The New York herald., 1921-07-04
JAMES S. Mitchell DIES;
NOTED AS AN ATHLETE
Held Worlds Record for
Hammer ThroU for Years.

James Sarsheld Mitchell, for many
years holder of the worlds record for the
hammer throw and one Of the best in
formed sporting writer's on track ath-
letics. rowing and polo. died OF heart
disease shortly before noon yesterday in
Roosevelt Hospital. where he had been
for almost three months. For nearly
two decades he had been connected with
the sporting staffs of THE SUN and THE
NEW YORK HERALD. and was recognized
everywhere as an authority in the lines
Of sport endeavor to which he devoted
his attention. He was So years OF age.
Born il that district of Tipperary.
Ireland, which, strange to say, has pro-
duced every champion hammer thrower
in the history of amateur athletics. Mr..
Mitchell came to this country In 1888 at
the age of 20. He was the champion
weight thrower of Ireland at the time,
having followed the Davins and Billy
Real, and he proved his right to the
American championship soon after his
arrival here.
In his first appearance in this country
Mr.. Mitchell competing for the New
York Athletic Club. of which he was a
member continuously up to the time of
his death, threw the hammer 11s feet
IL inches. The missile later was found
pound weight. and in another competi-
ton few weeks later he hurled the
16 pound hammer 125 feet 10 inches. a
worlds record at the time. Almost an
nually after that until 1896 he inn
proved this mark until 1t stood at las
feet inches. and during all that time
he held the worlds record for the event.
1t was not until 1901. when John Flan-
agan appeared on the scene. that a new
record holder was crowned
Mr. Mitchell won the national cham
pionship at hammer throwing every year
from 1888 10 1896. inclusive. and then
again in 1903, after a lapse of seven
years. He also held the national title
and the worlds record for the 56 pound
weight from 1891 to 1897 and he took
three more championships in 1900. 1908
and 1905. In addition he held scores Of
metropolitan. Canadian and English
titles. Whether for height or for
distance, Mr.. Mitchell. unlike other
champions. always threw the Sc pound
weight with one hand, and very few
after his prime were able to beat his
performances with two hands. Among
other records he established were those
for the IA pound stone straight from the
shoulder and the AZ pound stone with
run and follow. He also competed On
for the New York Athletic Club.
In all probability Mr.. Mitchell would
have been the winner of the Olympic
weight throwing championships in 1906
had he not met with an accident while
on his way to Athens. A tidal wave
hit the steamer Barbarossa. on which
he was a passenger. and he was hurled
down several flights OF stairs. dislo-
eating his shoulder and sustaining other
injuries. He was unable to compete and
the winner of the Olympic event failed
to approach the records Mr.. Mitchell had
set in competition I'm the United States.
AS a member of THE NEW YORK
wife OF the late Abiram Chamberls in,
ported the Olympic games OF 1912 in
Stockholm and his articles proved to be
the most complete and most interesting
of all that reached this country. He
was the author of several authoritative
books on weight throwing and track
athletics in general. Mr.. Mitchell lived
at ESQ West 1921 street. Arrangements
for the funeral have not been COM
pleted.