The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-05
HOPE HARMSEN
WILLCHALK UP
A NEW RECORD
Son of HaZen Man Declared
One of Fastest Dash Men
In The World

Rolf Harmsen, son Of R. N. Harm
sen Of Hazen, may establish new
worlds record in the hundred yard
| dash if he can cure his one defect,
| slow start. His slow start is Occa-
stoned by his inability TO hear tho
pistol shot, but if the gun is fired u
lew feet from Harmsen his sensitive
skin can feel the vibration in the
atmosphere.
j. Frederick Meagher, writing in
The Chicago Herald and Examiner,
tells of the Hazen boy as follows:
World athletic history was in the
making when two understood but
evenly matched sprinters took daily
practice together more than twenty
years ago in Washington, D. c.
The Georgetown Splinter, Arthur
Duffey, was shortly to achieve death
less fame as the first human to
travel 100 yards in 1915 seconds. The
other diminutive speed merchant was
Alva Long, deaf-mute student of
Georgetown's neighbor, Gallaudet
College, the only institution of high
er education for the deaf in the
world. He might have starred in
nearly equal measure with Duffey,
but, discouraged by his inability to
outrun his then comparatively un-
known opponent, he set1red from the
track forever.
Becoming a teacher in the North
Dakota State School for the Deaf,
Alva Long adopted a peculiar hobby.
I'll discover and develop a boy to
better Duffey's mark if it takes the
balance Of my natural life," he
avowed.
For twenty years Long patiently
experimental with every pupil pros
pect in the little state, and now at
last his efforts are in fair way of
meeting with success. His prize pu-
pill is Rolf Harmsen, who did O:94-5
in every start at Gallaudet College
this spring and is entered in the
national A. A. u. championships next
week under the colors of the l. A. C.
Harmsen's starting form is so poor
that he has been practically cleft at
the post" in every start, sometimes
having to overcome as much as four
yards lost due to slowness in leav-
ing the mark.
This four yards spells all the diff
terence between 94-5 and 92-5 Sec
onds, which would be a new worlds
record.
While this statement looks pre-
posterous at first sight, an analysis
proves it accurate. The 94-5 second
Splinter covers approximately eleven
yards per second, or slightly over
two yards every fifth of a second.
Ihe loss of four yards at the start
OF race, by winner who finishes
IN o:94-5, is practically the loss of
2-5ths of a second. Therefore it
would seem that the new. I. A. C.
speedster-off to perfect start at
the top of his FORMS capable of
o:9 20, or at least O:9 $40.
Coach Johnny Behr is laboring
with his deaf Dane every afternoon
on Stagg Field, and hopes to cure
this one fatal flaw in a lawless fv-
ing machine on two legs. If the
starters gun is fired few feet from
hafmsen his sensitive skin can feel
the vibration in the atmosphere "a |
iea4y as normal men feel it
through their ear drums, so deafness. |
persse, is no great handicap.
Inc deaf lad is 10, stands 81 and
weighs $50 pounds. Although hand. |
some boy, when running his face is |
twisted into hideous grfmaces as he
covers the ground With gigantic
leaps and bounds.