The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-26
FIRST RELAY RACE GOES INTO HISTORY Team Representing the Ledger Wins Annual Event MANY PEOPLE SAW RACE About 25oo Were Scattered Along the six-Mile Course and Much
 Enthusiasm Was
 Shown.
MANY PEOPLE SAW RACE

The three-mile relay race between teams Of the Young Mems Christian association, representing The Age Herald, the Ledger and the News. was run yesterday. The Ledger team won. covering the distance In 20 minutes and 4-5 seconds The News team was second and The Age-Herald team third.
 yThe start was made from the city hall The couse was down Fourth avenue to Thirteenth street; Thirteenth" street to Eighth avenue; Eighth avenue to Twenty sixth street, Twenty-sixth street to Fourth avenue; Fourth avenue to Twen- tieth street; Twentieth street to the Y. NJ c. A. building, between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
 Members of Team.
 The winning team was composed of Clarence Currie, captain. and Barrow first half mile, Currie, Hening. Going, Earle and Snow in the order named.
 The Age-Herald team, composed of Charles Estes, captain, Zwald Bradley, Perdue, Copeland, Estes, Weiss, and Cald- we'll and Nevins as substitutes, made the distance in 21 minutes, 21 2-5 seconds, and came third. The News team composed of LeGrande. captain, White, DusenbeTy, Bethea and Stewart, with Lightner and Brown substitutes succeeded in beating the nearest opponents by IS seconds, mak- ing the course in 21 minutes 2-5 seconds. The slow time is explained by the muddy condition of the streets. making 1t diff fcult to gain & foothold.
 Misunderstanding of instructions by one of the squads lost about four minutes by the team leaving the regular course, and by the fact that large number of street car crossings and tracks had to be watched and avoided.
 The officials of the race were w. M. Cos by, starter; Larimore, Miles and Putnam timekeepers; R. W. Ewing, referee; Sher- rod. Robinson. Caldwell, Willis and Pla- towsky, section judges.
 Dr. Calen a member of the association, was in attendance at the building to rem
 Letters Carried.
 The letter carried by the winning team was as follows:
 Birmingham December 25. "Mayor George B. Ward, City:
 Dear sir-This message will be hand ed to you by sturdy young runner,
  of the Young Mems Christian association. He represents the Ledger in the team- running match between the three news papers of Birmingham. 1 hope he and his fellows will have covered the three miles which they have carried this message in a shorter time than either of the other teams. In any event l am sure they Will have done their best, and no man or boy can do more.
 "I am personally a hearty advocate of physical development and believe an early start in this direction with the boys Is most desirable. For this reason l most heartily commend the good work being dcne by the boys department of the Young Mems Christian association. Physical development Is a great moral agent. Look into the bright eyes and note the healthy faces of these young men and you will appreciate the force of this statement. which, have no doubt, you already appreciate. With the compli- nents of the season, I am. yours very truly, JAMES J. SMITH
 "The Birmingham Ledger"
 Birmingham. December B. MT. w. P. Walton. Chief of Fire De- partment, Birmingham, Ala:
 Dear Chief-.ro the victors belong the spoils is a saying of old. May the best team win in this Christmas relay race of the Y. NJ. c. A. boys' department. l feel that the athletic work of this department
  and best features. May it grow and de- velop with the usual Birmingham pro- gress. Yours very truly,
 RUFUS N. RHODES Editor and Proprietor The Birmingham News"
 The letter of The Age-Herald to Chief of Police Wier read as follows:
 Birmingham, December 25 1905 'W. r. Wier. Chief of Police, Birming- ham, Ala:
 Dear Sir-The members of this, The Ase-Herald team. are also members of the Y. M C. A. boys department, which is seeking to train the youths of Brming- ham so that they may never come under your Jurisdiction for violations of the laws of the city or state.
 We wish for the members of this team the same success in life's race that we wish for them in this race for the news paper trophy. Sincerely yours
 "E. w. BARRETT, "Editor of The Age-Herald"
 The relay race of Christmas day is to be an annual event. Teams will be chosen each year from six to ten weeks before the race, and the runners will be- gin to train to make the three-mle rec ord of the state. Other events of It's kind, cross-country runs, fox and hound chases and "blanco'' will be held in the future No less than 25oo people were scattered along the course of the race yesterday to witness 1t, and much enthusiasm was dis played.
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