The Washington herald., 1911-10-22


structor who to the time of hearing that story of
sheer +, never had much for those runners
and IS"
Mike" Murphy's Start.
OF the returns that have been written and the
less told of Mike" Murphy's start as i coach
(trainer they termed him thenl none gave YER
sion that was told the writer by the late Pat Hurley
of Worcester, Mass, one of the noblest of and
devotee of sports who in the thick of all contests
as hacker of professionals, friend of amateurs in
al lines and veritable encyclopaedia of facts.
In those days Of more than twenty years ago. Mike
Finn, now minor league baseball manager and scout
for big league teams, including the Giants, was the
feetest professional sprinter in the New England
ton from which the present athletic sprouted
One day he displayed a letter from New Haven asking
him to act trainer and instructor there. Finn
laughed dersively when he the figures and them
jokngly turning to group of athletes said-"Let's
send 'Stocky' Murphy" Because Murphy was not a
champion among them there were rounds of jeers
Never mind that" retorted Finn, that fellow has
got a head on him that will get him some day
than our legs will" And that set Murphy his way
to the highest notch attained by conditioner and
instructor Of athletes in all branches
In house presented to him by men who appre-
ciated all that he has done for college athletics espe-
ciay for the University of Pennsylvania Mike" Muir
ply recall early days with the grim satisfac-
ton of realizing that he gained by hard work unap-
preached eminence in his profession. He prescribes
the kind Of medicine for ambitious athletes but
he knows the dose best adapted for each AS a re-
cruiting officer in the army of young athletes Murphy
is supreme. Material, partially moulded, is turned
over to him annually because athletes want him to
put the finishing touches.
While coaching the Detroit Athletic Club Murphy
showed his talent a miner which in athletic
parlance is digging up gem" John Owen, men,
Der Of the club, playing tennis afternoon when
Murphy in his methodical way leaned to watch
the movements of the players. The action of Owen
looked promising to Murphy.
Mr.. Owen, why don't you be sprinter?" he asked
while the players were wiping of perspiration be-
tween acts
~" returned Owen. why, l couldn't run lick"
But Murphy insisted, and from that seeming guess
work selection of future great developed John
Owen the first amateur sprinter cover one hundred
yards under ten seconds. Owens time was 45 Sec
onds.
While training the American team at Travers ISL
and in 1895 for the international games with Eng
lands best athletes, Mike" Murphy received as pupil
Steve Chase of Dartmouth College, hustler whose
records still adorn athletic almanacs Chase reported
Just in time for the evening meal and confessed that
he hungry. After all the other athletes had left
the training table, Chase fingered. Finally Mike"
Murphy asked, whats the matter? Are you stin
hungry" 81 want pie" insisted Chase I'VE don't
have 1t here" said the trainer he walked away to
laugh In solitude. .--.
In flash Murphy realized what few Of the old
school OF trainers would Chase had undoubtedly
been eating pie in New Hampshire and breaking
records it Going the kitchen Murphy gotta large
cut Of apple pie and returned to the dining room.
Chase had disappeared, but the club house veran-
da there was commodon- Murphy hurried there and