New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-18
ATHLETES OF YESTER-
YEAR At OLD GAMES
Vie with Youngsters on Track
and Field at a Real
Reunion.
BUERMEYER PUTS THE SHOT
Chippie Crew Sits in Shell at
New York Athletic Club
Celebration at Travers
Island.
BUERMEYER PUTS The SHOT

Athletes who set the sea- Of fame upon
Travcrs Island, the men who hung up
records in the days when American sport
was I'm It's swaddling clothes. assembled at
the famous track Of the New York Ath-
lctic club, up IN Westminster County,
yesterday, and held a reunion 70 com
memorate the twenty-nfth anniversary Of
the great Geld.
Not only were the men who have
striven i'm the forefront of American ath-
letics there, but in the great gathering
every age shade and condition Of sport
was represented. from Harry T.. Buer-
meyer, the founder and first champion
at the shot put, hale and hearty at the
age Of scventy-four years, down 10 the
latest Olympic competitors. such as Ben
and Platt Adams. along with the fleet
footed stars Dick Edwards, Ollie De
Gruchy, Dan Kuhn. Homer Baker and
others.
Tho past and present champions We'd
good naturcdly on the track. and no one
in the crowd that friuged the grassy
amphitheatrc was moro ready with APP
plause for the oldtimers than the young
sters
Eddie Carter tho long distance runner.
whose record for five miles stood for
more than twenty years, stepped nimb,y
around for a lap. Ills stride and form
for half that distance were beautiful.
Then age began to tell. and the old cham
pion was pulling at bit AT the end of the
lap.
Harry Buermeycr one OF the charter
members Of the Mercury Foot organza-
ton, would not get into athletic toys.
llc condescoudcd 10 take of his hat.
however, and try a few shot puts with
Bernie Wcfers, also an old shot putter
and now the coach of the New York
Athletic Club. .. /. Richards. formerly
one Of the hurdlins champions and now
the president OF the state Bank. went
over and fondly caressed one Of the
timber gates, but he could not be in
duccd 10 try a flight. That sort of thing
is not for dfty-eight years of age" he
remarked. Dan Stern, the champion
walker of 1876, was content to attempt a
short exhibition Of the heel and toe along
one side of the track.
sam See. who used 10 run and skate
when Travers Island was young, was
satisfied with his present speciality OF
firing the pistol for the starts. Or.
Graeme VI. Hammond. who used 10 run
the ~ yards; George Swagler, the
hurdler: Johnny OBrien, w c. Downs
the phenomenal quarter-miler OF two
decades ago; Hugh IA. Baxter once the
greatest Of all American pole vauIters:
Jim Mitchell, the old champion with the
hammer and weights, were all content TO
look on while a lot of youngsters took
part in an impromptu series OF contests.
Down Al the boathouse there was
crowd Of the Old oarsmen swapping
stories Of the famous races Of other days.
4 miycaIculation as TO the tides made II
impossible 10 hold any rowing contests
for the boats were not equipped with
wheels and the stretches between the
Travcrs Island shore and Glen Island pre-
scented mud fats. sand streaks and rocks,
so the rowing men took il out in tal6
The real entertainers were the men,
bare Of the famous old "Chippie" crew
Again the sweep oarsmen We're In their
glory. They got out a big she'll and sat
I'm it-iust FOR old times sake. AT bow
was. f.. W Knickerbocker. No. - Il
Wanacht; 40. 3, J. w. Spalding' NO. l.
J. McDongas; No g. Billy Inglis; No. o.
Mart Austin: No :, j. Cremer, and stroke
Gene Gianuinni The coXswain was Or
Fd.ar Freeman Al but No. , were on
hand and the absentee sent regrets that
ne was compelled TO remain in Europe at
such an important time.
There was banquet I'm the evening
vaudeville show and the big indoor dining
room had be,n cleared for dancing. The
athletes. all as young as Travers Island
ever was, made the most Of the festivities
All of the veterans were presented with
commemorative medals Of silver strung
from silIlen bands Of cherry and white,
tho club cOlOrs