New-York tribune., 1909-03-08
LIVELY SPRINTTNG.
Runners from Many Nations Cheered
bu Crozcd at the Garden.
SCORE Ar FIRST HOUR.

With muscles taut and quiverng with eagerness
like hounds held in leash, twenty-seven picked and
trained runners from many nations and the four
quarters OF the globe waited this morning on the
track at Madison Square Garden for the signal
which would start them that killing speed and
endurance contest. which is known as six-day
go-as- you-please good sized crowd OF en-
thusiasts focked to the Garden to see the start.
Promptly at 1205 o'clock this morning the signal
puff Of smoke, scarcely perceptibie,
muff1ed report and the line of waiting racers
sprang forward-the big race was on
Several hours before the scheduled time the spec
tators began TO drift in At first they came slowly.
by and twos. Later, as the time for the start
grew nearer they came in steady stream and
when Willie Collier fred the starting shot there
probably from five to six thousand persons
in the Garden
The track appeared to be in excellent condition
and the contestants seemed to be In the best OF
condition. II appearances count for anything this
race should prove to be OF the best yet held.
Under the rules which govern IT representative Of
each team must be the track all the time.
With the crack OF the starting pistol the runners
started of a fast pace, and II evident that
many of the contestants were determined to gain
an early lead of lap II such thing were possible.
The start fine one. and the spectators showed
their appreciation Of the fast work by cheering
peatedly. For fifty yaTGs the men were
punched closely together that II was impossible
to tell who In the lead-f any one was But
before the first lap finished the field" had
spread out somewhat. and Tony LosleIn, of the
German team. had the honor OF crossing the tape
in lead at the end OF the lap.
The German was closely followed by George Met
kus. of the Philadelphia combination, and the
American got a liberal round of applause he
started into the second lap P. j. Dineen OF the
Boston team. third at the end OF the first lap.
The kept up lively pace. and many pro
fessionaI runners who gathered at the track
spectators did not hesitate to predict that they
would break many OF the old records before the
race over. The work OF Mike Spring OF the
New York team. particularly noticeable dur
ing the early hours Of the He ran with ease.
had long. reaching stride, and his form ex-
ceptionaIy good
The nations represented in the race are the
United States. Canada. Eng' and, Ireland France.
Italy, Belgium. Holland Germany. Switzerland,
Greece, Scotland. Wales. Cuba and the Philippine
Islands In addition there will be representatives
of the Mohawk and Sioux indian tribes. and the
United States army will have two long distance
runners in the contest.
Some OF the European runners hold foreign
ords at distances from 100 to so miles and many OF
the American contestants have made records in
amateur performances and have turned profess
The prizes wiI aggregate 3 ooo. the winning team
receiving 1850 and the next seven prcportiorate
amounts In the event n records being broken
special prizes Will be given.
Among the teams which started that attracted
particular attention the military Corporal
Harvey Endlch and Louis H. semersn are the
IN whom Uncle Sans soldiers place their hopes
Both of them were IN excellent shape, and both
said before the start Of the that they would
be In the going when the bell rang for the last
lap
The Indian team also attracted much attention
Just before the race began the cement
ceived a telegram announcing the withdrawal OF
the Filipino team. owing 10 injury sustained
by OF It's An Art Students team was en-
tered in its place
Peter Hegelmal, who the only previous six
day running race with a OF 10 miles and
lap. having the time Pat Cavanaugh for his
partner. with Peter Golden composed the American
team. A large number OF his friends formed a
party in section OF the stands and they gave
him a great "send-off' and kept on whcOping 1t up
for the veteran he circed the track.
The track which the is being IS
eighteen feet wide and is laps to the mile 1t
is made Of tanbark, loan and sawdust and is said
TO be one of the fastest tracks raced
Much interest added to the this morning
by the large number OF Marathon stars who gath
cred the track to watch the start Little Johnny
Hayes, winner OF the Marathon at the Olympic
games held in London last summer and Dorando.
the man who lost that after a heart-breakinE
effort, were recognized by the spectators and
vigorously chsered.
Then there we're White and Maloney, who fought
II out In a Marathon race last week. Both Irish
had plenty OF friends hand 10 give them
the glad hand" DIR. j n. Creamer. who has at
tended six-day bicycle races in the capacity OF