Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-05-08
THE STRETCHED BOY ARRIVES
LUTHER WELSH TO PRE-
PARE FOR NAVY.
The Lad From Missouri Has Been
Stretched Two Inches
Dined With The
C1overoor.

members of the Teachers Literary
Club from Baltimore on Saturday a
small boy about sixteen years old, of
pleasing appearance and polite and
manly address. presented himself be-
fore the Governor and handing a note
TO His Excellency, inquired; Are
you the Governor p
The Governor replied in the affirma.
tive. and the small boy delivered the
note, which the Governor read. After
reading it the Governor extended his
hand and warmly shook that of the
boy, telling him he was glad TO know
him and inviting the boy TO dine with
him yesterday at the Government
House. It was in this manner that
Luther Welsh, of Kansas City, a can
didate for the Naval Academy, began
his career in Annapolis. He dined
with the Governor yesterday. and per-
haps the Governor did not know that
he was entertaining boy of more
than usual interest.
The New York World of yesterday
contains very readable aud interest
ing account of this same Kansas City
boy, Luther Welsh, who stretched his
body and limbs two inches in order to
meet requirements for entrance TO the
NAVAL AGAtitAlAs 4DG Nutll says
Luther Welsh, a pupil of the Central
High School, of Kansas City, who
stood highest in the competitive ex-
aminations held early in Janaury, has
received his appointment as cadet TO
the United States Naval Academy at
Annapolis. Although the youngest
and smallest boy among the competi
tors, he received the highest grade
NNalgh uaItRI Ifannrauc
man Ellis on January Is he was told
that he would receive the appointment
only on condition that he attained the
physical requirement by the time of
the examination for entrance to the
Academy at Annapolis, which will
take place June 20 On January 16
Welsh was measured at the Govern
ment recruiting station and was found
TO be 5 feet $40 of an inch tall. In
order TO become eligible for admission
to the Naval Academy he must be not
under 5feet inches.
On January II young Welsh placed
himself in the hands of Prof. Y. p.
Rothwell, physical director of the
Kansas City Athletic Club. Exami-
nation day was several months away.
but would nature, unaided, add the
required number of inches This
was the problem that confronted Prof.
Rothwell. The Professor decided that
inasmuch as the past twelve months
had added less than an inch to Welsh's
height, it would be necessary to
lengthen the boy by scientific meth
ods. With this end in view he con-
structed a machine with which sys-
tematlc process of stretching the body
might be carried out.
On Januray "a, one week after the
stretching process had commenced. one
half an inch had been added to
Welsh's height. February 3 he had
reached 81 40 inches in stature. Feb
ruary his measurement was exactly
the same. February 10 he measured
81 2.10 He was next measured ON
February IL, and the record shows
that he was 6l $40 inches tall,
growth of one inch In thirty days.
! Because of "a sprained neck received
in tumbling with some boys at play
Welsh was obliged to abandon the
stretching process for three weeks.
On February % he had dropped back
to 81 2 10 inches. March z he vas
still shorter, having dropped back to
6l 10 inches. The stretching pro-
cess continued and three days work
added one-t tenth of an inch. On April
3 his height was just 61 $40 inches,
and on April II Welsh had been
stretched to the requirements of the
Naval Academy-62 inches-and the
treatment was discontinued
Welsh arrived in Annapolis Satur-
day and will study at one of the pre-
paratory schools here. Although Pro-
lessor Rothwell is confident the boy
will not shrink any within the next
two months, yet to make matters sure
he brought along the stretching ma
chine TO use as he takes up his studies
here. The machine which has made
naval career possible for young
Welsh is simple in construction. 1t
consists of board eight inches wide
and eight feet in length. Twelve in
ehes from the bottom are two stirrups,
into which the feet of the subject are
strapped For stretching the legs and
body the machine is laid fiat upon the
floor A strap across the chest binds
the body securely to the board. With
in reach of the person being stretched
is a handle that connects with a jack
screw arrangement near the bottom of
the machine. By turning this handle
the body, strapped tight to the board
by the feet and across the chest, is
elongated. A dial at the extreme foot
Of tile machine registers the amount
OF pressure or pull that is being ap-
piled.
For sretching the neck and upper
part of the body the machine is placed
in an upright position and harness
placed on the head. A chain which
is operated by the person being stretch
ed gives the required pull. The
stretching business is not pleasant and
is tiresome, though not painful Welsh
deplores the fact that he has received
so much notoriety through the papers
while undergoing his lengthening out.
"What the other boys will do to me
when | reach Annapolis will be a
plenty" said the young man. "A
fellow will have hard enough time
10 get along without anything of this
sort to make him butt for the whole
school. l expect the first thing they
do to me will be TO stand me on my
head and see if they can shove me to-
gether a couple of inches.
One of the rules of Annapolis is
that all those who aspire for admis-
sion must keep themselves in the back
ground Young Mr.. Welsh has failed
most Eseriously in this degree. The
result is that when he gets to the
Academy this stretched 'tplebe' will
have to go on the rack again, and he