The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-01
WORLDS GREATEST ATHLETICS
WILL PARTICIPATE IN GAMES.
New York will play a prominent Part
In the Great Contests to 81 Put.
on Across the Pond.

on Across the Pond.
When n has spent a few years on
foreign soil-far away from the do
main Of Uncle Sam-where the Amer.
lean emblem appears as scarce as
water in a desert. doesn't It send an
celebrating thrill up an ddown one's
spinal column to observe the Ameri-
can oolors Haunting from some lofty
tower. or upon hearing n band strike
up The Star Spangled Banner." as
b ship pokes its nose into American
waters?
That's patriotism.
And perhaps IL affords no better ex-
PLANTATION OF why every American to-
a Is willing to place a bet on the
athletes whom Unoe Sam will send
TO the Olympic games at Stockholm.
The United States Is pardonably
proud OF it's athletes.
Who wouldn't feel proud OF men like
Martin Sheridan. John ]. Flanagan.
Melvin Sheppard. Babe Mcdonald.
John Paul Jones. Jim Duncan. Sam
Lawrence and scores OF others? Who
wouldn't be eager 10 laud them, and
even fight for them. II they were not
given a square deal? Nobody today
believes that anything other than
fairness will be tolerated at the Stock
holm meet, and no American enter
tains belief other than that Sheridan.
Flanagan. John Paul Jones ct al. will
surely carry off~the honors.
To New York belongs the credit OF
having produced athletes OF whom the
nation may Justly feel proud. In near
ly every case they are men. shorn OF
ewalth, modest. and even proud that
they are common folk and have TO
work for a living.
New Works. Part.
In the New York police department
alone there are a half dozen men
more perfect athletic specimens could
hardly be found anywhere-who today
hold records of worldwide fame.
There's Sheridan. who is the worlds
alEaround champion. He's an athlete
from head to foot. Matt McGarth.
another powerful fellow, has thrown
the hammer az a greater distance than
any man in the world. and he also
holds the shot-put record.
And John j. Flanagan. He's known
from coast to coast. Flanagan was
formerly a member Of the police de-
partment OF the metropolis. but John
gave up the job some time ago and
hied himself away TO the Emerald
Isle. TO the land every Irishman loves.
and there he will remain the rest of
his Hfe.
But there was a reason for Flana-
cams giving up Ne WORK life. with
Its tumultuous history. 4 short time
ago a relative died in the old country
and bequeathed John 4 small fortune.
Like every other loyal Irishman, his
heart opened instantly and his
thoughts reverted to Ireland. John
boarded the next boat out Of New
York. He has purchased a coy little
cottage in the old country. There's
nothing lavish OF e~xaravagant about
the former New York policeman's
home. his New York friends say. but
Flanagan is satisfied. for he has
enough coin stored away TO lie com
fortably the remainder Of his days.
Ask Winfield S~heehan7
There Is perhaps. after all. only
one really sad feature Of Flanagan's
departure. The metropolis. and Uncle
Sam. for that matter. loses z sterling
athlete. II IL doubtful n the big ex.
policeman will ever again be seen on
the field. and he will surely be missed
when the American tea msails for
Stockholm and the Olympic games. for
Few viii be able TO gu the place he
has vacated.
The New York police department
also has the distinction OF having in
the ranls such world-famous athletes
as Pat "Zabe" Mcdonald. shot-putter;
John Eller. 2@0 and 4fO-yard hurdIer.
John Giles. sprinter and Ergon Erick
son. pole vaulter. These athletes will
all gO 70 the Olympic games. But. by
the way, did II eve occur 70 you how
much Of a chance a highwsyman has