The Washington herald., 1912-01-02
nv a staH Currespondent.l

Baltimore Jan. l-Righttully winning
the annual ten-mile run OF the Baltimore
Cross Country Club, Johnny Bolac, OF the
Washington Cross Country Club. had to
be content with second place yester-
day, as the checkers were way on their
jobs, and placed Henry Elphinstone, OF
the Baltimore club, ahead of him, giving
the first prize to the Oriole City speeder.
Bolsc entered Oriole Park, the finishing
place. fourth. and made complete cir
cult Of the track, and was half way
around again when Elphinstone came
through the gate. To check man, the
runner had to first pass the checker, and
then, on his second trip past him, the
checker would count him as making one
lap. Twenty-siX laps had TO be made
around the track. The only way the
checkers could have gone wrong on
Elphinstone was to have checked him up
as he went by the first time, and that
gave him a lap advantage on the Wash
ington boy. Elphinstone passed Bolac
but once, according to all the witnesses
of the run, and to give the race to
Elphinstone is not handing the Washing
ton boy a square deal by any means.
Campbell, of the Memorial Club, nm
ished fifth, and Hulfish, OF the Washing
ton Cross Country Club. finished thir-
teenth. but neither Of these lads were
even checked up by the officials. The
management. although trying to do tho
right thing, was very poor. to say the
least, and as long this system pre-
walls in the Monumental City. long dis
tance running will be a minor sport The
Washington athletes win not stand for
this year after year, as last season the
same thing happened, and the sooner
the Baltimore Cross Country Club takes
tumble the better for the sport In
general
Henry EIphinstone's time was 1:os:31,
the last half being run on a muddy
track. with Johnny Bclac, the Washing
ton Cross Country Clubs sturdy little
distance runner, but a few yards be-
hind him. Louis r. Hiteshew. of the
Central Y. NJ. c. A., took third money,
and ''Puggy'' Holland, Of the w. c. c. c.,
fourth.
A large crowd of spectators assembled
at Battle Monument in front OF the
News ONCE long before the starting time,
and at 2:57, the first runners were start
ed on their Journey by Starter Eng
land. Four minutes later when Elphin-
stone, the favorite left the mark, a
mighty shout rent the air from his many
admirers in the Monumental City.
Eighteen Runners Halt.
The air was damp and raw and at the
crack of the pistol the runners started
away like hounds from the leash. Out
of fifty-one entries, but eighteen fell by
the wayside.
Ike Ruth, OF the Cross Country Club.
was the first to enter Oriole Park at
3:3l. closely followed by O'Callaghan, OF
the same club, Holland and Bolac, of the
W. c. c. c.. and Campbell, of the Me
mortal A. C, in the order named. Elphin-
stone, who was officially given credit for
the victory. entered the park at 3:3s. and
was nearly two laps behind Bolsc. He
passed Bolac once but the checkers evil |
IDENTIFY checked Elphinstone for n lap
when he entered the park, and pulled |
him out as finished when he had one
more lap to go.
Bolac stated after the race that he did |
not know how many laps Elphinstone |
made. but he thinks he could have beaten |
him at that on a decent track, as the |
track was little better than the sea OF |
mud at Electric Park last year.
Mr.. ]. E. StowelI. president Of the |
Cross Country Club. said |
he will never allow his runners to enter
another run of the Baltimore Cross
Country unless there is a radical change /
n the method Of management, as his /
,lub rightfuIly won the team trophy and |
1is man first place. Coach Howard
TOley, OF the Memorial a. Cs stated thdt
lis club takes the same stand.
Thirty-three finished, but only twenty
i've prizes were given-five silver loving
ups and twenty gold medals. As usual,
protests were entered by ath-
etes who thought they had finished
higher than they were given credit for
" the officials, some of them, particu-
arly w. E. Hulfish. of the w. c. c. c.,
nd John ]. Campbell OF the Memorial
Athletic Club who were checked up by /
representative of The Washington
Herald as finishing fifteenth and fifth,
espectively, and were not counted at the
nish at all. Ike Ruth won the cup for
he first Cross County Club novice to
nish.
Chief Checker In Bad.
AS last year, the chief checker baned
hings Up, not having Holland or Curley
n the finish at all, but members Of the
baltimore Cross Country Club who were
metals made afidavits to the effect that
he two mentioned finished fourth and
ourteenth, and sportsmanship prevailed
n them to give the two runners their
lst due. No discredIt is attached to the
lemberc Of the Baltimore Cross Country
lub, who did all in their power to see
hat other athlates got their Just dues,
ut the chief checker was unequal to the
ask.
Other Washington boys who ran good
aces were r. E. Williams. W. C. C. c.,
inth; Milton Groome. w. c. c. c.,
eventh: Warner Curley. W. c. c. c.,
Jurteenth: B. Mccormick Memorial A. .