Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-08
ONE.LEGGED ATHLETES.
Records Made by Men With Serious
Handicap.

| Although most of us have seen, or at
least heard Of the One-legged cricketerS
eleven of whom We're often wont, in
the days when the game was not 50
strictly disciplined as it is at present.
to oppose an eleven of one-armed
playrrs-One-legged athletes are by no
means common, and a one-legged golfer
is probably unique. Yet such a
phenomenon does exist, in the person
of member of the Bulwell Artisans
Club who, it is said, plays very sound
game. He. in all probability, however
acquired the rudiments of the science
when acting as caddie in days pre-
vious to the accident that necessitated
the amputOtion of his limb.
That such a handicap as the loss of
I leg does not incapacitate a man from
eXcelling as swimmer has been con-
cluSively proven on more than one
occasion. One of the foremost eX-
ponents Of the natatOry art at the
present day labOrs under this diSadVan-
tage. and many old frequcnterS of
Brills Baths at Brighton will remem-
Der the head swimming MASTER Camp.
who, despite the fact that he had but
one leg, was not only an adept at trick
swimming but in the matter of pace
could give a start and beating to
many who had the normal number of
limbs.
More than once has one-legged
cycliSt won race, and not SO long
since such a one. named West, used.
with {. liberal start, to hold his own
with the speediest professionals. Kill
patrick. too must be endowed with as
much power in his one leg as most men
have in their two. if we consider the
many daring feats he has accomplished
on his cycle, foremost among which
are his standing with his machine on
the summit of the 100 foot high LacXey
wheel. in the Isle of Man, and his
descending at breakneck speed the
east steps Of the Capitol at Washing
ton.
The annals of foot racing contain
more than one record in point We
read how once Newmarket Heath was
the scene Of race between two
crippleS, each having a wooden leg
In the presence of q gOodly throng
among whom was the merry monarch,
they started fair. and hobbled a good
pace, which caused great admiration
and laughter among the beholders; but
the taller of the two won by two or
three yards" Again, over hundred
years later. in 1899. certain one
legged man, named Carter. backed
himself to cover six miles within the
hour. and performed the feat with six
minutes to spare.
Some years since a wrestler named
habitues of continental fairs, less by
his wrestling prowess-although that
was not incOnsidera ble-than by his
being handicapped by the loss of leg.
This notwithstanding. he always made
a gallant and not infrequently a sue
cessful show, his great height strength
and weight standing him i'm good stead.
He excelled too, in feats of strength
and was specially notable for his skill
in casting heavy blachsmith's
hammer. To a trial of skill with this
implement he was wont to issue a
general challenge, and it was but
seldom he found his master
Nothing, one would say, is more
calculated to place a boxer at a dis
advantage than the loss of leg. Yet
Ihomas kench, burly. fifteen-stone
man. topping six feet by some three
inches. well held his own with the
gloves with such as had the temerity
to face him in the arena of the booth
with which he and other boxers Travelled
the fairs and race courses in the days
when pugilism flOurished.
Not only did he take on all corners at
mimic warfare. but on one occasion at
least he stripped in the ring for serious
fray. his opponent being a Leicester
butcher. who thought to compensate
for his inferiority in pounds and inches
by his superior activity. In this. how
ever, he was mistaken, for the long
left OF the cripple. which he was IN
able to avoid, put him out of time after
seventeen well-fought rounds.-Tit-
Pitc