Evening star., 1932-08-21

minutes >13 seconds-is far below the
world and Olympic record set by Ia
bala. the Argentine, in the marathon
race which he won at the recent
Olympiad at Los Angeles. But some
where between $4,000 and $4,000 per-
sons scattered along the route through
Virginia and Washington were thrilled
as they seldom are thrilled at the sight
of these sturdy youths and rugged
middle-aged men plodding through the
heat of a Midsummer day over blister
ing pavements. footsore and weary.
forcing aching muscles on with iron will,
all for the cause of amateur sport. From
the start of the race these runners
worked their way through massed lines
of automobiles along the Mount Vernon
Highway and over the entire course,
threading their way in and out between
cars and plodding, ever plodding, toward
the distant goal They finished singly
and in twos and threes, worn out by the
grind, exhausted by the heat, feet sore
and bleeding, to be hurried into first
aid tent maintained by the District
Chapter. American Red Cross, and
rushed in buses to the Central Y. M.
c. A., on G street near Seventeenth,
headquarters for the marathon. They
literally ran their shoes of over the
hard pavements, some of them. and
borne on by the indomitable spirit OF
the marathon, wrapped handkerchiefs
around their bleeding toes and stag
gered on, to finish on cots in the first
aid tent, completely out.
Agee and De Bruyn.
From the time DR.. Luther H. Reich
elderfer, chairman Of the Board of
District -mmissioners, fired the start
ing gun down at Mount Vernon it was
apparent that Agee and De Bruyn were
out to crack each others hearts. The
rest of the pack strung out behind them
over the winding road along the Po-
tomac as the rugged Teuton and the
smooth running national champion
fought head and head over the first
miles. This they did in near record
time, for De Bruyn, who opened up a
ouarter-mile lead on Agee in the first
miles, covered that distance in the
staggering time for marathon OF %
minutes. The world record time for 5
miles is little mere than "a minutes,
and De Bruyn, running 26-mile race,
covered it in five minutes more than
world record time. At the l0-mile
mark, just after they had passed Alex
andria. De Bruyn led Agee by half
mile, the German covering the distance
in l hour l minute and 50 seconds.
Both were running strong at this stage
of the race, although Agee's feet already
were burning and he poured water on
them from cne offthe wayside stands
put up by the Red Cross. Behind them
plodded. methodically. and as if he
were running against a robot. the little
10 Iyaf1 yTric nf
ing them up and putting them down
like a machine And behind him run
ming in a group. was Martak. who had
not vet put on the burst of speed that
carried him up with the leaders at
Memorial Bridge and Hsines Pcint and
placed him third to the flying De Bruyn
ard John Semple.
De Bruvn rounded that turn at Hams
Point onlv few yards in front OF
Semple. Stopping for cup Of water
the German momentarily lost his first
place advantage to Semple, but soon
caught and passed him with Martak
running third. Far behind was Agee,
fast relinquishing the national cham
pionship he was to leave down there
in East Potomac Park They plodded
down Fourteenth street and up Con-
stitution avenue in that order. with
Wyer gradually closing IN on the trio
with these short, distance eating
strides. Up cruel Capitol Hill they
drove their tagging feet, De Bruyn
first, Semple second and Martak third.
Behind them the pack strung out even
back to the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
They rounded the Capitol, turned
east on East Capitol street, and some
where on Eighth street northeast De
Bruyn faltered. To the amazement of
the thousands gathered at that corner
Martak had almost caught the flying
German. At Second street, on the re-
turn journey to the Capitol, he had
caught him. He passed him as they