The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-06
MIKE MURPHY DEAD
Greatest Trainer of Athletics Died at
Philadelphia on Wednesday.


MANY as the greatest track coach
and athletic trainer that America has
ever known, died in Philadelphia
this afternoon from a complication
of diseases. Never robust, although
a developer of Drawn in others,
mike" Murphy had been in i'll health
for fifteen years and eight years ago
was virtually at deaths door. DR..
Robert G. Torrey, the former foot
ball star. who was Murphy's physi-
clan. was with him when the end
came.
Murphy's illness dates to the Penn
Michigan football game, more than
a year ago, when he accompanied the
Penn team to Detroit and attended
the game in binding snow storm. He
caught severe cold, which settled
on his lungs. He was advised to go
to the South and while there had two
or three relapses. Despite his weak
ened state on his return here, he
wanted to attend the Intercollegiate
meet at Cambridge last Saturday. He
was so stirred up when he heard OF
the Penn victory that the excitement
is said to have been partly respon-
sible for the final fatal attack.
When news of Murphy's death was
received at the University of Penn
sylvania the flags on the university
buildings and fraternity houses were
lowered to half-mast. All athletic ac.
tivities were ordered suspended I'M
til after the funeral, which will be
held on Monday at 10 O'Clock from
st. James Roman Catholic church.
in West Philadelphia.
Born in Southboro, Mass, in 1860
Murphy became the trainer of John
l.. Sullivan before he was 25 He
early branched out into varied lines
of sport, however, and during his
career had charge of the American
| team at three Olympic meets, includ
ing the victorious team of last year
Almost numberless successes won
for Murphy the informal title of dean
| of American trainers.
He had charge of the combined
teams of the New York Athletic club
and the University of Pennsylvania
which represented America in the
| Olympic games in Paris in 1900
| the American team to the LondoI
| Olympics in 1908, and the American
team to the games in Stockholm IL
1919. Murphy was also the trainer
of the New York Athletic Club team
| which defeated the London Athleti,
club team in duel track meet IL
1895.
Murphy became physical directo
of Yale in 1887 and had three year,
of success there. In 1890 he accept
| ed the offer OF the Detroit Athleti,
| Club to become its trainer but ate
three years returned to Yale. Late
he came to the University of Penn
| sylvania. He remained in Philadel
phia four years, and then went bacl
to Yale, but returned here In 1905
and had been at the University o
Pennsylvania ever since.
In his early career, while the train
er of John l.. Sullivan. Murphy cor
ceived the idea of finding man abb
to defeat the pugilist. He searche
for a year through the wilds of Car
ada and the lumber camps of tn
great Northwest, but he failed to fin
his man.
Murphy brought entirely new idea
into his work and was the originate
of the crouch start in sprintinl
When with the Detroit Athletic Cru
he brought out John Owens, the frs
man to run one hundred yards in
AS seconds. He also made Bernie
]. Wefers the holder of the world
record for 22O yards. In the oil
days he had charge of nearly all G
the six-day runners, and he used {
say that the oldtimers could ru
thirty miles before breakfast, thirt
before luncheon and thirty befor
bedtime, while present day runner
ran a Marathon about once a year
Murphy himself, at the age of tive
ty, travelled around the country, el
tering in the six foot races whic
were then in vogue He soon
came one of the best six-day men
the country. A few years later b
put in practice some ideals Of hi
own regarding the sbuject of trail
ing athletes. He opened sma
: training establishment at his hon
and Immediately abolished the use
: stimulants TO men about to engage
athletic contests.
Soon his fame came to the attel
ton of A. b. Cox. known as II
father of Yale athletics" and Co
r in 1887, made him an attractive OF,
to come to Yale as athletic directo
During his first year at va
Mikes" team broke six records, an
!, in the two years that followed
: fame as a conditioner of men" b
{ came known the length OF the cou
: try.
Countless stories have been VIZ
ten of Murphy's methods. In is,
Steve" Chase, of Dartmouth. 7
ported to Travers Island, where h
American team was training. Cha
: wanted pie, and when he couldn't z
it drove away from camp in a hu
Realizing that Chase was n pie eat
= from New Hampshire. Murphy fora
!, ed around until he found a slice al
: with 1t in his hand ran after Chase
horse. The pie brought Chase ba
and he bacame a world beater.
Murphy abandoned the old idea
! working and steaming his men III
E mules. He made Il plain to eve
7 man who came under him that
= clean body and mind had as big
part In success as muscle. He hi
u self was a devoted family man a
mingled little with the profession
: sporting element. His broth
= Tad" Murphy, played baseball vi
4 the Giants some time ago.