The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1907-01-24
ONE LEGGED ATHLETES.
Records Made by Men With Serious
Handicap.

Handicap. ~.
Although most of us have seen. or
at least heard Of, the one legged
cricketers-eleven of whom were
often wont. in the days when the
game. was not so strictly disciplined
as it is al present, to oppose an
eleven OF one armed plavers-one
legged athletes are by no means com.
mon, and a one legged golfer is
probably uaique. Yet such a phenom-
enon does exist, in the person OF a
member of the Bulwell Artisans club,
who, it is said, plays very sodnd
game He, in all probability. however,
acquired the rudiments Of the science
when acting as caddie in days pre-
vious to the accident that necessi-
tated that amputation OF his limb. :.
That such a handicap as the loss
of leg does not incapacitate a man
from excelling as swimmer, says
the London Tit-BitS. has been con-
clusively proved on more tnan one
occasion One Of the foremost ex-
'pa2c-ts Of the natatory art at the
present day labors under this dis
advantage, and many old frequenters
OF Brill's Baths at Brighton will re-
member 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 start
anu beating to many who had
the normal number of limbs.
More than once has one legged
cyclist won q race, and not so long
since such one, named West, used,
with 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 daring feats he has accom-
plished on his cycle, foremost among
which are his standing with his ma
chine on the summit Of the 100 foot
high LaXey Wheel. in the Isle OF Man.
and his descending at brcakneck
speed the east steps Of the Caplo!
al Washington.
The annals of foot racing contain
more than 9ne record in point. we
read how once Newmarket Heath
was the scene of a race between two
cripples. each having wooden leg.
In the presence of goodly thronS,
among whom was the Merry Monarch,
they started fair, and hobbled a good,
pace. which caused great admiration
end laughter among The beho, ders;
but the tallest of the two won by two
or three yards" Again, over a hun
dred years later, in 1899. a pertain
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 wrestler named
B!net gained much. kudos among the
habitues Of Continental fairs less by
his wrestling prowess, although that
was not inconsiderable, than by his
being handicapped by the loss of
leg. This Notwithstanding he always
made d gallant and not infreGuent
successful show, his great height.
strength and weight standing him in
good stead. He eXcelled, too, in feats
OF strength, aud was specially nota-
BILE for his skill in casting heavy
~ Il how rIn q triSl nf-
skill with this implement he was
wont 10 issue a general challenge and
it was but seldom he found his
master
Nothing, one would say, is more
calculated to place boxer at a dis.
advantage than the loss of a leg.
Yet, Thomas Kench, a burly Is stone
man, topped feet by some 3 inches,
we'll 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 ppsilsm aourished.
Not only did he take on all comers
at mimic warfare, but on. one occasion
at least he stripped in the ring ior
serious fray. his opponent being
Leicester butcher, who thought to
compensate for his infcriCrity In
pounds and inches by his superior
activity. In this. however. he was
mistaken. for the long Lett Of the
cripple, which he was unable To avoid.
put him out of time alter seventeen
well fought rounds.