New-York tribune., 1922-01-29

|unie Wefers jr., who inherits his
aher's stride on the cinder path.
he Winged Foot is an especially ft-
Ing emblem, for the Wefers family
Sew attain the praise OF their great sires
-Pope's Odyssey Of Homer.
n CORE one for Pope. Now, let's turn a
few leaves in the history of sport. 1t
~ is the summer of 1895 and a large
crowd has gathered at little cement
hack on the outskirts of Atlanta, Ga. to wit
xss a card of bicycle races Five events are
b be decided and special race over the short
route has been added for Western Union mes
snger boys. This is supposed to be the "cir-
kus' race, so 1T is put on first to give the spec
8ators laugh
! After considerable wait, due to the in
#hity of the novices to maintain their equi-
hrium on the banked track, the large field is
Emt away. In front is a slender, blond haired
ungster who is keeping in a straight line
Id peddllng with a smoothness and power
nat carried him over: the finish line fifty
Hds ahead of his nearest rival. The NUM-
s on his back was eleven, and the program
slared him to be Bobby Wathour, who was
aklng his first start in open competition.
I Bobby then pleaded with the director of the
T aet to be allowed to start in the other races
! as was not bit discouraged when told that
aese events were for seniors and persisted so
nat finally it was announced that Bobby
{Sould be an added starter in the next event,
/ quarter mile dash.
What am about to tell you will read more
IKE fiction than truth, but the fact is that
"althour not only won the next race but
swept the card Of six events in his first ap-
pearance on any track. It was performance
Chlch many have dreamed of but few have
accomplished, and the blond youngster was
Shceorded an ovation.
mat was twenty-six years ago. Last Octo-
ass this veteran rider shattered the 100-kilo-
meter races at Leipsic, Germany. while hi,
f"' Bobby Jr, was winning the amateur
z4aanplonship of America at the Veldrome in
svark, parallel probably unequaled in
fportdom.
old Bobby, as he was called by followers of
sport, is one Of the greatest riders that
0sF straddled saddle. Early in his profess
a'aal career he turned to the motor-paced
@ne where the monetary returns were high
NJ For two years he held the national
%'or'paced title and in 19O4-'O5 he wa.
4snplon of the world, being the first Ameri-
~ TO reach that goal
Experts say he would have been wonder
u sprnter had he not followed the motors.
'sol, when Frank Kramer first won the
E"'as title, Old Bobby, without systematic
'~'A'ng' gave the East Orange wonder man"
''s@' battle on the Vailsburgh track. At the
1as game Walthours record has only re-
-s;s s.s 0een equalled by Alfred Goulet, whose
s W. was the sensation of the recent grind
~ sau'son Square Garden
3,an.a ee years ago Bobby jr. made his first
69.., 's:ance on the track. He had no such sud-
Sh. 'Se 70 tame as his father experienced.
2sd H., VI lhe famous sire was awkward and
h. "sse speed and many other faults John
4, .A,""' manager Of the Newark track and
aen' admlrer and friend of the boys
|A.ss. LOOK an interest in the youth, who
b ~ an unusual amount of courage under
L.ns nS0oy jr stuck. He worked hard. took
i IL. nasty spills, and it seemed impossible
ke,sn him. In competent hands he
sss sa@ 20 develop into real rider. and tho
4, a Just closed saw him crowned kino Of
Ssts amateurs. He has now graduated % to the he
d sJsss'0nal Jss ranks and is riding successfnl1v
"eA' cnapter of this survey of famous