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Show . i Sooth African Is a Wonderful Sprinter when he gets here all the New York foam blowers have arranged to meet the young giant at the duck in Hobo-ken, Hobo-ken, where a parade, consisting: of members of varlou German societies and Turnvereln organizations will start, preceded by a full brass band. Did R. E. Walker, the South African sprinter, really run 100 yards in 9 2-5 seconds, and 120 yards In 11 2-5 seconds, sec-onds, and la he faster than Arthur Duf-fcy Duf-fcy and Bernle Wefers were at their best? are questions that have created more Interest among the followers of sprinting than any event in the past few years. Two of the greatest records at two of the four standard short distances, made on the same day and by the same sprinter, and he practically in the limelight lime-light but a single year! Shades ot John Owen, Luther Cary, John Crum. "speedy" Rush, Bernie Wefers and "Billy" Schick, our preat 9 4-5 seconds men; and Arthur Duffey, the real amateur 9 3-5 sprinter, and "Piper" Donovan, the real professional man of the record class! These last two champions more than two yards slower than Walker, and tho first squad of real wonders trailing four yards back! Yet why not? Records Rec-ords are being broken frequently, and this has been a fast year; yet the writer writ-er has seen too many new record men exploded to be anything but "from beyond be-yond the Mississippi." The feat is possible, but nearly all critics are Inclined In-clined to wish the feats repeated, the timers interviewed and the watches tested before the marks go on the record rec-ord books. Walker Is Great. If there is an amateur sprinter living liv-ing who has a chance to establish the Siegfried will be escorxcu to an ifu barouche, which will be drawn by-four by-four sturdy hoises, and a gala day 13 In store for him. His first appearance on the mat in this country will be at Madison Square garden on Thursday, January 28. against two of the best heavyweight wrestlers, whom he will agree to throw within 30 minutes actual wrestling timo or forfeit $500. Tho Inducement should; attract the attention of John Plenlng, "Joe" Rogers.' "FYed" Beel, HJalmar Lundln and Raous de Rouen. Tho appearance ap-pearance of the 'big foreigner will arouse an unusual amount of Interest in the wrestling game, particularly as TrofesBor William Mouldoon will appear ap-pear in tho capacity cf referee. In the meantime, word comes from London that Frank Gotch, tired of trying try-ing to force Hackonschmtdt In'o a match, is coming back to America to wrestle Yuslff Mahmout for the world's heavyweight championship, and the contest will take place In Chicago Chi-cago during- March. The Empire Athletic Ath-letic club, of which Joe. Coffey is matchmaker, proposes a purse of $10.-000 $10.-000 for Gotch and Mahmout, and both will accept for March. new marks it certainly is Walker. He Is the best of any amateur short distance dis-tance man in the" limelight today. He proved this at the Olympic games in London last year, when he won the 100-meter dash against the pick of the I world and equaled the world's record j for the distance. After that he toured tho British Isles with universal success and startled the wona oyr uemn umeu i"u jmua iv Abergavenny, Wales, in 9 2-5 seconds. An investigation showed that the course was downhill and a bit short. The record was not allowed, but it furnished the best comparison of the relative merits of Walker and Duffey, who in his prime wa3 the best of tho amateur sprinters. When Duffey was touring England he went over practically the same route that Walkor did and at the Abergavenny Aber-gavenny meet startled the world by winning the century dash from a field of champions in the sensational' time of 9 15 seconds. No one over here believed be-lieved that Arthur had covered the dls-tane dls-tane In that time. Yet It was a comparison, com-parison, and to get facts Arthur Duffey Duf-fey has been Interviewed regarding Walker's performance Duffey Tells of Race. "Arthur, do you think Walker broke both those records and that he Is faster fast-er than you were for the 100-yard dash?" was asked. "We e-1-1. I don't know. You see " came the thoughtful answer. "Never mind telling how much you hate to see your mark go. Get down to business and tell about that race In Wales when you ran the 'distance in 9 1-5 seconds." "I can do that." said the little record-holder. "In 1901 I was touring the British Isles and was Invited to compete com-pete against the best available sprint-ters sprint-ters at the Abergavenny sports in Wales, which Is the big Wales meet. In the race were such fast men as Morton, ex British champion; Lundy, ex-Welsh champion; McLean, the Scotch champion. . I was on scratch and conceded marks to all the field. During the meet a drizzling rain fell. Tills caused the powder In tho starter's gun to dampen and the gun could not be discharged. After several attempts, by consent of the garters it was decided de-cided to start the nice by the use of Scotch games, but It was the first time I was ever up against It, "Well, it wa6 cosy, aud wo all got a good start with the 'boom.' Tho first ; half of the distance was level and we , wero all bunched. The second 50 ; yards was down grade, and when wo l struck it it was a case of run faster j than I ever did before In my life to prevent falling, and the time won glv-1 en out as 9 1-5 seconds. The track was , remeasured and found to be a bit short. Of courso I claimed a new record, and ( of course I never received it. "I do think that 9 2-5 seconds will be accomplished, and Walker seems to be the sprinter to do It. When I made i the world's record of 9 3-5 seconds I felt that I had 9 2 5 seconds in me. for I was beaten by the gun and was standing- still when It was fired. Tills , lost me two foot, and If I was a fast J '3-5' that day it meant only two feet . faster to have the watch show me oqual to Walker's 9 2-5 seconds." |