The evening world., 1903-12-26

THOUSANDS OF
BOYS IN GAMES
Athletically Inclined Youngsters
from Greater New York's
Schools Take Part in Big
Meet-Thousands at Garden.
Especial to The Evening world)

topeClhi 10 Inc Evening Wpflu)
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. Dec.
@.-Athletic meets have been held here
from time immemoriHl. but none has
there been to compare with that held
In this big arena to-day. II is ques-
tionable If the like of il will ever hap
pen again. unless the promoters of this
event decide to put forth another
mammoth exhibition II year from now.
No intercollegiate, champions. no \. \.
u. title holders nor any other athletic
club cracks took part in this set OF
games.
Fifteen hundred and twcnty-thrcc
schoolboys were tho principals, and 'Ec
events were as numerous as could be
had in Il threc-day meet. The big gar
den early in the afternoon took on the
phase of a siN-day bicycle race from an
attendance point OF view.
Many friends have those thousands
OF schoolboys of Greater New York.
and all seemed interested in the athletic
efforts of the little fellows. They came
In Groves this afternoon. and with their
cheers they fairly rocked the steel
structure.
Many Prizes for winners
Besides the glory which was to be
heaped on the boys there were prizes
20 numerous that an inventory clerk
was necessary to Keep track Of ever
thing. There were cups. medals and
banners, and the way the ]ngs
fought for possession of one or another
OF the prizes made life in the Garden is
spirited us 1t ever was before.
The donators OF thesc prizes were
many public-spirited citizens well
krntNn IA Nnuy tIya s.t -..
held this afternoon were merely pre-
night.
In all there were six events on TIE
Afternoon s card. lhcy incluued A ~
yard run "a 22O-yard run. d running nigh
jump. putting the l2-puund shot. IOr
High Schools. running Algn jump, for
elementary schools. and putting the ~
pound shot. Tor elementary schools.
Police Kept Bo!s in ride
Long before the time stated for the
games to begin The youngsters began
TO arrive at the Madison avenue en-
trance of the Garden III big numbers.
and II took the combined efforts OF sev-
eral big policemen to keep them in order.
AS the boys of each school would APP
pear on the big floor OF the Garden In
their athletic uniforms they were greet
ed by their young schoolmatcs, who
would let out a "Rah rall. rah.' wind
fng up with the name of their school
Each school delegation had a portion
o fthe seats set aside. The ambitious
young athletes we're OF ali sizes and
forms from the little e ap of three feet
high to the fellows six feet In height.
Every one OF them looked splck and
spar for the events in which they we're
entered.
Omciais Kept busy.
The officials OF the big meet had their
hands full In trying to get the school
boys ready for the opening event. some
of them were late in arriving. while
others either kept running up and down
The floor or else got mixed up with their
school chums and could not be found.
Basket Dali Gnmes First.
Previous to the opening of the after
noon events there We're basketball
games between the high schools. These
games resulted as follows: Commercial
High School defeated Woodside by 9 to
s, High School of Commerce beat De
Witt Clinton School by . to s, Brooklyn
School easily defeated Far Rockaway
by II to 4 and Flushing walked off with
an easy victory from the Manual Train
Ing School by a score of S to 0.
Althoughs the afternoon events We're
slated to begin at ] o'clock II was l.3O
before the youngsters in the first event
were called for the first heat,
The opening event was the mty-yard
run. for elementary schools. first trial
heats, winners only to qualify for sec
ond trials. There Were thirty-six heats
decided in this event and every heat
furnished interesting finishes.
In the semi-fnals of the basket -hail
games for high schools the BROOKLYN
High School team defeated the jamaica
School by a score of s TO :.