New Britain herald., 1928-03-10
A YEAR OLD WAN
 TOPS MARATH0NERS
Has Best Time of All M En-
 trants in Big Race

. Bagdad, Mojave Desert, Cal, Mar. } 10 UP)-As the 141 runners re- l maining in c. c. Pyle's transton- l tinental footrace. strangest of mod = 9 ern caravans. set out today on the heat that was to end their first } weeks journey. Arthur Newton, A.
 year-old Briton. held a time lead. The veterans low mark for the first six days of the run, 107-mile journey from Los Angeles to Bagdad. was 31 hours and minutes. The : s4s.5oO in awards for the Los An-
 geles to New York trek will be bas- cd upon time elapsed.
 Olli Wanttinen. the 96-pound Finn
 stood second in time elapsed as the field set out today for Fenner, A
 miles away. He had required 32
 hours. 13 minutes and seconds to
 reach Bagdad.
 Ed Gardner. the Seattle negro.
 was third with 34 hours, 1 minute
 and 36 seconds.
 After leading in the early hours Of
 yesterdays lap. Gardner stopped at Ludlow for refreshments and & change of shoes. Newton passed
 him and Gardner finished second.
 Andrew Payne, the youth from Claremore. Okla., Will Rogers home town. finished third yesterday to take grip on fourth place with an elaps- ed time Of 34 hours, minutes and 22 seconds.
 1 The race has left it's mark on many of the athletes already. Nu- merous of them are footweary and their legs are bandaged. They are examined each day by the caravans doctors.
 The runners rest for time after breakfast before being started on their days jog. Waiting crews packed the cook tents as soon as the last men are started.
 Each days work has settled into routine grind. Little time is lost in getting the tent city on the move. Pyle's workmen hurriedly take down the sleeping and cook tents and stow them in caravan wagons which move on ahead of the runners.
 When the tired athletes reach the night control point they find rub bers, hot showers and beds awaiting them. The athletes are given an hours rest before being allowed to eat
 A huge tent provides quarters for 25o persons. Collapsible metal beds, together with mattresses and bed clothing are provided.
 Pyle, his personal staff and news paper correspondent. live aboard his $ S2o,o 900 land yacht. The interior of the cruiser resembles that of q Pull man car. Eight persons are accom- modated inside the vehicle and eight on the canvass enclosed roof.
 Two meals a day in the cook tent and one on the road are given each A supply car. carrying hot coffee, cold drinks and sandwiches, patrols the route and as it ap- breaches each runner he signifies or not he is ready for re- treatments.
 The runners frequently trot along okeLHeI, COiiNefSlNk at lnteFNdlS ana stopping at the same time for food ,r medical attention.
 At night, while the carnival is In progress, they are kept in the sleep ng tent by the caravans police staff. leaded by Stephen Ownes, captain of he New York National Professional ootball team.
 His aides are Bullet Baker. Red" Grange and Red Flaherty.
 Fellow countrymen of some of the oreign runners often greet them at tight stops and invite them to their omes for dinner.
 The carnival hasn't even been un- acked since the Barstow stop. The parsely populated desert country ners few. if any, customers.
 But once the desert is left behind he hurdy-gurdy men look for the ngle of incoming gold, turned their ay by the curious people who will 6 attracted by the novelty of the mt city.