New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
GREATEST IN THE WORLD.

Probably the greatest athlete in the world at
the present time is Martin J. Sheridan, who is a
member Of this Citys detective force He is less
than thirty years old. six feet tall and has about
$50 pounds of solid bone and muscle There
is not a better proportioned man in the de-
partment. This summer in the all-around
championship OF the United States decided at
Celtic Park, he so far outclassed his opponents
mat 1t really lost all semblance of competition
His record was nearly two thousand points bet
ter than that made by any other man. The all
around championship Is one of the hardest and
most grUeng tests that a man can undergo
He must sprint 4 hundred yards, walk a mile
run l2O-yard hurdle race. jump for height and
distance pole vault put the shot, throw the
hammer, run a mile, toss the 5G- pound weight
and all in one afternoon. Sheridan's records in
each one of these contests compared favora bly-
with the standing marks. His opponents dropped
oy the wayside. but Sheridan finished the after
noon without showing the least sign of distress
sheridan was a member of the successful
American team which went over to Athens and
the worlds championship. He defeated the
Greeks al their own game throwing the dis
Gus, and besides IS the worlds champion in
this. He Won more points at the Olympic games
than any other athlete. although representatives
from every country competed. Sheridan is
training constantly and always is in prime con-
dition. He is a member of the Irish American
Athletic Club and the pride OF the Police De-
partment
Then the finest ever can boast of John 7
Flanagan, one of their number. who has no peer
as hammer thrOwer. He has a development
which is the envy of a prizehghter or r football
player. His build is ideal for his favorite sport.
His chest. arms and shoulders are nearly twice
the size Of those Of the average man. Flanagan
has held the worlds title for throwing the six
teen pound hammer for several years. He has
tossed the iron ball nearly hundred and
eighty feet one hundred and fifty feet is con-
sdeTed a good throw for a college athlete Flan-
agan Is a consistent performer and always
comes somewhere around hundred and
sixty-five feet. He also do fine work with
the fifty-siX pound weight and the shot. Flana-
gan is a member Of the Irish-Amercan Athletic
Club.
The next greatest hammer thrower in the
world after Flanagan is Matt" McGrath, also
a member of New York's police force. Some
persons consider him the equal If not the su-
perior Of Flanagan. He is a comparatively new
known in the sporting world. He is a regular
Hercules The muscles his back. arms and
shoulders stand out in big lunches, and his
strength is enormous. A thief in his hands
would have as much chance a mouse with
a cat He could tuck q drunk under each
arm and walk with them to the police sta
ton McGrath has surpassed Flanagan's rec
ord with the hammer but as a minor regulation
was not observed the mark did not stand a
worlds record. He lacks the form of the cham
ence at the game McGrath will undoubtedly
set up a mark He wears the emblem of
the New York Athletic Club.
Some persons think that policemen can't run,
but w. G. Frank, a policeman. finished third
in the Marathon, or twenty-five mile. race at
ties He is a veteran at the game and
close to the record from one to twenty-five
miles Frank is also bicycle rider. At the
games this fall he won tho two
mile running from scratch and then hp-
fshed second in the hve-miIe bicycle race. 1t
was the first time he had ridden in a bicycle
race in three years. He is member of the
Irish American Athletic Club