The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-11

I1dll1CQ OlQNCoOE
or Oldshoes or something. A little
later on when civilization began tt
move forward and third basemer
cut their boards, Mr.. Pickens bally-
hooed the first racing airplane.
OF late Mr.. Pickens has sort Of
wrenched himself away from the
cold industrial phases of promo
tional work and gone over to the
finer and better things. The recent
"Bunion Derby" for instance, was
one of his brain children. One OF
his soft-brain children, as you might
say.
Mr.. Pickens had rs per cent
interest in this unfortunate en-
terprise, which, according to my
latest information, not only made
a frugal, conservative man out of
Mr.. G. C. Pyle, but reduced the
latter'S young business associate,
! Mr.. Harold Grange, to such cir
cunstances that he will turn to
vaudeville this winter for succOr.
DUT is Mr.. Pickens downhearted
ID because his share in the enter
: prise when scaled down to dimes
and dollars did not amount to
enough to buy a monocle for a
blind pig? You can just go and
tell Senator Helm or anybody else
he isn't.
IT am gratified to know that at
least I was partly responsible for
keeping the runners out in the open
air." Mr.. Pickens said simply Some
of them needed it,"
1 had not been discussing the af-
fairs of state with Mr.. Pickens long
until realized that he was cooking
up a new racket.
Presently Mr.. Pickens reached a
stage where it was possible to per-
suade him to disclose the details of
his inspiration. You will be stag
gered. Mr.. Pickens is determined
to go the "Bunion Derby" one bet
ter or one worse as the Indictment
may read He has arranged to pro-
mote river swim from st. Paul to
New Orleans beginning next June.
MIR. Pickens assures you this will
really be worth while. He admits
there may have been something
silly about running from Los An
geles to New York as the
BuiOneers did, but he contends his
threatened swim will contribute
much that is of importance to the
fine arts, science, surgery and even
the Tilden controversy.
INSPIRED perhaps by The success
l. of Mr.. Ziegfeld's spectacle, it is
the plan of Mr.. Pickens to precede
the runners in an immense show
boat. At each stopping point the
boat will drop anchor, and custom
ers lured across the gang plank
When the paddlers paddle by it
will be easy to see them from points
Of close eye-range and amid at
tractive conditions.
Mr.. Pickens is convinced the chief
reason the "bunior derby" was a
monetary failure is that the prin-
cipal part of the Show-the run
ning-was out in the open on the
main highway, where every one
with eyes bad or good could see.
While a river-particularly the
Mississippi-is almost as public as
a highway, it is in most places q
bit wider, and while Mr.. Pickens
gifted as he is, could not move the
highways to points of comparative
seclusion, he thinks he will be able
to get the same desired results ir
his swim by keeping the paddler'
close to the far bank.
unless you are on the boat al
you can see is a head-and whats
a head?" demands Mr.. Pickens.
Practically nothing, I should say
in circumstances such as these.
Mr.. Pickens will be assisted In
the promotion of his race by
Norman Ross, formerly the worlds
greatest middle distance swim
ner. He also says tempting con-
tracts will be dangled before the
startled eyes of Gertrude Ederle
and Johnny WeissmulIer to give
exhibitions en- route. He also says
If you are still listening-that
$4,000 in prizes will go to the
Vuivav1arc