The Washington times., 1911-05-14
THE T|hES-NEWS
MARATHON PROVES
GLORIOUS SUCCESS
Runners Well Pleased With
Management of
Contest.
POPULARITY OF
RACE ESTABLISHED
Enthusiastic Crowds Lined the
Course From Start to
Finish.
An unprecedented success.


ion of all those who had any part in
The Washington Times Baltimore
News Intercity Marathon from Laurel
to this city yesterday.
1t is doubtful if as large a throng
ever witnessed an amateur athletic
event of any sort in this section of
the country. At Laurel practically
the whole town was out to see the
runners get on their way, while at
every hamlet and town along the line
crowds gathered to cheer the con-
testants and be of any assistance pos
sible. AS Washington was approach
ed, the spectators increased by the
hundreds, and when the leader turned
into Maryland avenue, at Fifteenth
street northeast, it was necessary for
the-ralice who had been ordered out
especially for the occasion, to get
most busy in order to keep a path
clear through the crowds.
Big Crowd on Avenue.
Along Pennsylvania avenue the
throng was particularly dense, and
when Sixth street was reached there
was such an outpouring to see the
runners go by that all traffic was for
a while blocked. In front of the Mum
sey building, which marked the finish
line, the street was fairly black with
people, and so eager were they to
see each man as he crossed the line
that the police were pOwerleSS, and
IT was a matter of good fortune that
the runners ever got over the chalk
mark without being greatly interfered
with.
There was no hitch in the arrange
mentS. From the time the athletes
reached Laurel on the o'clock train
to the time the men had dressed in
the Turkish bath, everything ran
smoothly. and as each man later re-
ported to the MunSey building for
prizes, he took occasion to express
his satisfaction with everything con-
nected with the big event.
Capt. c. +. Edwards of the District
National Guard Athletic Association
and John Stowell, president of the
Washington Cross Country Club,
wrote letters of cOngratulation, while
the men representing the oss-Coun-
try Club, which won the handsome
bronze team trophy. sent a note of
thanks for the treatment they re-
Ceived.
Dealers Send Cars.
Automobiles played an important part
in the successful running of the race
Machines furnished by a number of
dealers were used to carry the officials
to the starting point and to patrol the
course during the progress of the race.
The referees car was a Maxwell, fur
niShed by the United Motor Washington
Company and driven by Bert Robert
son. The car covered the course sew
Gral times.
The judges car was a Packard. loaned
by the Luttrell Company, and driven by
Louis Stevenson. 1t did splendid work
The press car was an Overland, which
was driven by r. &. Smith, president
of the Overland Washington Motor
Company. This car made fast run
from Laurel to Washington immedi-
,ately after the start, the twenty miles
being covered in thirty minutes.
number of Bucks were also uti-
lized as official cars.
Pretty Girls See Race.
There had been a rain. and the coun-
try along the course looked fresh and
green. There were points of white and
crimson and yellow where flowers
peeped forth. They all formed a back
ground for pretty girls who tilted noses
at automobiles and horses, and had
their smiles for the swift and strong
who were Sturdily covering the hot
load that lay between them and victory.
One of the swift and strong became
slow and weak under the stress, but he
never lost his ability to make the best
of things. He slackened, Jagged, be-
came a straggler and fell by the way
side. He was very iudiCious about fall
that almost OverhunG the roadway. 1t
was near a house-a home.
A Samaritan Appears.
Sure enough, a good Samaritan passed !
that way. He brought Il water pitcher
and a pretty daughter. The runner sat
on his dirty, deadened legs, and drank |
They talked especially the girl and the
runner. Finally the farmer said:
Think YOU can finish it out now
Finish? Finish what? Oh yes! 1
suppose l Il have to get alOng-mighty !
pret-v scenery here, though" He got |
up and plOdded YEARLY away, with just |
one or more backward glanCes. 'Wish |
I had my clothes with me-" he grunted. |
All Of the Washington athletes wko |
competed in the twenty-mile race took |
late sleeps this morning, but none IS |
suffering as a result of the race. Con- |
siderins the rough condition of the |
roads in certain sections, the feet of !
the contestants stood the test particC-
1arly we'll