The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-21
RAY u|MBERS
FOR BIG CAMPAIGN
Will Defend Laurels Against.
Stars in National Senior
1000 Yard Race.

CHICAGO, Oct. 22~-Undismayed bv
two defeats administered by Mike De :
Nanney in as many races at the flag
emo OF the outdoor season, Joie Raw Is
mobilizlng his strength for an arduousr
campaign on the board floor, Report
has 1t that the C~hicago's track wizard
intends to shelye his running shoes
months before the revival OF the
Olympic games at Antwerp, Belgium,
but no v~erification as to when he in
tends to stop has been Forthcoming from
Rays first important engagement be-
hind closed doors will be the national ,
senior thousand yards, in which he willis
DEFEND his 1918 laurels against such
good local middle distancers as Devan-1
ney, Jack Sellers. Homer Baker and }
possibly Eddie Fall, the former Oberlin .
youth, who made Ray run at his fastestl
on Franklin field recently, to annex
TIE national mile crown in new cham a
rionship figures. "a
Ray defeated Devanney and Fall last
year handily, covering the route in 2m.d
lis, which time equaled the late John
Overton's 1917 record. The dead mariner
made his figures on a Philadelphia
board floor track, or which occasion he
showed his heels to Ivan Meyers, a club
mate Of Rays, and several other good
men. a.
Many close followers of athletics bes
lieVe Ray runs his best on the board
floor. They point to his great number
OF accomplishments in the three indoor
seasons to prove the argument. In that
space Of time he endeared himself to
the hearts of the athletic populace by
his many stirring victories over dis
tances from one thousand yards TO two
miles. He holds the indoor records for
one and a half miles OF en-, 40 3-5s, as
well as the fastest time over the two
mile trail of 9m., IL 2-5s., both Of which
Raw mazda In tho annra NJ fxan 11Outh9
two years ago in the Madison Square q
garden. s
The senior indoors may be held in
Madison Square garden or the Twenty +,
second Regiment armory early. next
March. There is talk of transferring
the meet to Brooklyn. but that is prob,
lcmatical, The championships usually
draw well in New York city proper
whereas shifting them across the bridge
might hurt the gate receipts. Fire der
partmept regulations forced the COM
mittee two years ago to close the doors
and keep u several hundred persons
who wanted to see the games. M.
Ray IL a good attraction In New
York. He is very popular in the metro
politan district. Years ago the fans
used to flock in great numbers every
where Mel Sheppard. George Bonhag
and William Kramer were billed to com.
pete. Then came Ted Meredith and
Abel Kiviat, followed by Kolehmatnenr,
and last. but not least, the inYineible
chap from the stockyards. The 'speciar
match race between Ray and Overton
two years ago threatened to eclipse, the
attendance in the garden that saw the
stirring duel fought out between Harry
Hillman and John B. Taylor, but IN.
element weather Kept many away.
The three cornered match race over
the two-mile route between Bonhagi
Kramer and Louis Scott almost packed
the amphitheater four or five years
ago. With the revival of the New York
A. G. games the famous match races 4
OF the past may be duplicated. The
Winged Foot people usually go after
the Big stuff, and it is possible Ray will
be asked to tackle some record or other
"a balance the regular program. nv