The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-04-27

An interesting sidelight of the re-
cent Willard johnson heavyweight |
bout at Havana, Cuba, was the appear
ance of Felix Carvajol, the Cuban long
distance runner, at the ringside. Jar
vajol's reputation as a runner in the
United States is based upon his feat
in finishing fourth in the Olympic
Marathon held in St. Louis in 1904. Al
though defeated by Thomas Hicks, Al
fred Corey and A. L. Newton, all under
American colors, the Cuban ran a won
derful race when his handicaps are
considered and had the honor of be-
ing the first of the foreign entrants to
finish.
Previous to the race Carvajol was
mail carrier in Cuba, who logged ov-
err his route at steady and apparent
ly tireless trot. He first attracted at
tention when he ran the length of the
island in remarkable time. AS a re-
suit of this feat a few friends raised
enough money to send him to the Unit
ed States for the Marathon in connec-
tion with the Olympic games of 1904
Carvajol landed in New York with just
enough money to purchase his meals,
not realizing that St. Louis was not
part Of New York city.
| In order to reach the scene of the
race he was obliged to spend his food
fund and arrived in st. Louis without
Il penny. He had not eaten for two
DAYS previous to the race, which he
ran in heavy street shoes, a colorless
cotton shirt and his only pair of trous-
! crs. cut off at the knees. Without as
sistance or an attendant the unknown
Cuban dog-trotted along the course,
stopping frequently to beg food and
water from the spectators, At one
point he spent fully an hour in Q
roadside apple orchard. Despite thes"
delays Carvaiol finished in fourth
lplace. the freshest of all the runners
lit was the general opinion that hac
he been properly attended and coached
Inc would have won the 1904 Olympic
marathon easily
Today Carvaiol is guide and runner
!, for Havana s leading hotel Still trim
J and bronzed he can trot mile, after
mile with little apparent effort, blu
admits that he is too old to run in tht
next international marathon. He ex
presses regret IN a casual way that h
was not prepared financially and other
wise for his st. Louis race, which HI
still believes he could have won IL
p easy fashion. Carvajol is conversan
lW1t6 dJllpIlCS Ill DOln Inc OHltC'
States and Europe and will spend al
evening discussing in broken Englisl
. the performances of the stars of tn
) cinder track One chapter of his ath
: letic career is sealed, however, for Car
vaiol will not tell how he managed t
return TO Cuba. He simply shrugs hi
shoulders and changes the subjec
when questioned on this point of hi
: invasion of the United States.
d
The first day of May is marked I
an athletic sense by an unusual nun
Der of important amateur and profe'
sional contests in all parts of the cour
e TRY. In addition to the long list of co
lege baseball and track meets in tn
n South, West and East there are event
scheduled of more than ordinary in
> portance. On the Pacific coast tn
n Panama Pacific open golf champion
Iship will be won, weather permitting
! and the exposition polo tournamer
= viii end. At Annapolis the Unite
~ Estates Naval academy crews will eros
; oars with the University of Pennsy
:, vania oarsmen, while amateur ira
Il shooters from all parts of the countl
,e viii be competing for the amate'
championship title at New York.
" Final decision on the part of a nur