Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-10

Eddie Foster Of Fairfield was the
| winner of the Smile Marathon race
held Saturday under the auspices of
the TacOnnet Club of Winslow and ran
the race in the fast time of 40 minutes
| and u seconds. William Danardy and
Peter Libby, both of Winslow, finished
second and third respectively. but a
few seconds behind the winner. Hal
Simpson and Ernest Cote were the only
two others that covered the course,
making five in all out of the 10 starters.
The time and endurance of the WIN
ners is considered remarkable under
the conditions. The weather was fine
but the track was wet and heavy.
Never before has such an interest
been shown in this kind Of sport. The
people came from far and near to wit
ness either the start or the finish of the
race ard al had nothing but praise
for the three sturdy working lads who
covered the course in almost profess
sionGl time. The runners were greeted
with cheers as they passed sections to
which the people assembled and they
were encouraged on in their grind at
every turn.
Long before the race the vast multi
tude assembled at the Taconnet Club
house and when the mill poured forth
the mass of humanity at o'clock the
crowd was record breaker William
Judge, the photographer, was at hand
and before the. start caught the start
ers in group picture. together with
the three silver cups which were
awarded as prizes.
Promptly at $50, the hour set for the
start, 10 men appeared on Benton ave-
nue., east of the club house, for the
word. They were sent away on the
minute and cheered as they started on
their course On the start the runners
spread. Peter Libby took the lead and
maintained it practically until within
one-nuarter of a mile of the finish. The
pace set by him was hot one, but he
was followed closely by Danardy and
Foster. These three, who We're the
leaders, ran together for the greater
part of the distance. Sam Herd was
in fourth place at the start and kept
| up until he had covered two miles,
| when mis- lack of training told on him
and he was forced to retire from the
| race. His brother, James Herd, retired
about the same time from exhaustion.
| they went toward Benton Station. Lib
| by. Danardy, Foster was the order of
| the three leaders when three miles had
| been covered. Tho remaining starters
were about an eighth of a mile in the
rear and were punched.
} When Benton was reached, Trial, who
was suffering from a sprained ankle.
was forced to quit the race, as Gid both
| of the Foster boys. The strain was
| telling and was too great Louis Herd
| pegged along alone for the remaining
| distance, but did not complete the
course, as he crossed the foot bridge
| and was out of the race.
| AS the leaders went through Fair
| field Libby was IN the lead, although but
| a few feet ahead of Danardy and Fos-
ter. All We're running well and APP
peared strong. Danardy spurted ahead
when near the Waterville & Fairfield
Railroad car barn. but was soon pass
ed again by Libby. All had now drop
ped the race save Libby, Danardy, Fos-
ter Simpson and Cote the latter two
being far in the rear. The long hills
between this city and Fairfield seemed
to have little effect on the runners
| The upper part of College avenue was
covered in fast time.
At Colby College and in the vicinity
of the station an enormous crowd had
gathered to witness the runners as
they passed. Shouts of encouragement
came to them from their friends and
they We're inspired on. The runners
took to the car tracks, as the road was
in poor con 3ition.
Instead of running down through
Main street, the runners turned down
Front on account of the pavement. The
word that they We're coming caused the
large crowd to again assemble at the
Mill road On the north side of the club
house, where the finish was made.