The evening world., 1908-12-29
STARTS TRAINING
FOR MARATHON
IN NIGHT ATTIRE
Patrick MckeeVer Dreams of
His Former Proves and
Goes for Record.
POLICEMEN CHASE HIM.
Eight Officers Follow Runner
Through Street and Cen
trail Park.
POLICEMEN CHASE HIM.

Patrick McKeever, n chunkily built
little man Of fifty. was arraigned be-
fore Magistrate House in the Harlem
Court to-day on charge of Mara
thoning" Clad only in his trousers and
an undershirt, he had set out on des-
perate pursuit OF a phantom Longboat
in the small hours of the morning. and
at =, O'Clock A. NJ. he was leading a
stout policemen at sharp Marathon
pace along the east wall OF Central
Park
He had been an athlete in his DAY.
md before he was ovcrhauled some of
his pursuers were trained down ten
pounds.
1t was quaint conceit of McKeever's
TO set out at midnight on his Marathon
jaunt. The Inspiration came to him In
he'd, Just after he had seen a vision Of
his old self back on the 'ould sod in
the days OF his youth, leading paper
chase over course Of thirty odd miles
Recalled His Former Prowess.
Twas this way, Your Honor" said
McKeever 10 Magistrate House. Il
had spent an hour or so listenin' to
sportin' talk in a little place of friend
on the corner OF Third avenue and
N!nety-seventh street. They were tellin'
me about that Dorando lad and the In
dian Longfieet. or somethin or other
an 1t kept runnin' in me head all the
way home how. II I only got back to
me old stride, could show clean heels
to the pack of them.
II said somethin to the missts about
II up in the fiat at No cG,0 Third ave
nue.. an she says to me. BE you old
fool7 IT'S sleep an not runnin We
need Well. l drops off to sleep. all
right but It's q sleep filled with run
ners in bare legs an such. with meself
leadin' them all an crowds shoutin an
yellin. Go on, Pat: you've got the
world beat
Then | wakes up an says to meself.
Look here. PAT. get In practice; get
back your old stride an go after these
Dagoes an Injuns right. an you'll clean
'em up
$50 up leaps ont OF bed an pulls on
me pants. Down the stairs go in three
leaps an out into the cool OF the evenin'.
knew I could run like wild colt,
Your Honor. an sure | did"
McKeever spoke the truth there. ac-
cording to Policeman Patrick Kelleher.
who arraigned him. Kelleher was still
painting. He said he had seen the fiin-
silly clad McKeever racing along like the
wind toward Central Park, leaping with
his bare feet in wonderful kangaroo
stride.
The Chase Begins.
McKeever had struck westward
through Eighty-seventh street. and KEEL
leher was so dazed at the sight OF him
Tying past that he called out:
Hold on there! What's up?"
I'm training for a Marathon. can't
you see?" replied McKeever. over his
shoulder, and he galloped on. Kelleher
followed. and so did other policemen,
finally to the number OF six.
Near Central Park McKeever saw that
his pursuers were gaining on him, 80 he
swiftly shed his trousers and redoubled
his pace. McKeever was certainly train
ing:
I'D been runnin' yet," he declared TO
the Magistrate. had not some spalpeen
bumped into me an all the cops In the
showed EN- ! could run, all right, old
as ] am, an II | only had proper
chance I'd make those young Marathon
iopers there's so much talk about look
The Court turned his head away for
q few minutes. then looking back on
Mckeever, said steruly:
"The law does rot object 10 any one
running, nor would l ever care to inter
fere In athletic sports Bot for a man
Of your years 70 LGce naked through
ceeding, This time | will discharge YOU,
though I warn You never TO undertake
this midnight 'narathonins again"