New-York tribune., 1902-05-09
-NURDERER AS AN ATHLETE.
MALCOLM W. FORD WAS ALL AROUND
CHAMPION FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

Malcolm W. Ford was a few years ago one
of the best known athletes in the country. and
successfully defended his title as the all around
champion athlete of the United States for
four years BY his oldtime competitors Ford
was regarded as a rather eccentric individual.
and never shared the popularity with other
athletes and athletic officials enjoyed by ath-
letes who have captured that proud distinction.
Ford not OF the same jovial disposition as
the first winner of the all around championship,
w f. Thompson. of Montreal in 1885. nor
was he as generally popular as Alex A.
Jordan, who captured the championship in 1SSS,
and who also succeeded Ford in 1891 and was
again champion in 1892.
Malcolm began to attract the attention of the
athletic critics early in the eighties. and in
1886 he captured the an-around championship
from large field. He had little trouble in de-
Tending his title in 1887 and again in 1880 and
1890 A. B. Gum, of Buffalo. is the present all
around champion Ford was good man on the
track, and also excelled in field sports. He could
jump. hurdle and throw the weights and could
run in both the sprints and over distance of
ground. He was also an expert swimmer. IN
like Lon Meyers. of his club Ford made
enemies out of the men he defeated. while
Meyers friends by his CHEEKY nature on the
track
Babylon, Long Island. His marriage was not
a happy one, and his wife secured a divorce at
Patchogue in 1855 Ford entered no defence at
the time
When Ford was al the top of his athletic
success rumors regarding his amateur status
became so prevalent that the officials of the
Amateur Athletic Union considered II advisable
to order investigation. The inquiry was a
thorough one, but the charges Of professionalism
We're not tablished. The indignity. as Ford
looked upon the charges. embttered him toward
the officials Of the union for many years after
ward. and he was not speaking terms with
some Of the odtime officials al the time OF the
present tragedy.
Malcolm's father disliked the notoriety which
came 10 his son through his attention 10 ath-
letics. and this said 10 have been the rea-
son why Malcolm was cut off In his fathers VIII.
II is said, however. that his brothers had prom
ised Malcolm to see to 1t that ne received fair
share Of his fathers estate.
Malcolm had during recent years been regu-
lar contributor weekly papers and magazines
on the subject Of sports. particularly athletics.
IN the last TWO years he had devoted most of his
time 70 the automobile. and he q daring, II
not reckless, driver OF the horseless vehicle.
He was the first secretary Of the Automobile
Club OF America. and for time was the sport
was the associate editor Of Automobile Topics
and vas al the time OF his death the editor oc
a new publication devoted 70 the autonobuo
called The New Centaur.. Ford was forty-oh,
years OF age : feet inches in height and
weighed about 165 pounds
Ford won most OF MS athletic honors as a
member Of the Manhattan Athletic Club. He
first appeared as an athlete in the old Nassau
Athletic Club. of Brooklyn. which had quarters
IN W3shinEton-st Then he toinNd the old Brook
lyn Athletic club and appeared on tho grounds
in De Kalb-ave Jack MCMasters the present
trainer at Princeton. recognized in Ford ath-
lete Of future promise. and devoted much OF his
time 10 Ford. Men who were eliminates Of Ford
~ that time we're Frank Murray, the walker.
probably the greatest walker that ever lived,
whose records have never been equallcd, zach
Cooper, the pole vaulter: Frederick W. Burns.
the runner and announcer. Sparrow Robert
son the starter. BIZ Roberts. the jumper, +.
Q pav. tho runner. and Willie Day the dis
tanc" runner. who some years agO committed
suicide IN n barn I'm New Jersey, Fred" Bishop.
the runner and Jack Lloyd, afterward the
leader ~ the Prospect Harriers. Ford a
great friend OF General Fitzgerald. who the
president Of the old Brooklyn Athletic Club.
Fitzgerald was so fond Of athletics that he fire.
quently not only paid tho rent Of the club quar-
ters but would give the prizes - be competed
for well The club later had grounds at
Ninth-st. and Ninth-ave., Brooklyn. where Ford
did much Of his training His old Cubmates
never forgave him for desertine Brooklyn and
joining forces with the Manhattan Athletic Club.