Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-12
[. A. A. c. GOSSIP

The fact that all yesterday many of
the club members were loud in their
praise of the gameness and invincible
grit that were displayed by Joe Pensa
during the run to Venice does not be-
gin to give that worthy the praise he
deserves. Although it was generally
known that Joe was "up against it,"
1t remains for one who was near Joe
during the greater part of the race to
assert that he ran a remarkable race.
1t is safe to say that Joe tried harder
to win than any other man entered in
the race. He was many pounds heavier
than the heaviest man, which Is big
drawback in a long distance run. Some
body remarked that Joe resembIed a
buffalo. The resemblance would be
correct If 1t referred to Joe's heart,
which is as big in proportion as Joe
Is ponderous. When the seven-mile
mark was reached in the race Joe's
feet began to bother him. He had on a
pair of new stockings and they curled
at the toes, and the constant friction
produced blisters. One of the officials
asked him If he did not desire to ride
the rest of the way. mo" he replied.
At the ten-mile mark Joe's feet were
in fearful condition, and he was
obliged to stop to allow his trainer to
pour some water into his shoes. In
stead of helping the water seemed to
irritate his feet the more. Regardless
of this great handicap Joe still per-
sisted in running. Two miles farther
on his feet were bleeding profusely.
Without doubt Joe would have finished
In either second, third or fourth place
had 1t not been for his aff1iction
When the man who finished fourth left
Joe at the thirteen mile mark the lat
ter was in good physical condition with
the exception of his feet. and it is not
''hot airing the fact particle when
1t is said that any other man in the
race would have ridden the rest of the
course had he been as handicapped as
was this "dark-skinned young fellow
with heavy shoulders and thick, stocky
muscles, who ran like a buffalo" and
with whom 1t was a case of sheer
pluck that carried his huge weight
Joe gave an example Of grit during
his training as we'll as during the race
that would make a lighter man a peer
In the running game should he follow
the example.
It might be considered a duty of
every club member to procure a seat
at the Auditorium next Tuesday night,
when the boys who started in the run
to Venice will be the guests of Ernest
Crawford. manager of the Auditorium,
and at which time one of the greatest
orators of the west, Madison B. Jones,
is expected to do the honors in present.
ing the prizes to the winners.
Was the race a success? Well "raw-
Their"
If 80 per cent of the boys who enter
into the various athletic events that
are pulled Off under the auspices of the
club were as persistent as was l.. L..
Burke who finished the race, 1t Is need
less to say that everything undertaken
by the boys would be success. Every
body but Burke was almost sure that
he would not finish. He had not trained
a day for the event, as he was obliged
to attend to other business, and only
ran because he had given his word that
he would run. Well done, L. l..
Too much credit cannot be given
Referee Al Treloar and Clerk of the
Course Dewitt c. Van Court for their
splendid work as officials OF the race.
Both men knew their business and per-
formed their work to perfection. 1t is
no easy task to swing a proposition
such as they were UP against, so 1t Is
needless to say that they worked hard.
Is It peculiar or is 1t just natural
that Dietrich won his way into the
estimation of the fellows as easily as
he won the race? The question might
be answered by asserting the fact that
already is we'll known that he did not
at the time or since show any signs
of needing a larger headpiece. This
pleasant fact was the finishing touch
to the whole event in that it made 1t
much easier for the boys who finished
second, third. fourth, fifth and sixth,
and kept everything on a harmonizing
basis, which is a critical point in any
event of a competing nature that Is
pulled off among club fellows.
And do not forget the fellow who
finished second, when 1t comes to the
handclapping stunt at the Auditorium