Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-27
LITTLE CITY ALWAYS TO the
FRONT IN EVERY LINE OF
ENpEAvoR.
TAKE HIGHEST HoNoRs
IN MANY STATE CONTESTS
Always Among the Winners At State
Firsmsn's Tournaments Pythian
Team Wins Thrss Successive Nc.
toriss-sehool Orators Win Medals
Sleeper Wins Many Honers.
Special to Times -Republican.

Special to Times -Republican.
Sheldon, Sept. 27.-The city of Shell
don for many years has occupied
front rank in the activities OF the state
of Iowa. Scarcely q year has passed
within the last fifteen years. that some
resident Of Sheldon or some organiza-
tion in the city has not won first hon
ors In the various fields of contest.
In its participation in the tourna-
ments of the State Firemen's Associa-
ton, the Sheldon firemen brought hon
ors to our city for many years. the
first year was 1898 when the flremen
took part in the tournament at Alta.
The boys won firsts there, bringing
home with them 5000 in prize money.
At Missouri Valley the following year,
in 1899 our boys brought back $3.50 In
prize money. That year they won three
firsts in the runs. They made the state
record in coupling also. Will Harrison
being the coupler and Clarence Nickel
lip the pipeman. The run of fifty feet
was made. couplings broken and nozzle
pu. on in five and three-ffths seconds.
the coupling made in two and one-fifth
second. At this tournament they broke
three Of the state records and won
more money than any other team COM
peting. The third tournament was at
Cedar Rapids. In this nIarshalltown,
charged with loading up with profess
sional runners, won two f1rsts to Shell
don's one first. three races being run
of the state belt.
Chamnion Pvthian Team.
For several years Sheldon was made
famous in fraternal lodge circles and
widely known to the citizens of iowa
generally, thru the uniform rank Of the
Knights Of Pythias. In the year 1899
the Sheldon team partook for the frst
time in the contest for honors in the
drill exhibitions thruout the state. The
first Of these contests was at Daven-
port. The Sheldon team took third. At
Cedar Rapids in 1901 they took first. At
Council Bluffs in 1903 they again ac-
complished that feat. In 1905 at Dav
export they were again successful.
This gave them the championship for
six years. The team was barred from
farther contests because Of the three
championships in succession. Besides
the honors and medals, tho team
brought back in prize money about
$4,000. These contests were between
the best teams In the state. At ono
time military expert made the state
ment that the Sheldon team he be-
lieved had the most perfect form Of any
body of men, military or otherwise, in
existence.
Sleeper Wins laursls.
In 1902 while at college at Drake. w.
n. Sleeper, Jr, carried away all Of the
hoEorS In the one mile and two mile
runs. holding state and collegiate rec
ords. His best time in the two mile was
1910 and in the mile 4:2s. These marks
broke the state records and were good
for ten years in all state contests, be-
ing surpassed last year only, and then
by narrow margin. Mr.. Sleeper par
t1cipated In the inter- collegiate field
meet in 1902 in Chicago, where the
largest universities in the United States
We're represented and took second place,
the first man winning by but few
inches. In this race he was thrown by
another contestant or he unquestion-
ably would have won first.
Successful School Orators.
Along oratoricai lines also. Sheldon
has been heard from to q distinguished
degree for several years, pupils from
the high school winning gold medals
upon various occasions in the state
meets. These contests first called for
success at home, the winner from here
going to the district meet and the win
ner in the district going to the state
meet In 1904 Miss Oma Button won
the gold medal at the state meet at
Villisca, in the humorous class of Sc
lections. In 1905 Victor Button won the
gold medal in the state meet at Grundy
Center in the dramatic class and in
1906 he also won the gold medal in the
humorous class. the contest being held
in southeast Iowa. Two successful vic
tories practically barred him from
further contests. In 1910 Miss Madge
Stoker won the state gold medal in the
contest at Waterloo in the dramatic
class. Thus out Of ten contests Sheldon
carried away nearly one half.
And Now the Prize Baby.
This year the state Is we'll acquainted
with the honors coming to Sheldon
from its possessing the prize baby Of the
state, Miss Marjorie Page. At the con-
test at the Iowa state fair at Des
Moines, this daughter gathered first
honors with score Of $50. the worlds
record in contests held under the
auspices Of the American Medical So