The San Francisco call., 1896-04-18

that. he declared he would be cracker
lack" For the benefit of the uninitiated
it may be explained that "crackerjack"
is a worlds record breaker, term COM
monty applied n bicycle racing.
Every one agreed that the track was too
soft for the spiked shoes of the runners.
When Birtch came down the track In
splendid style, well in advance OF the rest,
the cries of "Fayette!' "Fayette!" were
deafening. All the high school boys-his
fellow-students-were out in force, and
thev had known what to expect from the
first. There was a dash for the boy when
he crossed the line and the time, "ten
flat!' was shouted.
DIR. Birtch, the lads father, made wild
rush for him. and succeeded in pushing
aside the rest. Few understood the rea-
son for his excitement. Fayette Birtch's
uncle, the Doctors brother, had been
killed by being stopped too quickly at the
end of Just such a run in Canada years
ago. Then Fayette was lifted to his
friends shoulders and borne triumphartly
back to the judges.
There was great dismay among men
from the south who had been laying heavy
a few minutes later the discovery was
made that Birtch's trainer had been at the
chalk line at the time of the start. Al
though it was conceded that this in no
way influenced the run it was in clear vio-
lation of the rules, and, after hot dispute
the race was declared off.
Another event was called, and when the
100-yard race was repeated Birtch mad
precisely the same record of ten seconds
fat, this time crossing the line fifteen feet
ahead of his rivals, who good -naturedly
acknowledged his triumph and joined in
the cheers which greeted this second score
Later on Birtch again distinguished him
| self by scoring 1613 seconds in the 40
yard hurdle race, coming in five yards ii
advance of Riverside runner of higt
repute. In this run Birtch had the mis-
fortune to strike the first hurdle. almos
| losing his balance and considerably retard
ing him.
There is history back Of this boys re-
markable achievement. He comes of
family of runners, his father in his you'll
being ruled out of all local events in hi
Canadian home. Robert Birtch, hi!
uncle, was the champion of Canada anG
was never beaten in race. He dice
twenty-seyen years ago at the end of {
successful race against the American
champion-a man from Woodstock, VT
being killed by friend, who caught him
and checked him too near the line.
Fayette is said to be the image of this
uncle. The boy, who it is believed may
| now justly lay claim to the California
record, was born in Scotland, S. Oak.
February &c. 1875, and has, therefore,, just
seen his twentieth birthday. He is good
scholar and of unusually studious habits
He has never trained, even in the sense o1
taking the proper precautions against
catching cold and being rubbed down
after running, until the last few weeks
while he has been preparing for this run.
His admirers among his schoolmates
jealous of his strength and health, have
been fuming because Fayette neither
dieted nor observed the proper hours in
training, and there was panic among
them when he went to party some ten
days ago and stayed up until midnight
eating late supper. His father, when
appealed to, assured the anxious friends
| that it was the best thing the boy could
do, as every night that he remained al
home he invariably sat up until or :
o'clock in the morning reading OF
studying.