The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-21
Negro Splinter Shows Re-
markable Come Back at
the Conference Games
TWICE RETURNS AND
STARTLES ATHLETES
Was Married and Father of Two Chill
dren in Springfield, Mass, When He
First Attracted Attention as High
School Racer.

School Racer
The remarkable athleticss comeback
of Howard Drew, the Negro Splinter,
running in the colors of Drake univer-
sity, at the, recent Championship meet
Of the conference colleges, is undoubt
edly the outstanding feature OF the in
tereollegiate. Track season. BY winning
both the 100 and 2a0-vafd dashes from
the fastest fields that the western col
sleges could boast, Drew DEMONSTRATED
that his victories were not due to either
accident or lack of Formidable op-
ponents. If any further proof were
needed, the time would amply attest the
high standard of Drew = sprnting, as
he ran the loo in 10 seconds fiat and
the 220 in % % seronds.
When it is taken into consideration
that Drew is IS years of age, and has
been competing II years. during which
time he has won numerous victories and
egualied world Is record time in both
these events, it can be. seen that his
latest triumphs are little short of ath-
letic marvels. Born in Lexington Va,
June 2S, 1890, Drew began his track
career at the age of u and twice since
| that date has broken down in COMPETE
tion to the extent that led to re-
| ports that his sprinting days were end
ed. Each time he has refuted these
| statements by returning to the einder
| path and startling the athletic world
with brilliant performances and vic.
tories.
Drew : einder track record has been
! as sensational as his recent "come-
back. He first sprang into national
| prominence while a student al the
| Springfield, Mass, high school in 1911
He Won several short races that season
and the next year startled athletic
sharps by running dead heat in the
| 100 with c. 4. Rice, another youthful
sprinting phenomenon, in the wonder
/ fil time of 8 40 seconds. This attract
led the attention of the late James +
| Sullivan, then the head 6fsthc Amateul
! Athletic Union. who immediately hac
Drew pointed for the American team
then in formation for the Olympic
games at Stockholm, later in the sea
son. The Negro responded TO the eff
forts of his trainers by winning tn,
loo-meter race at the eastern tryout
| games in 10 40 seconds. defeating boil
| Craig and Rice in the final.
Upon his arrival with the American
| team at Stockholm, Drew continued Il
show sizzling speed and won both hi
heat and q place u the finals of the 100
meter. in II seconds without being hare
pushed. He pulled a tendon, however
before the running OF the final in whiel
all three places were won by Americans
the order of finish being: Craig, Mey
er, LIppincott, and the time 10 As.
After his return to this country h,
entered the University of Southern Cal
ifornia, for which institution he ha
won many honors and points. Will
there he equalled the world s record o
9 So for the 100 and q Is for the 22G
As a member of the varsity team h
twice attended the University of Penn
| sylvania Relay, Carnival, winning tn
100 in 1914 and 1918, as well as the run
ming broad jump the first season. Wit
the exception of Arthur Duffy 0
. Georgetown, Drew is, the only sprinte
to capture this event twice.
His career has contained a humble
of interesting sidelights, for he wa
) married and the father of two childre
; while still high school student. II
! earned, his way through school by sery
, ing as a bell boy in hotel during OF
hours, and his first pair of sprintin
shoes were made by himself. After sec
: ing competitor with a real pair o
] running shoes, Drew took two old shoe,
cut the tops off and by driving shor
nails through the soles produced hi
first pair of spiked speeders. Appal
emily there is no limit to Drew S abilit
and resourcefulness.