New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-05
WORLDS RECORD FOR LONG
THE FLEET RUNNER DOES A STRAIGHT
AWAY QUARTER MILE IN FORTY
SEVEN SECONDS


Maxwell W. Long the remarkable short distance
runner Of the New-York Athletic Club who aston
lsheo the European world last summer with his
speed on the track and turf reserved for his own
country HIS crownng athletic achievement. At the
Ola Guttenourg racetrack, in NewJersey, yesterday
this neet footed member Of the winged foot club
ran stra1ghtaway quarter mile In forty-seven
onds. beating all previous records for the distance
About one hundred old athletic clubren witnessed
the performance, and there is doubt about the
distance and the record. Some OF the athletic
critics across the ocean will accept the figures
with the same doubt as when the news was
flashed across the ocean that Charles M Murphy
had ridden one mile bicycle paced by g loco
motive, IN less than ffty-eight seconds But the
foreigners must accept the record first because Il
made in the presence of so many well known
people, and. second because two dozen capable
of handling stop watch held watches on the run
ner during his great sprint down that I'll favored
track
abroad Long wished to retire from the track. and
so expressed himself The young realized
that his muscles getting set. and he wished
TO retire the height of his fame. He returned
however, in time TO take part in the Metropolitan
championships. and decided to add further National
honors to the list in the games Of the Amateur
Athletic Union. which followed a week later.
Then he announced positively that he would
at the annual games Of the New-York Athletic
Club at Travers Island last Saturday and then
retire At these games Long made the astonish-
ing record in the quarter mile of Al 40
onds. This performance good that his
friends prevailed upon him to make one more
effort and before retiring to take from Wendell
Baker the straightaway record of 47% seconds
made at Boston thirteen years ago. Both the
officials Of his club and those in charge Of the
Amateur Athletic Union concurred in the request.
and Long placed himself in the hands of his
friends and told them TO go ahead
CLEAN SPORT AT GUTENBERG.
sought for desirable course where level stretch
OF track a quarter Of a mile in length could be
secured Such a course was found at GUTENBERG
and the trial was made soon before D. N. yes
terday. score or more Of athletic club men, who
are experts in track measurement and cond-
tons arrived at the old track early in the dav
The course selected the back stretch where
many poor horses hobbled around to the tune
Of the gamblers song not many seasons ago.
But the stencil from the old frauds has died away
there for the sake OF pure sport
The stakes were laid out the centre Of the
track. and while the was perfectly straight
there a decided incline for the first 300 yards
There was possibly one hundred yards of slight
decline from that point possibly fifty yards from
the finish, where the track was as level as could
be wished Had those in charge desired to take
any advantage they could have started Long from
the other end. They were determined. however,
that II any record was made, it must not be ques-
toned, and consequently Long really uphill for
three-fourths Of the journey. Many Of the vet
eran athletic managers were confident that Long,
under the conditions. would be able TO accom-
psh the task set for him. There was little
no wind from the southwest, and the air full
of moisture.
Timers were stationed all along the course. ana
the start was made by pistol fash. which was seen
at the finish a fraction Of a second before the
port was heard The timers started their watches
by the fash. and not the report Ten yards ahead
Of Long was W. D. Edwards. of the Knickerbocker
Athletic Club who was to set the pace for Long
for half the distance. With the fash Of the pistol
Long was of like a frightened deer. He passed
Edwards in few bounds, and fairly flew down the
track to where P. ]. Walsh waiting for him.
Walsh was off in good season, and he carried Long
the remainder Of the distance In splendid form.
Long finished with his head well back and breath
ing heavily. Those close TO him at the finish said
that the runner groaned audibly during the last
fifty yards OF the run. but II this the great
runner recovered quickly. for he did not need sup
port after he finished. and did not seem a bit
surprised overtoyed either for that matter, when
beaten all previous records oy three-quarters Of
second The other athletes and club men danced
CONFIDENT that they had seen a record made which
would stand for many years, if it is ever broken
LIKE A FLEETFOOTED SIOUX
The clever runner looked Ike a brown and white
streak as he sped on his journey TO athletic fame
With limbs and features bronzed by exposure 10
the weather Long looked the picture Of health
although rather heavy for sprtnter. He weighed
1855 pounds and his muscular development excited
comment even among the experts In the first
100 yards of the trial Longs stride, as afteFward
measured. was close to seven feet. In oreastlhs
the brow Of the slight hill his stride decreased
to about feet inches, and these last figures were
the measurement Of his stride TO the end or the
run The heetfooted runners of the Sioux ana
Apaches are considered fast, but none OF them
could have duplicated the performance made by
the ex-CoIurnba University student yesterday. The
best record ever made for the distance oeIoIe IN
this country the run made by WendeA Baker
OF O.47sL Walter Down, the old Harvard runner,
commended for a record Of OATS, but the claim
was declared 1imsy and was not allowed. ne
time made IN England was V-fo12' CIeuL'eu
Jointly to Tyndale and Breden. .
Every precaution made to avoid mistakes
any chance for questioning new rec0rQ III II
made The judges at the finish were Jotll X Nm an
Wormer William Wood and F. NJ. Hauslng Ihe
timers at the finish were Robert Stoll, +. j. Wen
dell Charles Deges and Barlow S. Weeks. The
Taylor H. II. Baxter and r; t. Lyons. Inose
holding watches at the 800 yard mark were Sanuei
See. H S. Lyons and H. 7. Abbott n ArnoId
the judge at the start, ana reported SHaI
Long was rather slow in leaving the marx; r j.
Giannin the starter and James T. SULLIVAN
the referee. "a, q -
Long few past. Those at 400 yards marked O4Z 10
There may have been question in the past OF
the accurate measurement OF the mile track mere
can be question OF the quarter InIie IheaSDIs-
meut according the officials After a pro-
fessionaI surveyor had gone over the course Mr.
Sullivan, Mr.. Van Wormer Thomas Fisher, A j.
Keane Frederick Hausng and John Boyle took
the tape measure and went over the course again
to make assurance douby sure. Long accepted
was on his way back to the city unconcerned as
if nothing had happened.
CYCLING,