Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-05-01
HUGE CROWD SEES FINN
BREAK AMERICAN RECORD

Paavo Nurmi, the famous Finn
whose frail legs and stout heart have
made him the most talked of athletic
figure in the world today, thrilled a
crowd of more than $4,000 persons at
I the Coliseum last Saturday in the
greatest track-and-field meet ever
staged in America. Running with
that clock-like, monotonous but new
ertheless beautiful stride which
seems to belle the mans eccentric
: tiles, Nurmi was forced to break the
three mile American record in order
to beat the California Indians from
the Sherman School over the dreary
three-mile route. His time for the
distance was IA minutes, is 9-10s.
It is doubtful if any of the 49,
900 spectators who witnessed the af-
ternoon's entertainment went away
the least bit disappointed in the fam
Gus Finn.
Enthusiastic Crowd
It is also doubtful if the great rum
ner ever performed before a more
enthusiastic audience. The crowd
completely filled the lower seats
around the entire Coliseum and as
NurTni sped by he was alternately
cheered md handicapped through
the entire twelve laps, 1t was an in
spring sight to see the worlds most
famous athlete clicking off lap after
lap midst the deafening applause Of
tthe lRfeatest' track crowd i1stlie his
itory Of American athletics. But thru
lit all ePaavcss expression never chang
led. Trne his brow grew a bit warm
/ and Rfter nine laps hs opened his
mouth once or twice-fiot to talk
but to take in a little fresh air, but
his stoIid features remained the same
during the long grind. He stuck a
wad of gum in his mouth ut the start
and was still chewing 'nonchalantly
when someone brought ever two i'm
mense floral offerings less than q
minute after the end of the race.
Local fans have seen very few
three-mile races. Many haYe wit
messed events of two miles duration
Generally they are bored at the af.
fair, the last lap when the runners
uncork sprint being practically the
only time any attention is given the
athletes.
Yesterday everything was different
The eight Indians and Nurmi went ia
their marks. Bob Viewers starting
gun barked q feeble crack and they
were off. Thomas Humphrey, q
stocky, determined Hopi, took the
lead, followed by Arena !, Begay and
Hoyowesva. .Nurmi was running
fourth. The crowd got a big laugh
as Nurmi turned his head to one side
peek at his ever present stop watch
raised his right hand and took q
He followed the same procedure
practically every time he passed the
finish mark.
Humphrey was running second al
the start Of the second lap. Nurmi
had moved into second place. As
they rounded the second turn the
Phantom Finn slid silently past his
pluclky Indian rival and from ther
on all the Redskins trailed the Euro.
pean star. He finished the mile in
Am SOS. Humphrey hung on gamely
but Paavo kept widening the gap as
the race progressed. At the start OF
the fifth lap Heilman, Shawhan and
Elwood of u. S. C. and Rentchler Of
Pomona, fell in close behind the Finr
and pushed him around the track for
a mile and one-half, but Nurmi gave
no sign that he even knew they were
there. On the tenth lap Paavo Tapped
Arthur on his next to last tirns
around the oval slid quickly past five
other Redskins. That left only Hum
phrey and Billy on the same lap al
the famous visitor.
Running with the same motion and
stride that characterized his appear
ance on the opening lap Nurmi fairly
i coasted across the finish line, three
quarters of a lap in front of Hum
phrey. Paavo stopped short, wake,
to the center of the field, picked III
his sweat clothes and was thel
swamped with flowers, photograph
ers, requests for autographs ans
everything but some Of the hair Of
his head.
4 The Indians really made q remark
Z able showing for beginners-whieh il
what they are. Humphrey gave ,
gritty exhibition and for youngste
Of 10 years ran a marvellous race, be
ing but IS seconds behind the Crea
j Finn.