Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-13
BILLY FRANK OLD
TIME TRACK MAN
ISH-AMERICAN ATHLETE HAS
FINE RECORD
Americans Who Saw His Performance
at Athens Declare That
Accidents Cost Frank
the Victory

Accidents Cost Frank
the Victory
NEW YORK, Aug. 1s-Few of the
thousands of persons who have watched
Billy Frank, the great distance runner of
the Irish-American Athletic club, COM
pete are aware of his age. He is So years
old, but in racing toys he resembles a
runner scarcely out of his teens. He is
the oldest athlete competing in the run
ming events in the metropolitan district
Frank began his athletic career as a
bicycle rider more than fifteen years ago.
For several years he continued at this
sport, and when he quit he was the
fastest man that ever rode on an I'M
banked armory floor. Time after time he
won championships and few were the
times that he met defeat. His riding
ability carried him over the floor at a
terrific pace and his lack of ar enabled
him to continue at the same pace while
rounding the turns Hundreds of times
he met with accidents, but he kept at the
game until he was nearly killed before he
finally quit.
In 1892, while competing in a two-mile
championship at the Twelfth regiment
while he was making a turn, and he
struck set of stairs with terrific force
When picked up he was unconscious and
thought to be dead. Taken to a hospital
he quickly revived and in a short time
was again riding his wheel But the
effects of the fall dulled his speed and
robbed him of his daring Soon afterward
he won a one mile bicycle race and after
rest of less than a half hour he COM
peted in a mile run
He failed to win the latter event, but
was so well up with the leaders that he
decided to quit the wheel for foot racing.
AS a distance runner Frank soon be-
came one of the fastest in the country.
He had speed and his endurance seemed
unlimited. Before he was competing in
races a month he was considered the
equal of any distance man in the country.
While Frank has not been the ofastest
man during the past two years he has
always been well up with the leaders in
every race in which he started. Such
champions as George Bonhag and Frank
Nebrich always have to run their best
to beat Frank. The former cycle cham
pion has style of running unlike that of
other runners. With lengthy strides he
leaves the mark and with the same un"
faltering flat-footed steps he finishes. He
never varies his pace from start to finish,
never exhausted at the end.
Oftentimes he has competed in two dis
lance races in one day. Last winter he
started from scratch in the Mohawk
Athletic clubs cross-country run, won it,
and on the same night ran in a three
mile race against George Bonhag at the
Twenty-secord regiment armory A few
seconds after he finished in the run at
night he was as fresh as when he began
the race earlier in the day.
Now an lrish-American
When Frank began foot racing he was
a member of the New West Side Athletic
club. Soon after the Irish-American A.
c. was formed he joined that organization
and has since competed in their colors.
While Frank is unable to beat several
runners in this vicinity at distances less
than five miles, he is the conqueror of
them all at long distances. He has COM
peted in several Marathon races and
nearly always was a worthy opponent
against the fastest men in the world. In
the Marathon race at the Olympic games
in Athens last year he finished close
third TO Sherring, the great Canadian run
ner. All athletes on this side of the At
lantic who witnessed the run say that If
Frank had not met with accidents he
would surely have been Closer to the WIN
ner at the end.
The night before the great race he had
very little sleep. The\building in which
the American starters for this race We're
housed was so inadequate that long be-
fore dawn they were compelled to for
sake it and lie down in the open air out
side. Winds and dampness there pre-
vented any of them from sleeping well.
Despite this Frank started in the TWEEN
ty-fiva mile run and half way home APP
H. MI mi
his guide, who accompanied him on
bicycle met with an accident. The wheel
broke down and Frank was compelled to
Journey on by himself, through the dust
covered roads, without taste of water to
moisten his parched throat. For several
miles he logged on alone in this manner,
but never faltered. In the meanwhile the
guide had repaired the wheel and riding
at breakneck speed overhauled his charge,
but Just as he caught up with Frank the
wheel again broke down. This time the
injury was irreparable, and Frank was
compelled to continue the journey alone.
Handicapped as he was by the loss of his
guide Frank struggled on and finished
only a few minutes after the winner.
In the Boston Marathon race last win
ter Frank finished away back in the ruck.
His poor showing in this race was &C
counted for by the fact that a few days
previous to the plB run ne ran lrolh ia
maica to Long Island Cay in preparation
for the Boston event He covered the
distance in exceptionally fast time. This
effort made him one of the favorites for
the New England race. but the trial had
it's bad effect and on The day of the con-
test he was stiff and sore.
Owing to an operation which he re-
Gently underwent, Frank is temporarily
out of training. He expects to begin act
i've work next month.