Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-28
TWENTY YEARS ON
 THE GENDER PATH By JOHN D. NOLAN.

An article, mislaid in the series of 1891, describes race which came near terminating my career on the cinder- path in 8 most tragic manner Early in the month of August, 1891, l was in- duced to go to Albany, N. l.. to run a race with the since famous Jim Smith of that city. I was met at the depot by sporting man named Jim Corners and several others. and taken to Island Park, mile track where I ran 8 half mile trial in I'm. 68S.
 This pleased them and they tried to arrange a half mile race that night with Smith, but in this they failed. The following day I ran & mile for them in Am 32s. That night they suc- Ceeded in arranging a mile race with Smith for $1o0 g. side, & week later. Two days after this was sent another mile, and succeeded in doing it in Am. sos AS the American professional record was Am. 23 12S. this trial made my supporters feel very confident. but the hard trials were sapping my strength, and 1 was five pounds under my running weight, To make matters worse, a steady downpour of rain for three days before the race left the track 8 veritabie field of mud owe which they Pelt 8 scraper just before the race. The conditions just suited Smith, who was 9 young giant, N eigh- ing in condition ITO pounds. Before the start Smith and his packer, Will liam Kearney. proposed an equal divi- sin of the gate money, to which I agreed; but Corners and his friends rejected it. At 4 o'clock p. m. we were ordered to the mark and were off at once, Smith leading to the quarter in Inn. 5s. I then passed him, and, run reached the half mile in 2xn. 12s., and the three quarter pole in Sn1. Els. Here Smith began a long ,spurt, and for the first 300 yards l ran at his shhoulder, but his great strength served him we'll on the heavy track, and he drew away by i've yards in the final hundred yards, winning in Am. 29s., within a half second of the American record. It was said that Smith had run his trial in Am 22s., and l believe he would have duplicated the feat in the race dad the track been in good condition.
 Smith at once issued 8 challenge to run any man in the world @ mile race for $500 a. side. The gate money amounted to $100 over expenses and Smith insisted on my accepting half. This angered Cnners, who left the grounds at once. while a number of us paid 8 visit to St. Agnes cemetery, nearby, to view the grave of the fam sszs pugfifst, John C. Heenan, where an imposing stone of Scotch granite MArks the final resting place of one of Nhe greatest and the most unfortunate fighter America has ever produced.
 Shortly after the race was over the Smith people warned me to beware of Corners. whom they said was capable of committing murder when under the influence of drink. disregarded these warnings and went to the hotel, where J retired about Il o'clock D. III. About an hour later I was awakened by rap, and upon opening the door was con- fTON7fed CnnnaFd and tEwn others q in a state of infoxication.
 Before had time to speak, Corners raised his arm, and I saw 9 pistol pointed straight at my breast. knew 1t was coming, and felt queer sen- eatfon had never known before: but as I saw his eyes close leape6 aside, and l felt sharp sting in tee right leg above the knee, and dropre4 to the hcor. Thinking l was dcaG, dor, tho gang rushed from the hotci, ws,Ech rSs in an uproar at oEcG Seei1g %as not seriously injured. : 1xcned eq1 tlle clerk pounded on 5ne eCcf a1s6 9aaksei, if anyone was inj1rsd ss, ,ftlsa sysfslt. replied in the negative. a.Itls 1key ae,4s away. ! slept sodndly diia Tacaad2g, when left for home, arriving the Iel- lowing day. a little stiff from the ef- effects from it. h65FsyeF, and thres weetzs later wont the mile and t#e paiie races at HamDdsn park, Spring Aeid, Mass, and & week later won tfs half nafis raee at ths eoynty fair in Norwich.
 The pieasdTabls pastfns of telling how they will finish in the coming baseball races will be far from a cut and dried affair, The Feds have drained sottaS of 0ssF best eaHfendess in such a fashion that 1t is hard to forecast the October EetHrRs. How ever, ik will take more than this to ba1k the critics, and the battle will be on in another noHth, PittsbHrg, of course, will receive the usual eonsid- eration until Matty numbers up the fedsawey ia ths fIE game