The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19

F. r. Bacon has been the bright particular
star of the English athletic community for sew
eral years. lie came into notice with the pres
emit decade and established his reputation on a
drm basis. by winning the one-mile national
4 minutes 1915 seconds. After a particuiariy
active, season. In the interval he turned out TO
honors, this time in 4 minutes 90 Is seconds.
How much he had in reserve was shown later In
the day; when he won the four-,ntle champion
ship in 10 minutes 4S 25 seconds.
Since then Bacon has occupied "a unique posi-
tion in amateur sport. He had been a humble
way did quite as mucn to focus public atten:
ton on the typical Tommy Atkins" as did
Rudyard ,kipling. Having completed his ac-
amateur athlete" In other words, he de
voted himself exclusively to Travelling from
captnrinG every run from a mile up which was
worth winning. lie never seemed to lack the
requisite travelling and training expenses, and
as the A. A. a.. otiaials asked no troublesome
questions the public were content TO admire his
wonderful, prowcss without growing inquisi-
tive regarding his amateur status.
During one of his periodical raids on Scot
land he covered a mile In 4 minutes IL Is sec
onds ard became the lion of the hour, as the
tours had been 4 minutes lS 2-5 seconds, estab-
nnshed by w. G. George several years before,
Tho record was never officially endorsed, but
Bacon ended suspense by coming out last year
for the English championship and reeling off
timers Of the kingdom In 4 minutes II seconds.
That the effort was about his limit became
evident later In the day. when he failed to re-
ton as a slayer held good, however. aq earlier
ship in SO minutes ~ - seconds.
Bacon has been right IN the front fight since
probably not vet reached his prime. he was !" a
vital factor in tho sport as far back as 1891,
when he defeated such redouhtahle st;ayers as
IN n special four-mile lace which he covered in
Il minutes 80 seconds. tying the record then
held by w. e.. George for the distance. the
victory was regarded as somewhat OF n nuke
a. the time. but Bacon again met and defeated
the same men at Ashton UNDERLYING in "A five
seconds.
These events have been hut the milcstones
In Bacon's career on the path, the intervals be.
Ing filled In with an almost continuous series of
brilliant hagdtnan performances IN whira,
waking W; VIII. such a grad and consistent
record to his credit Bacon is rated as ~inyinCi-
DIE S'nGnG III countrymsn, hut Americans in1
Will pin, their faith to the volatile little Irish
man, If he shows indications of running up to
Connefr has been on tho path much longer
than Bacon, but like wine of a rare vintage no
seems TO- improve with age. 1t is now over ten
climbed to the top of tho heap in his native
country; he won national honors in SIS at
inc, irish championship meeting, winning the
halt-milc run in . minutes 20 second, and the
mile run In = minutes ~ 30 seconds. both
events, being run on II turf track, In 81 he
won the four. mile championship OF ireland in
20 minutes IS As seconds. AMI later in That
year defeated f.. &. Carter. then the rccug-
nized distance, champion Of the world, in a
special tour-mile match. going the distance in
- minutes ~ - seconds. a record tor 'nrf,
CunneH came to This country carly In 'SS,
and was romptly turned down 10y Carer in
the cross-courtry championship NJ Fleetwood.
The race nearly Killed the "~littir 'un," hut
after Il few weeks he was back Mt the gam
mere speed than ever. ~" returned to
Ireland and captured the four-mile champion,
ship In 20 minutes iS seconds on "A trH K al
most ankle deep, and tnen took the mile cham
piOnship of England. ON returning here Ne
found two associations running the game, lie
won the mile championship of one body in 4
minutes BE rs seconds, and was beaten for
the other by Gibbs nt Toronto IN 4 minutes
81 10 seconds. ~ followed the Canadian M
and squared accountS with him In the DCmln-
ion championship msIe In ! minutes ~ 80
and also annexed the two mile event
in 10 minuteS 10 Seconds
The two five mile championships decided here
In 'SS helped Connect to further laurels, as no
won both, doing % minutes - seConds In the
faster race, lie retained the national honOrs
at this distance IN 10 and including NJ. His
other successful achievements in 40 Included
the ten mile championship Of tho States, %
minutes 32 40 seconds, and the two-mile
championship of Canada, q minutes IS 3-5
seconds. HA repeated the latter Victory In '0l.
-m-health aud Lack Of opportunity kent JON