The Washington times., 1912-05-12

was narrowly avoided at Saratoga
street, about quarter OF mile from
the finish. Ruth spun along the car
track and passing a car neatly avoided
woman who stepped off the car with
! g huge market basket The runner
lodged around, never faltering in his
stride and wound his way through the
serpentine line of spectators down to
the finish. Several seconds were cut
off when the runner left the street for
the sidewalk and passed people who
were iutently looking for him on the
street.
The way to the finish was congested
with shouting people and when the run,
ner was recognized cheering broke all
bounds. Ruth sprinted the last sixty
yards to the line. smiling defiance TO
fatigue, and heat. content in the knowl-
edge that he had outStTipped the vet
erans and created a new record.
Officials Praised.
Nothing but praise was forthcoming
from the officials of the race, who did
their work well. Mike Thompson, the
official referee, said there was not a
kick registered and that sportsmanship
such as he had never seen before pre-
vailed from the start. Attendants were
in no wise stingy with their restora-
tives. and after attending to the wants
OF their runners gave alike to strangers
and members of rival clubs.
Gameness on all sides was admired
during the route, the older men encour-
aging and helping the young runners,
asking how they felt and advising them
as to the pace to be set There were
ing to take the unevenneSS of the road
into account and sustaining slight
sprains.
Mike Thompson was whlrlwind at
all times. SCurrying here and there, jOl-
lying the runners, advising them, and
helping them at every hand. The
checkers were carefully told who the
runners were and a double checking
system employed from the officials car.
Every runner IN the race was under the
direct and immediate supervision of the
referee, who did two days work during
the two hours of the race.
Thompson Successful.
1t was Mike Thompson more than
others who successfully engineered tho
greatest race in the annals Of cross
country running Of Washington and
Baltimore. once the runners were lined
up at Laurel there was not a hitch.
Latrobe Cogswell. Joe England, Prof.
Cornelius, and the others all came in
for their share of labor and performed
each little detail with infinite care and
dispatch.
The officials were unanimous in say
ing that The Times-N News race was the
most successful of long distance races
that have ever been run in the South
and were loud In praise. The day. while
hot during the last of the race, was
ideal for long-dlstanCe running
Emory B. EnZor. winner of the first
Times-News Marathon and record hold
er for the run from Laurel to VAST
ington, was on hand at the finish yes
terday.
1T was a great race" said Enzor.
II did not think ! would get to see It.
but was al the finish. Ruth ran great
race throughout, and deserves the
pace at the start and held It to the
finish, which exactly brought his across
the line n winner ! had expected TO
see Elphinstone or Bolac win and had
picked one or the other. Ruth sur
prised me as he did Others
Holden Is Favorite.
From being the hot favorite in the
| race-and on form he should have
rC mpod away with the championship
| Arthur Holden. the Canadian Mara
| thoneT, dropped from among the serious
contenders 10 that tagging tail-end
! batch of runners that even failed tc
| finish one hour after the winner Ir
| fact, Holden finished in SEVENTEEN po.
! sition, but deserves great credit. He
walked the last five miles, suffering un.
told tOrturCs during that trip but said
| he did not want to appear a gutter
! He was roundly applaudel as he plod,
! ed his way.
! Elphinstone, who led for eleven miles
| said: II old not care to have Holden
beat me, for my reputation was al
stake, and the harder he ran the faster
! ! hit it up, for I knew that I could
as he could ard that I did force him tc
: quit is some consolation for having lost
| the race. This makes the second RAGS
| that I have fought for the championship
| in first place is not because l was mol
! trained perfectly, but because no NOR.
| tai man could keep up the pace that W.
! hit for fifteen miles and then be fit tC
| run the proper sort of race the remain
| ing distance"
How Race Originated.
Primarily, the race was designed tc
| foster track athletics and to promte q
healthy interest in long distance run,
I ming, and to engcnder a spirit or
! friendly rivalry between athletes OF
! Washington and Baltimore. The idea
found favor among the runners and
the race vas scheduled to take place or
June 12. 1909. 1t was at first thought
! possible to hold the event at the regu
| lar marathon distance of twenty-si1
hiles, but Laurel was selected as E
| starting point and the event was to bt
| held first from Laurel to Washington
and then from Laurel to Baltimore, I
| distance of twenty miles.
In 1909, l2S runners signifed their in
| tention of entering the race which wal
run on June T.. Emory p. Enzor, repre-
setting the Washington Y. NJ. c. A, wal
| first to cross the line in front of tho
| Munsey Building in this city. His time
was hours, - minutes and 30 seconds
! II, g. ElphinstOne. of the Baltimore {
! {. c., was second with John G. Stecker
| OF the National Guard. third.
! Ia the second renewal of the race OF
/ May !, 1910, the course was selected
I from Laurel to Baltimore, SiXty-SeVeI
, men entered the event, and James Ma
| hony, representing the Memorial A. G.
I Of this city was the victor. His time
OF hours, II minutes and II secOnc