The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-03

49,
Dixon, VINO mad gone before him.
Dixon, once featherweight champion
pugilist of the world, died in the poor
ward of q New York hospital, PEN
niless and deserted. Taylor had all
the comforts Of home. He was a mar
of culture, as well as fame, a gradu-
ate of the University of Pennsylvania,
and q veterinary surgeon. His career
was 8 credit to his race.
The death of Taylor blotted out the
last colored champion athlete, of whom
there were many years ago. In the
fighting line there were George Dixon,
featherweight champion; Joe Cans,
lightweight title-holder, and Joe Wal
colt, once the peer of the welterweight
class. Major Taylor, of Worcester, was
the champion s~printlng cyclist until
Frank Kramer wrested the title from
him. ]. B. Taylor and Dixon are now
dead, and the others of their ace have
lost their crowns. The +colored race
now looks to Jack Johnson to win the
heavyweight fighting title by defeating
Tommy Burns.
Melvin Sheppard. the Olympic champion,
who had often measured strides with
ior's death, said: THE world loses a great
runner in Taylor. He was a fine fellow,
and the news of his death came as a shock
to me. I went through France and ireland
with him after the Olympic games last sum-
mer, and found him a splendid companion.
He was the 'whitest' negro l have ever
Known"
Mike Murphy, Pennsylvania noted
trainer, who handled Taylor for all his big
races, said: John was the finest quarter
miller I have ever seen. He had q most re-
markable stride, covering no less than eight
feet six inches each step, and always had
enough sprint left In him to bring him out
ahead at the tape. He was an easy man
to. handle, for he was very quiet and con-
scientious."
Taylor was probably the best known run
ner in the country today. He has won races
peted during the last seven years. He has
run in England and France, as well as in
this country, and last summer was a mem
her of the American team which carried off
The championship in the Olympic games at
London.
The colored runner entered the Wharton
School of the University of Pennsylvania in
1908, and the following. spring romped off
with first place In the intercollegiate quar-
ter-mile run, setting a record Of 40 10
seconds. In the summer of 1906 he took a
trip through England and France, and
beat the best men on the other side. The
following year he ran for Pennsylvania
and won the intercollegiate quarter-mile,
doing the distance in the remarkable time OF
Last spring Taylor was in bad shape, suf-
ferlng from an injured leg, and many were
OF the DeleI uIldC ne cOuiu uot VIII MS
event again. Carpenter, of Cornell, and
Atlee, of Princeton. led him to within ten
yards of the finish, but there his old sprint
came back and carried him over the line q
winner. This final sprint was the strong
point about Taylor's running. Many run
ners could beat him 200 or 300 yards, and q
few could lead him up to 400, but none
could resist that last swoop.
Taylor went to England with the Ameri-
can Olympic team last summer. He and
two other Americans qualified for the finaI
heat Of the 400-meter race, with Lieutenant
Halswelle, of England. That race Is his
tory. Robbins and Carpenter set a terrific
pace at the start and then, seventy yards
from home, Carpenter was disqualified fol-
an alleged foul. The race was ordered run
over, but none of the Americans started,
and Halswelle had a walkover.
Pennsylvania men and athletes through
out the East are preparing a memorial fol
their departed comrade.