The times., 1897-03-21

Holm T. Crossley is almost too well-known
TO need an introduction to the Washington
reading public, and especially is this true
OF the local athletic contingent, currentand
s'has-been.' Prof. Crossley, as he is known
far and wide, is the ph ysical instructor Of
the Columbia Athletic Club, and as al
instructor and all-round athlete and gym
hast, me las few equals, young or OLD, an
where in this broad land,
With the exception of one season ending
last spring, when he was with the Orange
a c. ne has been with the c. A C since
Its organization, and rendered valuable
services in furnishing aud preparing the
present splendidly-equfppod gymnasium on
the top floor of the big clubhouse on G
rtraet and during the time he has served
the club he has turned out some OF the
best speciality and all-round athletes and
gy1mnasts in the country. Many men, too
old now to do active athletic work, owe
their success in this line and their general
good physical condition, TO the careful and
capable training and coaching Of the pro
fessOr.
Notwithstanding the age of the prof"
for he coIfesses to having witnessed forty
odd summers, or winters. I've forgotten
the gym, and by practical demonstration
leads his classes through all the various
gymnastic and athletic features of class
and Individual work, and considering his
great weight, scaling some $50 pounds,
his work is remarkably strong and clean
cut. He does not remember when ne was
not in professional work. For eleven years
he was connected with Ba rnum's circus,
where he was engaged to give exhibitions
OF athletic games and feats, particularly
pole vaulting, hitch and kick. high leap
ing and jumping and tumbling, at each 1f
which he is stili expert. he also ran foot
races In the hippodrome. He spent the
winter seasons of those years in Europe,
appearing in all the great capitals, from
London and Paris to Brussels. In all OF
tnem he became prime faVorite through
the excellence of his work.
He is native of Penns ylyania and halls
From Fra nkfort, where he spent the earlier
years OF his life, and first came prominently
INTO athletics when at seventeen years
ne Won first prize at Oakdale Park, Phila-
flelnhia, in each event, The j 80 yard and
POO yard races, running broad jump and
pole vault. He Won the l5U-yard race
live wears in succession at the Philadel-
phia CaledUnIaD games, and at twenty-one
bears OF age had competed successfully
fn ali the Caledonian games in this coun-
Try and in Canada, and, of course, met all
fhe best athletes of that time. He earned
q record which stood for some time In
pole vaulting in 1875, when at one of the
EaledOnian games he cleared 10 feet
Inches. which became the professional
Record Of that period.
He afterward defeated the famous g.
King by five yards at Wheatsheaf Hotel,
MorriSville, In the 100-yard race, winning
the prize of 81 900. At Trenton he con-
ceded three yards to J. LctZ in the 100
yard race for a purse of $500, and Cross
ley won by three yards. During the Cen
tennial year he met the famous j. Wheat,
q Pittsburg runner, at the Philadelphia
games. and won the 81, 900 prize in the
lao yard sprint by three yards in a 1-2
.econds In 1878 he went TIA England to
run in the Sheffield 13o-yard handicaps
The memorable race took place at Green's
grounds, and there were fifty-two start
ers, and he was defeated by just one foot:
hme, 13 1-5 seconds. He next, in 1884.
met Dan Guirk. of Brentford, Canada, in a
sOO-yard race at Philadelphia for 81 900,
D4 StASinl hoDSHtS
showing inside 0 seconds, and on the fol-
lowing day he won the All-United StaUes
Handicap 130 yards from scratch, again
meeting Guirk.
The race was run in a snowstorrn. and
thirteen and one-half seconds was the
time After several other big victories
on tiris side he again went to England
and ran in the Sheffield Handicap AT
Hyde Parke, forty eight entrants COM
peting. and ne won second place After
winning races from f. Stone, Of Detroit.
and F. J. Maguigan, OF Boston, and j.
Wheat, of Pittshurg, all noted professional
runners, and many others less noted, the
professor retired and took up the position
OF physical instructor, which he now
holds with credit and distinction, popu-
lar with every one. and one OF the most
distinctive features of now very sue
cessful organization, and with out him
athletics at the winged Arrow" would