Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31
INDIAN DEFEATS ALL -FOUR
"BEST MEN IN THE COUNTRY
ARE NOT MUCH.
Tom Longboat Just Smiles and joys
on for Fifteen Long
Miles.

Tom Lonsboat, the man who defeated
the Italian runner Dorando, who outran
Hayes. winner OF the Marathon race,
demonstrated TO a small audience in Con-
vention Hall last night just how easy it
is to defeat the best men in the coun-
try as the local runners who essayed to
take his measure were called Tom logged
along at about six miles an hour for the
entire fifteen miles. wearing down Buff
falo Willie Ryan" Joe Turner and a run
ner named Moriarfty and an extra man
put in TO save the other runners lives,
named Spalding.
Longboat's opponents ran a little less
than four miles apiece on an average.
Ryan started off to make great
splurge, but running is one of the lost
arts to him. His heels hit hard for about
four miles, and then they pulled him Off
the track. His face was almost the color
OF lead. Longboat's first mile was made
in Obs. He never changed his style dur
ing the whole run. sticking to a short.
choppy pace that seemed TO bear down
on the other runners without mercy.
Shows UP the Prize Fighter.
The champion Tapped Ryan in a hurry.
Before the first mile he had passed him
easily, the second mile saw a similar
gain, and SO did the third and fourth. If
there had been a fifth he could have
it. the little prize fighter was about
all gone.
AIoriarity had lots of flesh and lots OF
grit. but he could not make any mic
faster than six minutes. while the Indian
was clipping them off at five and half
minutes and thereabouts making Mortar
ity look foolish. The race lacked interest
at this stage, as ii looked very much as
If it would be very tame affair.
Whenever Longboat would make one 81
his frequent and periodical gains on
Moriarity three or four Eshers and Long
boats trainer would set up a great clamor
but it had no effect. Longboats first five
miles were made in $50 His eighth
mile brought him TO the 1879 mark.
Somebody yelled to Moriarity that he had
one more lap to complete four miles, ami
the big man Sprinted around the track
amid cheers, getting few yards ahead
of Longboat. who laughed as hard as an
Indian ever does laugh. but made no ef-
fort to increase his speed.
Joe Turner in Green.
Then Joe Turner. the local wrestler.
bounded on to the track in gorgeous
green running suit and the real excite
ment of the evening began. He really
ran. He gained long lead on the In
dian and the honor Of Washington picked
up its head for few seconds. The i'm
moderate cheering dwindled down again
a. the Indian slowly gained on Joe. One
Of Joe's friends signaled &C . D. but
the wireless was not in working order and
Joe had to take ms place some distance
behind the red man.
Turner however, was full OF ginger
and kept creeping up on Longboat and
would nudge him every now and then.
but would be left behind badly every min
ute Or SO. Longboat's tenth mile figured
just Two seconds under ffty-nine minutes
and lie gained whole lap on Joe in the
next two miles without trying.
Chance to Cheer.
Turner's last lap, however. was very
good. Just to show that he was not Grip
pied yet. he sprinted all the way round
the track. getting ahead Of the Indian
amid wild cheers. Spalding then took up
the race. but did nothing sensational eX-
cept break into inordinate speed for about
a hundred yards and then relapse into q
wobbling run for the remainder OF the
four miles.
The Indian. however. showed what his
mettle was by going around for his last
lap in splendid form and with tremen-
dous speed running like a hundred.
yard Splinter. The time announced for
the whole of his fifteen miles WAS
;29.30-nine and half minutes slower
than his record.