Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-12

Blll Martin, has again wandered from
American shores. He Is in D,Nrban Natal,
where he arrived on November 10, and
commenced training at once. lie role a
match on December 10 against a Dutchuan
who tips the beam at $50 pounds and IS six
feet three inches in height, Needless to say,
"Plugger" landed on top and he also won
on the same day first prizes In the five
and ten-mile events. From his present
stopping place Martin will journey to Jo-
hanncsburg, after which he will try his
speed against the riders of India. plug
ger" is the unique character in the rae
ing world. lie is almost 40 years old, has
ridden on almost every bicycle track in
the world, including the oyals in this coun-
try, Europe, Australia and Asia, and is
said to be worth $4,000, all o. which he
has won since he took up the racing game.
He has won six-Gay races and can sprint
with the best men in the world. Last year
he lowered the colors OF Bald. Cooper and
Gardner in the short events, defeated Henry
Fixes in a ffty-mile paced race in Boston
and incidentally lowered a number OF rec
ords at unpaced work. "Plugger Bill as
he is called owing to his style OF riding
and attributed also to the fact that he
plugged" a very ~oficious official at an Aus
tralian meet, has one leg longer than 1t
really ought to be. His left leg Is more
than an inch shorter than his right, caused
by an accident in a siX-days' race at Mime
apolis, when he persisted in finishing the
contest after straining the leg.
The first annual meet of the Nebraska
Interscholastic Field association, which was
formed at Lincoln last January, has been
fixed to take place in this city on May %.
1t is hoped that by that time the athletic
grounds that the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION will build on the site of the Anles
avenue ball park will be completed and the
games can be pulled off there. A. present
no forecast can be made of the number Of
lads that Will enter in the competitions, but
1t Is hoped that a number of the high
schools in the vicinity OF Omaha will send
teams. The Omaha. High school boys have
been working for a month to get into train
ing for the affair, using the gymnasium Of
the Young Mems Christian association for
the purpose. AS soon as the weather mod
crates enough to permit OF outdoor train
ing the team will be put TO work on the
High school grounds. Athletic Director
Barnes of the Young Mems Christian asso-
citation is acting as coach.
The proposed trip of the basket ball team
Of the Young Mems Christian association to
the south may be declared off. 1t had been
intended to play a series of three comes,
one each in Kansas City. Topeka and the
University of Kansas. Topeka, however,
has informed Athletic Director Barnes that
1t cannot arrange the date. There is still
a possibility that arrangements can be
made for dates with Kansas City anu Kan.
sas university.
April s has been offered to the University
| nF nhpnoly ne. l. -
annette meet between its athletic team and
the team of the Young Mems Christian asso-
cation, the affair to take place in the GYM
nasium of the association. If this Iato
proves satisfactory an entertaining competi.
tion IN jumping, running and other sports
VIII be given. The winners are to he
awarded medals.