The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-12-25

dy 1Ol, Oue SlSI6I, f1dLtle b., ana TWO
brothers, Clinton F. and VIM. L. Tay-
lOr and host of friends all over the
universe to mourn his loss.
DR.. Taylor was confined to his bed
only two weeks He was conscious un-
til the end. His mother and sister
were constantly at his bedside. He
; realized on Tuesday that his condition
was serious, and once he said to his
mother, Goodbye, goodbye; I know
that will die; I cannot stand these
pains" He rallied, however, and
thanked his mother, father and rela-
tives for all that they had done for
him and regretted that he could not
live to repay them, but the Lord was
the Judge. Dr. Taylor graduated from
the Veterinary Department of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania last spring
and was preparing to take the State
Board Examination when he was
stricken ill. He was the champion
quarter-mile runner of the u. of P.
during his college days, and after
many American cOnquests on the Gin
der path he went abroad as a member
of the Olympic track team and COM
peted in the 400-metre race which was
so widely discussed.
He was a Philadelphia and attend
ed Central High School, where he
started his athletic career and then he
went to Brown Preparatory School,
where he was member of the famous
team which did not lose a race and
also captured two events, one the cham
pionship at the u of p relay games.
The other members of this team were
Bosom, Mulligan and McGuckin.
| Taylor then entered Penn, and i'm
mediately became the best quarter
mile in the college world and swept
all before him. In the summer of
1904 he visited England and France,
and won the majority of his races
from the scratch, having given good
| fields long starts. He returned and
again entered the University, and in
1906, at Boston, Mass, on Soldiers
Field, he ran 440 yards in 4S As sec
onds, and made a new record for the
distance in the l. G. A. A. A. A. games
Taylor was one of the three, with N
j. Cartmell and Guy Haskins, who won
their events and made Old Penn again
the champions of the track and field.
He won his race last season, and he
was chosen by the Olympic Commit
tee to represent this country in the
games at the Stadium at Sheppard's
Bush, England, and he was the first
cOlored man ever picked to carry the
flag of the United States on his breast
in Olympic championships. The eli |
mate affected him while in England, |
and despite all that Mike Murphy
could do for him he could not reach
the form which made him the best
man in America.
Murphy spent much time with Tay-
lor in the hope that he would reach
his old condition and be able to give
L. T. Haswelle, the noted English run
ner, a good race, but Taylor was off |
form and could not respond
The day of the race he told several
of his friends that he was willing to
sacrifice his chances TO aid a team
mate to win the race because he
thought that he did not have chance
to capture the event in his condition.
but Mike Murphy could not see the
matter in this light and told Taylor
to stay back of the pace and make
one of his famous runs in the stretch |
This Taylor did and many of those
who saw the event think that had Tay- |
lor not seen the signals that it was
"no race he would have won, as he
was bounding along like the old run
ner whom so many Philadelphians |
have seen carry the red and Blue to
the front in the big races on Franklin
Field.
Taylor was a member of many teams |
and was proposed for membership in
the Irish-American Club, of New York,
but being a resident of this city he
refused to permit the Irish-Americans
to consider the matter.
One of his best friends throughout
his athletic career has been Melvin M.
Shepard, who won two races in the
Olympic games, and George d. Tur-
ner, the old ground-keeper of Frank
lin Field, who is now dead
Mike Murphy spoke of him yester-
day afternoon with not a little show
of emotion The great trainer was
moved almost to tears. He said:-
"In all my experience with athletes
have yet to meet more sportsman
like, gentlemanly fellow than John
Taylor. He was one of the easiest men
to train have ever had under my
care, and regret not a little to hear
of his death He never failed to re
port on the field when training for a
race and was conscientious and ear
nest at all times. A year ago when he