The morning call., 1893-03-19
ATHLETICS.
Why Pheby Did Not Secure
Record

ANNNol0s
The outlook for a season Of frst-class
amateur athletics looks decidedly promS-
ing, and with the arrival of fine weather
the beautiful athletic grounds of the Olym-
pic Club will be well patronized.
1t is to be hoped that the Olympic Club
and universities will decide eventually that
The only way to popularize athletics is by
friendly rivalry.
1t was dissenSion among the leaders of
the baseball clubs that ruined baseball on
this coast and it is reasonable to presume
that petty quarrels among athletic organiza-
tlons will lead 10 a like ending.
The following letter from an Olympic
Club athlete, in reference to the incipient
row that has been recently raised over ath-
letic records. Is seif-eXplaDatOry:
Editor Cal: Under the heading OF Gan Ath-
leuc war" In your Issue OF The 10th Inst. there
were statements made by some members of the
university Cub which, IN my humble opinion,
need correction.
l have gone TO the trouble of investigating the
whoe matter. and Will as briefly as possible
show where the Q. c. members have made wrong
assertions.
II is not true that the Olympic Club manage
| menl stated thst they have always borne The ex-
| penses OF The Pacific association In their cham
| pionshlp games, although IL is very convenient
| TO have the olympic Club 10 obtain loan from
| on very favorable terms when they want TO pay
| their dues 10 The national association.
l ne statement regarding the Hleby record l
| thlhk Is one OF The most important made dur
| ing The whole Interview, as II Involves the hon
eSty aud veracity OF men who have hitherto stood
hlsh IN athletic circles. II is generally conceded
| that when men make statements that cast Iefec-
| ions on the integrity OF others they have some
| grounds on which they can rest their charges,
but IN ms case II displays either total lgnO-
| rance OF the whole affair or a Wiilful departure
! from truth and honesty.
AT the Olympic bah games held at their
| grounds on Thanksgiving day, 1891, there was
| an SSO-YdrdS open handicap race. In which Fred
! D Pheby was catch and j. p. COSgro had 60
yards handicap The official timers we're James
! JervS. John Elliott and I. Mcintyre. II there
were any others they were unknown to the ref
! cree ana their names did no. figure GU the pro-
| gramme. The duty of timers is TO take the time
| OF INC winner. Cosgro won aud Mcintyre and
! Elliott compared their watches which agreed
| showing COsgfO's time TO be minutes. Jetyis'
| watch failed TO act.
Evidently The University boys expected Mr..
! Pheoy to win lie race ana thereby make a new
| coast record for The distance, as they had
| already prepared certificate of record, leaving
! the space for the time TO be filled in AS Mr.
/ Pheby passed The finish a University man II
! ihluk ii was 6. Ii. Foulks) SAID lie had covered
/ me distance ID 2;U212. Mcintyre and Jervis
| signed the record Without really thinking of
! what thy were doing. and then 1t was presented
| TO Llioli VINO hatiy refused 10 sign II, as he did
! not take Mr.. Pheby'S time.
| The statement that Mir. Macarthur had the
| record Ieconsidered is not true. II MT. Pheby
! and tile University Club are satisfied with
| record gained In tie manner Just described they
are welcome To 1t SO far as an concerned
1ueY 20 on 10 say That THIS was not the only In
! stance that their records have been disputed.
| challenge thr assertion as being base and un-
| called for. Who may they thank for not having
Walter Ii. henry's 120-yard hurdle record
| accepted by the a. A. o.? Was It not nearly
| four months before Colonel Edwards, theil
timer, sent IN his AFFIDAVIT to the Pacific Associa.
| ton 10 be forwarded TO the A. A. U.2 l am IN a
position TO stale that If 1t had been sent forward
| at once II would have been accepted.
=, Inc National Association thought justly thai
! II the Pacific Association placed no more valu-
J on worlds record than TO delay IL for nearly
| hYe months before forwarding then there wal
| room to question its accuracy. II the University
Club had w0rk ed as earnestly TO have MIR
HenFy's record accepted as some members Of the
| olympic CUB be would to-day be The prouC
| possessoT Of worlds record. which lie honestly
| earned and justly deserves.
As 10 the establishing OF records the university
| men have oYershOt The mark when they stat(
| that they Will prevent Olympic Club alblet
| from making records. hey forget that the
| Olympic Club holds feld.days from which they
can, II they choose, exclude the U. CTS, anC
| therefore be in position TO establish all the
| records they can honestly gain. J, L. ELLIOTT