race in the United States and
the go yards and quarter miles Canadian
races came his way. The same year he de-
feated the great English athlete, John Pur-
cell, for the all round international cham
pionship. He again won the all round
championship in 1886, scoring 40 points
out Of a possible so, the American 100 and
go yards races and broad jump, the Cana
dian 100 and 22O yards races and the run
ming high and broad jumps.
In 1887 he was barred from competition.
but in lSSs and 1889 he again captured the
American all round championship and the
running broad jump Of the United States
and Canada. He was again suspended for
alleged professionalism in April, 1890, but
the charges were not proven, and the A..
a. U. reinstated him last March. Ford de-
clares that he made no effort to procure
this action, but that it was brought about
by the unsolicited clamor in his behalf of
athletes all over the country.
Ford has sigualized his return to the
arena by accepting the urgent invitation of
the Manhattan Athletic club to Join its
European team, which leaves on its tom
abroad about JUNE 6. The already power
full aggregation of athletes will be greatly
strengthened by Ford's presence, and rs
the English and French international
championships are quite certain to mark
his retirement from active competition, his
work abroad will be watched with unusual
interest. Ford held the worlds record for
the running broad jump for several years,
but OF Oct, II, 1890, a. f.. Copeland sur
passed his best performance by only one
eighth of an inch. While abroad Ford
will try for a new worlds record. His
best past public achievement has been D
#. 3 in, but he has excellent reasons Tor
believing that he can better it by more
than one-eighth Of an inch.
At the games of the London Athletic
club, June %, and the English champion
ships at Manchester, June %, he will try
for the running high aud broad jumps,
and the lOOyard race. In Paris, about July
4, the Americans will meet the best En-
gllsh and French athletes, and Ford will
try for the same events and the interim
tional all round championship. His best
performances to date are the following:
100 yards, los seconds; 22O yards, % -
seconds: quarter Of n mile, So 10 seconds;
100 yards hurdle race, II Is seconds; stand
ing broad jump, 10 It. go in: standing
jump, % #. 3 in; running high jump, > #.
II in; three standing bcOad jumps, "a It.
~ in; ten standing broad jumps, ll3 II.
81 in; standing hop, step and jump, % it.
Va in; running hop step and jump, a #.
IA in; putting l6-pouud shot, 81 #. . in;
throwing 10 pound hammer, 81 It. lOL< in;
throwing 5G-pound weight, 81 IT,. lOL in;
pole vault, 9 it. 6 in; one hand bar vault,
IT. 64 in, and pushing up dumbbells,
either arm, 1870 pounds.
Mr.. Ford has for some years been "A ia
vorite writer on athletic topics, To the
excellence Of his work in this line the
readers of this paper can testify.
EARLE H.. EAT0S