The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-14
four minutes this afternoon on the San

four minutes this afternoon on the San
Pablo road.
The aged athletes remarkable feat of
this afternoon was, as it turned out, q
practice jaunt" taken with view to get
ting himself in proper condition for sprint
ing against all corners over 40 years of age.
The old man, with q number of friends
and THE CALL correspondent and artist,
left Berkeley at about o'clock. He was
dressed in a bicycle costume, with the ex-
ception of big felt hat and made most
picturesque figure.
The party drove to short distance be-
yond San Pablo. 1t was hot day and the
road was dusty, but the plucky Greek did
not appear to be in the least daunted py
the laborsome task ahead of him-of max
ing record back to Berkeley.
The hearty old walker started out at an
excellent gait, though it varied somewhat
at times from the definition OF walk that
is given in the approved manuals giving
rules for track contests.
The whole town of San Pablo turned out
to watch the eccentric old Greek. There
were spectators at every door, the hangers
and some Of the more curious spirits sad
died horses or got out their wheels TO fol-
low the queer procession formed by Theo-
dorianitis and his companions.
The old man kept up good gait from
the start. Considering his advanced
years, it was thought he might find the
undertaking he had entered upon too
much for his strength and buggy was
kept close by him all the way, ready to
give him a seat should he become ex-
hausted. But the sturdy old Greek never
wavered. He did no: make single stop
for rest and refused all offers OF refresh
ments en- route, and when the end of the
journey was reached, at West Berkeley,
he declined to rice to the east end.
All along the line between San Pablo
and Berkeley great interest was aroused
by the veteran athletes expedition. and
he and his party of friends attracted much
attention and many followers.
The news of the old mans trip was
known to many Berkeleyans and a large
crowd gathered at University and San
Pablo avenues to shake his hand when
his long walk was over.
The walk of Theodorianitis this after
noon was a sort of starter to train for
greater events. The old man is ready to
race with any one half his age or over for
run of ten or fifteen hours and his per-
Torrance of to-day indicates that in spite
of his advanced years. his white locks and
his wrinkles he has strength and a consti-
tuition that make him no mean opponent
in long distance race.
Six years ago, when he was 20 years of
age, Theodorianitis won the cham pionship
OF Greece in the first Olympiad of modern
times on the newly rebuilt stadium at
Athens. He entered against 800 COMPETE
tors. The race was won by one Icanomo,
but the 70-year-old sprinter challenged the
winner, ran a mile with him again and
beat him, for which astonishing feat he
was presented with crown of laurel.
Last week Theodorianitis took walk to
San Jose and back. Now the remarkable
old Grecian contemplates tour on foot
TO Los Angeles ana proposes to establish a
speed record for such trip.
Theodorianitis first came to the United
States as a visitor TO the Worlds Fair in
1890. In his own country he had won
much fame as model for artists, his sin
gularly Classical features rendering him of
great value othem.
At the Worlds Fair he posed for many
artists and delivered an address in Greek
that was afterward translated into English
and won much applause for him.
The hearty old descendant of the race
that made Athens famous came to Califor-
MIA to pursue his vocation at the Mid
winter Fair. His picture, painted in oils,
now hangs in the art gallery OF the Fair
and also in the Mark Hopkins Art Insti-
tute's rooms.
As Grecian the visitor soon made the