The Washington times., 1913-04-13
Frank A. Ruth Establishes a
Record for Twice Winning
Race and Making Marks.

Not single athlete who participated
in the long grind from Laurel to Wash
ington through the rain and mud in the
fourth renewal of the famous Times
News marathon race is today a wit the
worse for his experience.
After the race had been run through
twenty miles of rain and mud, and the
athletes We're visited at the Luber
Turkish bath no one complained Of feel
ing bad or in poor condition despite the
fact that many found the going too
much for them after they struck the
mud this side of Hyattesville.
!. Runners, officials. and spectators OF
the fifth Times-News marathon race to-
day combine in voting the event the
most sensational ever run under the
auspices of The Times and The News.
The fourth renewal of the greatest
race in this section of the country
was none the less exciting because II
was run under the most adverse weather
conditions. none the less attractive TO
those who braved the rain to watch II
along the route. or those who showed
stamina and stick-to-itiveness enough to
see the run through from Laurel to the
Munsey Building in Washington.
Frank Ruth, the Baltimore Cross
scribed his name with those of Enzor,
Mahoney and ElphinstOne, again DEM
onstrated that he is the best distancer
in either Baltimore or Washington.
Ruth proved himself heady runner. a
gamester to the core. Timing his sprint
to a nicely, he bore down on the leader.
Hitschew, at Seyenth and Pennsylvania
avenue. after he had trailed for more
than nineteen miles. and burst to the
tape as though he were finishing 100
yard dash.
Hiteshew was invinCible for more than
nineteen miles. maintaining a pace that
fought off all competitors, and was
forced to reIinquish his hold on first
place only after Ruth had taken his
heart out in a gruelling brush less than
a half mile from the finish. il was then
easy for Johnny Bolac. the Carroll IN
stitute runner, to breeze on by Hite-
shew, and the real race to the tape was
made by Bolac. who was but 20 seconds
behind the winner.
Stirring Struggle.
This struggle down Pennsylvania ave-
nue. from the Peace Monument was the
most stirring of all the races yet held.
At no time during the race could the
winner be picked for both Ruth and
Bolac looked good enough to win all
along the puddled. muddy road from
Hyattcsville to the Catholic University
and il was not until BOlac moved up
on Freddie Baer that it was noticed
Just how not the pace was getting o.
Just what these runners had in store
for the final burst to the tape.
Ruth. however. has done what 10
other runner has been able to accom-
pIish. He has twice won the Times
News marathon race. He holds the
IFal Rl
also has come in to this city IRON
Laurel in better time than any other
runner in Timcs-News race. Whine
the course is not the same as that
taken by Enz"r. the record holder. the
time made is nevertheless record.
Not in the history of the past four
Times News races have the weather
conditions been anything like those IF
yesterday. The race was run earlier
this year to please the runners, who
pctitiUned for il. There was a chang
in the course TO he considered because
the Eastern branch at BladenshurC had
come up over its banks and made IN,
pike impossible for runners and We
hiCles.
Change Route.
When this was learned Yesterday
morning the Washington officials were
forced to 20 back from Bladensburs
by way of Brookland and come Out
through north Hyattcsville to the Pike.
This neCessitated delay of an hour
and the course was then fixed 10 turn
off at Hyattesville before the station
was reached to make the running by
way of the Rams Horn Inn road. In
through by Catholic University, down
Lincoln street to North Capitol to the
Capitol Grounds and from there TO the
Peace Monument.
Bad weather cut the entry list down
to seventy. and those who thought little
of the rain. mud. and heavy going on
the poor road came out strong. The
start was made at II 20 from the Laurel
Hotel and the pace at the very crack
Of the gun was Of the kind that pre-
saged but small percentage of the
starters who would be able TO stand the
fast work that was cut out for them.
Lewis r. HtesChew Immediately took
the lead and led through BcltsVille. lie
was followed bV Ruth Baer. Rolac.
Williams, Scofield. and Healy. and the
procession followed In this order until