The Washington times., 1907-12-25
AMERICAN ATHLETES
HAVE ALWAYS MADE
GOOD WHEN ABROAD
First Record of United States Competitor in
European Events in 1844-Suongest Team
of All Went to Paris in 1900

The eyes and thoughts OF al the anna
teur athletes are turned across the At
lantic, for next summer the Olympic
games viii take place In London. and
OF course America will send repre-
sentative team across the pond 10 once
more show the Europeans what excel
lent athletes we produce in the land OF
the free.
These games make is pertinent to re-
view past international contests in
which American amateur athletes have
taken part.
The first record we have Of an Ameri-
can athlete competing abroad IS of the
performances Of George Seward. OF New
Haven. Conn. who went 10 England in
1874 and beat every man who dared run
against him at all distances up to a
quarter of a mile. Offering long starts 10
any man living, beat all existing records
at running short distances, at skating
and at jumping on skates. and finally
returned TO America the acknowledged
sprinting champion of the world.
GAa in Moccasins.
Deerfoot, tie great Seneca Indian run
ner. went to England in 1853 ran many
races at distances near ten miles. bea;
ell the best English runners. and estab,
run. The latter still stands as the fast
est IN the world. He ran in moccasIns
with an awkward stride and rolling
gait. outraged all civilized ideas OF train
ing. but. nevertheless. was the best man
OF his day.
The first American amateur to com
pete in England was probably Richard
II. Dudgeon, a New York boy. lie was
a genuine amateur and an enthusiastic
contestant. over ready to Kun against
anybody, on short notice for any prize
from a diamond medal 20 a bunch OF
loothpicks- His death left a big gap iu
the ranks of the old-fashioned anna
teurs, VINO loved sport for sports sake.
Organized Invasion in 81.
The first regularly organized invasion
of Great Britain by American amateur
athletes was IN the summer Of 1881.
when l. +. Myers. Manhattan \. -.
and r. Z. Merrill. Union A. C., Boston.
Mass, went 20 England and competed
in several meetings including the cham
ptCnShipS. Merrill won several races
and established new English walking
records at one mile and two miles.
Myers was beaten but CnCe-the iOU-y yard
ChamplCnShip-but won the guHrter-mile
Championship and established a new
worlds record for that distance and
several fresh English records for Va
TlOuS distances.
y combination OF athletes consisting
Of W. II. Meek, r. =. Murray. a. y.
WalGron. and H Fredericks Went to
England in the summer Of 1854 20 at
tend the championship meeting Meek
won the sevCn-nile championship and
established several new records and was
unanimously NOteG the fastest fast
walker ever seen IN England. Myers
won everything IN sight, astonishing hiS
critics ard establishing new records by
the wholesale.
Two Teams in 1888.
In the summer Of 1883 Great Britain
was invaded by two armies of Ameri-
can athletes. The Manhattan A. c. sent
Il NJ. Banks. T. P. Coneff. c. W. V.
Clark, and F. Westling, while the New
York A. c. squad included +. c. Carter.
". &. Dohm, G. r. Gray, 4. A. Jordan,
W. +. kOos, g. NJ. Smith, and W. g.
White. Banks. White. and koOs did
nothing worthy OF mention. Smith won
twice. a running high jump and half
mile run DOhm was quite successful in
the quarter and half mile runs. JoI dan
won four frsts. including a champion
ship and the International race at Dub
lin.
Gray was an easy first in every shot
putting contest he could find. winning
the International championships and
beating the worlds record i've. times I'm
one afternoon. Clark and Conen were
also big winners, but as their birthpIac ce
was under the English flag their per
fOrmauces cannot very well be accred-
tied TO America.
Again. in 1891. the Manhattan A. C