Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-08-08
MOST REMARKABLE
MEET IN HISTORY
OF ATHLETICS
lnG Completion Between Baltimore and Philadelphia Gymnasts All of
Whom We're Totally Blind

The confidence, the poise, and the
cast were all as natural as though
done by one with perfect sight. Only
when the boy began to haul In the
line could It be seen that the shot
putter was afflicted with blindness.
As he hauled in, he measured by the
length of line, the length of his
throw. and, as he poised again for a
second attempt, 1t was evidently
with the determination to cause a
greater length of line TO trail after
the weight Very simple, after all,
for a boy to become a shot-putter,
although unable to see where his
shot fell.
The long jump, standing, presents
little difficulty. The boy is placed at
the mark and jumps as far as he
can. His jump is measured and
marked, and it is the turn of the
next contestant. The high jump,
standing, is more dlfIlcult, but with
the wonderful sense OF distance that
the blind possesses by touch, It is
necessary only for one OF the sight
less athletes to be placed opposite
the marks and allowed TO feel the
height of the crossbar, and he is
ready for the signal. II is asserted,
upon the authority of Edward r..
Allen, well known as an instructor !
Df the blind, that. when a blind boy |
runs at full speed, he Is doing the |
most daring feat of which a blind !
person is capable. At the Phila-
lelphla institution, and at many |
,thers throughout the country,
where boys are trained for the
thletlc meet OF the blind, many
lghtless athletes can be seen daily
IA fine weather, and In the indoor
during dull days, prac-
Icing both the run and the jump,
18th all the confidence and abandon
persons with perfect sight.
As for doing stunts on the trapeze,
ne flying rings, or on the vaulting
orse, any blind athlete would think
ne person joking who professed 10
llnk there was anything out of the
rdlnary In this. II you suggest TO
ne of the instructors that Il Is still
ore wonderful how the boys find
le apparatus without being led up
it. the instructor will probably
gree that this Is one OF the really
things about the blind,
person born blind has no sense OF
stance as revealed by sight. He
rely goes by the count OF foot
cps. Let him once locate the fly
3 rings or the trapeze In the
mnasium, and he will thereafter
} from one point TO another 80
any steps, from that point to an
her so many more, and so In time
~ reach his objective without
eming TO do anything but walk /,
rect to Il, as though really able 10 =
e where Il stands on the floor. or
suspended from the ceiling. =
Another interesting feat of blind
hletes Is a game of football. The
n Is located by sound. As played
the blind boys, the game Is more ''
kicking game than the ordinary u
llege game, The players strain VI
cry nerve To hear the sound OF the 'o
II as Il strikes the ground. The "a
y who hears Il first runs In the ~
'ection OF the sound, grabs the ball 10
4 kicks Il towards the opposite ca
'rltory. There Is no taekllng. N
hen the ball Is kicked behind tie ~
posing players goal line. the side
king Il wins. There Is just as
lch fun to the blind boys In their
me OF football as To the college