The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-04-26
ONE LEGGED ATHLETES.
Records Made by Men With Serious
Handicap.

Handicap.
Although most of US have seen; or at
least have heard of, the one legged
riketers-eleven of whom were often
wont. in the days when the game was
not so strictly disciplined as it is at
present, to oppose an eleven of one
armed players-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 a caddie in
days previous to the accidents that me-
cessitated the amputation of his limb.
That such a handicap. as the loss
of a leg does not incapacitate a man
from excelling as a swimmer, says the
London Tit-Bits, has been conclusively
proved on more than one occasion.
One of the foremost opponents of the
natatory art at the present day labors
under this disadvantage, and many did
frequenters of Brills Baths at Bright
on will remember 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 q start and a
beating to many who had the normal
number of limbs.
More than once has a one legged cy-
elist won a race and not so long since
such one named West, used, with a
liberal start, to hold his own with the
speediest professionals. fitzpatrick, too
must be endowed with as much power
In his one leg as most men have in
their two, If we consider the many dar-
ing feats he has accomplished on his
cycle, foremost among which are his
standing on his machine on the sum
NIT of the 10 foot high Laxey Wheel,
in the Isle of Man, and his descending
the Capitol at Washington
The annals of foot racing contain
more than one record in point. We read
how once Newmarket Heath was the
scene of a race between two cripples,
each having wooden leg. In the pres
ence of 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 tallest 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
Binet gained much kddos among the
habitues of Continental fairs less by
wrestling prowess, although that was
not inconsiderable, than by his being
handicapped by the loss of a leg. This
notwithstanding, he always made a
gallant and not successful show, his
great height, strength and weight
standing him in good stead. He ex-
celled, too, in feats of strength, and
was specially notable for his skill in
casting heavy blacksmith's hammer
To a trial Of skill with this implement
he was wont to issue a general chal-
lenge and it was but seldom he found
his master
Nothing, one would say, is more
calculated TO place boxer at a, disad-
vantage than the loss of leg. Yet
Thomas Kench, burly Is stone man.
topping feet by some 8 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 course in the days when pugilism
| f1ourished.
Not only did he take on all corners al
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
felt of the cripple, which he was unable
! to avoid, put him out Of time after
/ seventeen we'll fought rounds.