Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-01
CHILDREN SHOW
ATHLETIC POWERS
His Height Is SO Inches; Weights 90
Pounds; Chest "a Inches Nor
NAL and &c Inches Ex-
panded

From time to time young children
have shown quite extraordinary powers
of strength and endurance, but prob
ably no child in the world has ex-
hibited these to the extent that little
Francis Slevin has.
This remarkable youngster, though
not G years old, stands today as the
youngest athlete, having won that title
at the famous baby parade held at
Asbury Park last August.
Baby competitors from all part of the
United Stats were entered for the con-
test, the number being well over 500.
When being judged Baby Slevin
was represented as sprinter toeing the
mark in a STOPPING position illustrating
the start of a race. He wore the colors
of the New York Athletic club, and was
pronounced by the judges to be the
most perfect physical competitor among
all the contestants and was awarded a
handsome silver loving cup almost as
high as himself.
This baby athlete first came into
prominence last June at the knights of
Columbus games, where he won a %
yard midget race" doing the distance
in 10 seconds.
AT the country fair held at Madison
Square garden a few weeks ago he gave
exhibitions of several 25-yard dashes,
and received the first prize. He is the
youngest member of the Athletic union,
having been elected amid much en-
thusiasm January Is last
Francis SleVin was born December
10, 1900, in New York, his father being
the champion sack runner of the world
and the smallest athlete q the cinder
path in the states today.
The boys physical measurements are
wonderful, and have been the subject
of several discussions in various medi-
cal journals. That they are correct was
proved by the writer, who l.. personally
acquainted with the boy.
His height is Sc inches and he weighs
exactly forty pounds. His reach is "a
inches, measurement of chest "a inches
(normaD and 26 inches (expanded),
waist % inches. biceps Sh inches, neck
II inches. foot inches.
So remarkable is his d,velopment that
the future holds out great possibilities
for him. In addition to his athletic
ability he is a footballer, buck dancer
a bag puncher and weight thrower.
He is now being taught the art of box
ing by well known professor.
Another baby athlete only second in
physical development to little Fr- -ncis
Slevin is August Goritz, the S-year-old
son of a trapeze Crtist, lately a member
of the Biggest Show on Earth COM
pany.
This youngster can throw a double
somersault as neatly as any -idult aero
bat, and he is. perhaps just as physi-
cally we'll equipped as young Slevn,
though, of course, oil ,er.
He is remarkably clever on the
trapeze, a daring bcycist and an ex-
cellent boxer. For his age he is not
phenomenal in size, but beautifully pro-
portioned. 4t
lie has won p@izes for loot races
varying from twenty-five to 100 yards,
in most of the principal cities Of the
Union, and is said to be the cleverest
baby" hammer thrower in the 5c-ld.
One of little Goritz smartcst feats is
to stand erect on his fathers shoulders,
throw a somersault and land six feet
away on the shoulders of his mother,
who is also in the "tumbling" business,
He can curl himself into a ball and roll
from one end of the ring to the other,
climb rope without the aid of his feet
and throw a SOmersault