Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13

~ NEW YORK, December 12.-When the
shot-puttins contest for the American
championship was begun recently in Mad
ison Square Garden there stepped into the
circle a fair haired, nimble lad of seven
teen. He was Of such slight stature that
he looked like dwarf alongside of Pat
Mcdonald, Big BIZ Coe and Martin
Sheridan. Only few among the thou
sands in the amphitheater for a moment
believed that the jumpy lad was to COM
pete with those veteran giants Of the ring.
Some there were who smiled as the boy
airily picked up the shot, posed for the
put and suddenly launched it forward.
Amusement succeeded the inclination to
guffaW as the iron missile swished through
the air and landed right atop Of the
spot that Coe and Sheridan had reached.
Carried the Garden by Storm.
Never did the garden ring with such a
roar Of applause. This feat remarkable
as it would have been for any Of the
the more astonishing when the crowd
dared to tackle them. The applause would
cease, then start anew with redoubled
vigor, and the gallery-those unerring ex-
perts who always ring true In their APP
probation of grit-began to yell Elliott!
Oh, you little boy Elliott!' and during
closed the audience gave him the hand.
Julian j. Elliott is just seventeen years
of age. He weighs 135 pounds and stands
almost five feet nine inches in height. He
is perfectly built and as lively as a
cricket.
II don't know why it is that 1 do so
we'll with the shot," he said to me, Il
watched Martin Sheridan at work from
time to time up In Pelham Bay Park.
near my home. and | got a few good
h 0v,11, 10
experience Is when I go into competition.
l do not get my best out of a contest.
am too nervous. Take Monday night. I
could do only fifty-nne feet nine inches
with the eight pounds. while have gone
as far as sixtyfour feet in practice I'm
pretty good at the twenty-four pounds.
too. and keep in training with Herman
Meyer. that good-natured giant, and he
can set pretty good mark"
Even accepting the suggestion that
Elliott is a freak the plain fact re-
mains that there is within his skin mar
velous amount of muscular force as well
as the nervous intelligence that helps to
bring that power into concentrated force.
BABY Mcdonald, the 2I5-pound levia-
than Of the Irish-American Athletic Club,
who can toss fifty-six pounds of iron six
teen feet up in the air, and whose mas
sive body is as hard as cocoanut shell.
failed to get enough strength into the
shot Monday night to propel it as far as
little Elliott. Mcdonald was shocked. So
was Coe. who turned to his mates and
said: "It will be HI for me if that school
boy kid beats me. I could never show my
face In Boston again. He is certainly a
wonder"
Sheridan watched the lads performance
with IL smile. Martin had already cinched
the event and wasn't worrying.
THAT boy has a knack,' said Martin.
II don't know how to describe it so that
you can print It, but it is certain flip
or twist that you give the shot as you
send it along He discovered it while I
was giving him some coaching, and
picked it up from him. 1 know it has
made my work much better"
"It Is curwhibble. said Mike Sulli-
van. who held the tape.
Whatever it is. the boy has got it.,
said Martin. And I want to tell you
one thing-that II that boy ever took up
fighting he'd be the surprise of the age.
He's quick as cat. all nerves. strong as
ten-ton gun and he has a brain that
works"
But what is a curwhibble? I asked.
You'll have to learn all about that in
the County Mayo" said Martin. That's
where the champions come from.'