The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

As tol1 u week ago, II tOok only one
GOOD distance runner to insure victory
for America in the long races at the in
,crrational meet of 1895, when Tommy
, conneff beat the best that England could
s,pply In the one mile and three mile
events. Captain Hugh Baxter was con-
fronted with a different proposition
when he looked over the prospects In the
s~prlnting division, In which the British
had formidable representatives in Brad
lev and Downer. both of whom had been
credited with shading ten seconds on
many occasions.
Bradley especially was a hard nut "a
crack, for he was built on the typical
lires Of a Splinter n in fact was the
one frs, class man that had been devel-
cped IN England since the days Of Jim
cowic and W. l.. Phillips. Big and
strong, the Englishman turned OF the
century In . 40 seconds on his native
heath and on nearly every occasion that
Re met Downer showed his superiority.
The problem that Captain Baxter had to
solve was to find the American Splinter
IL the many men credited with 10 Sec
a1ds that would shave even time in the
bg meeting and put the century race to
tbe credit Of the Stars and Stripes.
In tina year wen time men were
plentiful, but back of all the reported
asst times was the usual doubt AS to
'he condi tions prevailing on the day Of
he race and the accuracy of the timers.
There was only one Thin 10 be done and
that was to gather all these great
s~printers on the raver Island track
under the care Of Mike Murphy and de-
'emine which was the most reliable
nan 70 carry the national banner.
Crouch start Invented.
Right at home the New York Athletic
Club had a clever short distance run
icr in Tommy Lee. who had been gradu-
ted from the ranks OF the Young Mems
CHRISTIAN Association to the New York
&C. Tommy VAS one Of the most popu-
ar runners that ever wore the winged
'oot and in addition to his natural speed
vas gifted with q head piece far above
ne ordinary thinking machine bestowed
On plain runners. 1t was Tommy Lee
who was the first to recognize the ad-
yantagc Of the crouch start which had
b.eH used in practice by Charles IL.
sheriff., the Yale runner. sparrow Rob-
fTAEN4 dEEf AAiaN ~ - h'h@ s'f'e
nan 10 use the crouch start in an actual
ace. and the veteran starter should
nov. as at that time he was called on 10
start more races than m other pistol
lo.der.
The club officials realized that. though
Tommy WAS capable of even time at his
pest. a shade under that would be Heces'
.ary 10 outfoot the speedy Britishers
Acanvass of the country showed severa
nen with even time records and eacl
vas invited to take UP his home a
+ Travers Island and train for the big con
tests. There were many who believed
ma, Tommy Lee would hold his owl
igainst the best that could be brough
rom outside and when John V. Cruui
he Intercollegiate champion. was men
.ioned as the first recruit, the writer. de
ending on the owe of Lee. wagere'
thu, Crum would not win the 100 ut TN
nternatioual Games. Crum did not win
hu, 10 thanks We're due to Tommy Lee
s, I. was Bernie Wefers who came u
ne front IN q remarkable manner ate
mining some disappointing trials INA
/, early led 10 his beins dropped iron
ne team.
Americans Inconsistent.
r find "A reliable nan for the 100 an
a=' y a Ais NiN oAh' ~ $50 ''''
nat Captain Baxter had to solve. Fo
very sprinter on the island came wit
hg reputation from his home tow
~. one day one OF the bunch woul
.tov his heels to his fellows. only to =
beaten off the next There was no dout
ma n order to beat the Brittshers IN
american representatives would nav
20 b, on edge, and the in and out pei
:ortUances Of the speed artists nal eoac
4 and captain guessing all the time.
addition To John V. Crum Of Chicago
he West supplied &. w. stage OF CleN'
ant. an athlete who later became a bi
.sgue baseball umpire. stage had wo
40 r|atiOual 100 and 220 yards chan
riorshlps in 1898. but a long lay OF ma
dulled his speed and he never real
slowed tn top form that would warrai
s heinr selected as the best OF u
,prNtiug division. .
Stage, like Wcfers. was one Of n
carly arrivals at Travers Island, b.
though both worked faithfully the 81
Nation looked 80 serious less thar
month before the day set for the game
hat q hurry call was sent out for 70
orn hopes. The Intercollegiate chan
ZION, Crum, came on from Chicag
where hr hth been credited with woi
1erful time on the Saturday prior
labor Day. II looked as IL Wefers an
stage both would toe back numbers whs
rum, after Il tlrcsome railroad Journe
slipped out 10 the New Jersey \.
labor Day meet and won the speci
'm yards scratch race from Wefel
md others. The victory was a mas
n the pan, however, for Wcfers WI
9rst home in the national champion
hip aDou, "a week later. and IL * "A ma
'"r Of history how the New England
'-!WUphrI IN the International spril
faces.
Perhaps the strangcst member OF u
s~rrnt.nE colony was little Goodwin. &
abbreviated bundle OF muscle and spe'
who came up from Louisville, KY. wi
he reputation OF having smashed ev'
me for tho century. There was not
lfs 70 this little individual except spe'
ana nerve. lie was away from q
mari like a fash. and there was a gre
n DO on the Saturday before Lab
"a Wh,n the little stranger beat DO
100 and stage IN a dash at NIFTY yarc
ne wonderful speed shown 10y the III
''l'w '.l Nike Murphy 10 think IN
' 'fe h..luCkIan had been found |
.'sA'r 90 tine problem 81 beating I
"'-l 70 spriutcrs. Goodwin turned o
morning glory able 10 blossom Z
'N' tho ~Iurtrst period. lie could "
'iN Yards Tx" chain lightning. b
Levy 40 then. and the further he we
..' 'li'5"r ne finished bchind the 9th
Performers.
"""dwin's Weakness Learned.
Wtr ll tHc race on Labor bay that I
~N'HHhr~. % iOOdwin was discOvert