Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-21
Last Lap of Long Race in
Chicago Today.
TRIUMPH OF Y. NJ. C. A. BOYS
Total Running Time 119 Hours and
20 Minutes.
MAYOR McCLELLAN's MESSAGE
Speed of Twenty Miles an Hour in
Chicago-Great Crowd at Finish.
Mayor Busse Absent.

CHICAGO, July 21.-The Young Men 8
Christian Association relay race which
began In New York at 10 am. last We'd
nesday came to a brilliant close in the
City Hall here at 9:3S am. today. The
silver tube containing the message Of
Mayor Mcclellan Of New York to Mayor
Busse Of Chicago was carried over the
final stretch by William H. McCabe of
the Evanston Y. NJ c. A. McCabe re-
ceived the message at LaSalle and Mon
roe streets, but had a hard time of 1t
making his way along the two blocks to
the City Hail. He was compelled to stop
several times by street cars and wagons.
and as he expressed 1t: II made no time
at ALL The youth was cheered as he
lodged hither and thither In q desperate
endeavor to avoid delay.
At the City Hall McCabe came under
the protecting shelter OF squad of po-
licemen, who kept the crowds at re-
spectful distance Mayor Busse. how
ceiving the message devolved upon YER
non L. Bean, secretary of the civil service
commission.
Text of Message.
Mr.. Bean promptly turned it over to
Assistant Corporation Counsel Childs,
who read the somewhat soiled typewrit-
ten sheet as follows:
ITO the City of Chicago: The city Of
New York sends greetings by the feet
runners of the Young Mems Christian
Association.
This message Is borne on foot, without.
halt, from the Atlantic to Lake Michigan
and the hundreds of boys who carry it
gain no prize except the consciousness of
having done their best.
GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
Hon. Fred A. Busse, Mayor,
Chicago. ILL.,"
Hundreds Of Boys Participated.
Thus ended the race of 1000 miles by
hundreds of boys ranging in age from
twelve to twenty-one years. The distance
was covered In 119 hours and % minutes.
The time declared in the mayors Office to
be official was three minutes less than
this. but the announcement that the finish
occurred at 9:35 instead of 9:38 was de-
clared to be inaccurate. Crowds of spec
tators watched with keen interest tho
clean-cut youths with cleaning limbs and
eyes as they raced through the city
streets and boulevards from the time
they passed the city limits at 7:53 am. un-
til the last man reached the mayors Of
fice. The last 100 miles of the run was
Oe6et Win many QlIncultleS, not only Dy
traffic In the downtown district, but in
the woods and sand hills OF Indiana last
night.
Series of 1OO-Yard Dashes:
Although the runners. crossed the city
limit some miles out. their real entrance
into the city proper took place at Gar
field boulevard and Halsted street Here
the boys were met by two mounted park
policemen. who attempted to trot ahead
of them, but were compelled to break into
a canter In order to keep up. A train of
automobiles preceded the runners, drop
ping a fresh boy at each corner to in
crease the speed. The last few miles of
the race was really series Of 1OO-yard
dashes. Another train Of motor cars
picked up the tired athletes as fast as
they finished their sprint Inside the
city it IL calculated the boys made an
average rate as high as twenty miles an
hour.
Mayor Buses absence was due to the
fact that he had not expected the run
ners until this afternoon. 1t was quickly
arranged that the mayor should receive
the runners at pm, when Mayor Nc
Clellans message will be presented to
him with due formality.