The Washington herald., 1908-07-26
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HOW ERRY LEARNED TO JUMP
Worlds Champion Just Escaped Be
ing q Cripple.
Had Muscular AfnfctIOn which lie
Studied GrasshOppers.

Probably no athlete in the world ever
battled his way 70 premier houors IN the
face OF such adverse circumstances as
Raymond c. Ewry. worlds. Olympic. and
American champion in every conceivable
style OF standing jumping. and holder Of
all records Few. even his closest friends.
know that the famous jumper who has
carried the colors OF the New York - C.
and America 10 scores OF triumphs and
who has just captured the olympic
championship at standing broad Jumping.
came near 10 being q cripple. with ab-
s9!utely 10 opportunity for ever taking
part in athletic contests.
Such. however. is the fact In his
youth Ewry suffered from a muscular
weakness Physicians who studied his
case advised his parents that his only
hope rested in The careful development
OF q good muscular system and perfect
control Of Il As a result Evry began
variety OF exercises, not the least i'm
pO-tant OF which were running and
jumping The youngsters fancy turned
20 Jumping and he practiced al this as
sidUously- Even al that age ne was tall
and thin and found great difficulty IN
handling his long legs in running leaps
This led him to turn his attention TO the
standing events.
Ewry was an Observa1t younEster. Llv-
ing in the country. he had an opportunity
70 see the various animals. birds. and in
sects in action His attention was at
tracted 10 the graSshopDer and he no
ticed tnat this little field athlete did
all his jumping from a standing position.
If such It could be calIed-that IS. with
out a start Ewry studied the matter
carefully and as a result OF his oJserva-
uons OF the grasshopper completed a sys-
TEN Of practice and training that soon
perfected him IN his chosen field.
In the standing high. standing broad
and standing triple jump Ewry has no
equal There IS really no man in the
world who has a chance TO defeat him in
these competitions His performances
IN the various Olympic games. dating
back 10 1850 IN Paris. have been a steady
string OF victories At Paris he won ali
three events. At ST Louis in 1874 he
did likewise, and at Athens IN 1876 he
annexed the standing high jump and
broad jump. the triple jump not being on
the programme A. St Louis he saved
the day for the New York club. scoring
fifteen OF the sixty-odd points won by
that club.
Ewry holds a few worlds records in
jumping. Some Of the most important
are standing high jump. feet 81 inches:
standing broad jump. Il feet "a inches:
triple standing broad jump. 35 feet s34
inches besides numerous worlds and
titles EWry is a graduate
Of Purdue University. He is more than
feet . inches in height and the natural
spring o. his limbs Is marvellous
Besides the events in the regular com
petition Ewry occasionally gives exhibi- /
lions al the different clubs Of Young
Mems Christian Associations II he so
desired he could no doubt make q great /
success in his different stunts by appear /
ing professionally before the public But /
Ewry- IS a sinOn-pure amateur and only /
performs for the beneht Of the sport and /
The exercise he derives from It In & !
jump Ewry can easily clear a I
foot fence He can jump over a billiard /
table put i've OF six barrels IN q line
and jump in and out OF each without I
-ouching the barrel. and numerous other /
seemingly impossible feats
Not requiring much space IN which 10 4
rain. Ewry does most Of his preparatory
work in the back yard OF his home at
y. J Any fine summer evening
me will find him practicing his speciaIties
or the different athletic meets