HAMILTON'S CHAMPION LOWERS THE RECORD
Jack Caffery's Great Victory in the Marathon Race at Boston Against the American Cracks
His Wonderful Performance Surprised the Natives of the Hub, Who Were Much Disappointed
Davis, the Indian, Finished Second in Fast Time - Hughson was Unfortunate and Had to Quit
MARATHON RACE - OFFICIAL TIME
Name. Club. Time
John Caffery, St. Patrick's A. C., Hamilton 2:29:23 3-5
William Davis, Hamilton 2:34:45 2-5
S. A. Mellor, Holywood A. C., Yonkers, N.Y. 2:44:34 2-5
C. Crimmins, Cambridgeport, Mass 2:47:15 35
John Lorden, Cambridgeport, Mass 2:51:29 3-5
T. J. Hicks, Cambridge, Mass 2:52:32 2-5
Patrick Lorden, Cambridgeport, Mass 2:55:49 3-5
J. McAuliffe, Cambridgeport, Mass 2:56:44 3-5
E. G. Russell, jr., Pastime A. C., New York 3:02:02 3-5
As a long distance runner Jack Caffery has a record that cannot be surpassed, and all Hamiltonians are proud of him. He has shown the world that the Canadians are made of good stuff, and that they are not afraid to test their speed, endurance and pluck against the athletes of any country or clime. In the Boston race were representatives of all nations, one of the runners being a native of ancient Greece. To win from such a field is a wonderful feat. Caffery's right to the title of champion cannot be questioned, he having won his laurels in fair competition and an open field.
Twice he has won the Herald's road race, lowering the record for the course around the bay each time, and yesterday he scored another glorious victory in the Marathon race. Where is there another runner with such a record? Caffery ran the distance, 25 miles, in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 23 3-5 seconds, establishing a new record for the course, his time last year being 2 hours, 39 minutes, 44 2-5 seconds. Caffery's time is a world's record for an amateur, but according to the Clipper Almanac Lew Hurst, a professional, made a record of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 27 3-5 seconds in the Marathon race at Paris, 24 miles, 1,505 yards, on July 8, 1900. The amateur record for the same course is 2 hours, 51 minutes, 48 seconds, made by G. Touquet. The amateur track record for 25 miles is 2 hours, 33 minutes, 44 seconds, made by G. A. Dunning, an Englishman. The professional record for the same distance is 2 hours, 36 minutes, 34 seconds, made by G. Mason. It's about time that the Clipper took some notice of Caffery's record in the Marathon race and gave him the credit he deserves.
Caffery's victory was no surprise to his friends, who knew of his fast trials, and the great condition in which he was sent to the post by Trainer Robinson, and they felt confident that unless he met with some unforeseen accident he would show the Boston people that his victory on the former occasion was well earned. No doubt the result was a great disappointment to the residents of the Hub, who pinned their faith on McDonald, a previous winner of the race, but the Boston man succumbed to the fast pace set and quit. The Hamilton champion is now in his 23rd year, he having been born here on May 21, 1878. Notwithstanding his success, he is quiet and unassuming, never boastful. He should get a rousing reception on his return home. The Spectator voices the sentiments of citizens when it says: "Well done, Jack, we're proud of you." There is some talk of sending Caffery to Glasgow, where there will be a long distance race in connection with the big exposition. Ned Hanlan and the late Bil O'Connor made the mistake of going abroad, seeking new fields to conquer, and perhaps it might be just as we if Caffery would rest on his laurels. In eulogising Caffery, the Indian, Davis, should not be forgotten, as he ran a great race, lowering the champion's record of a year ago. When he finished third in the Thanksgiving day race last year he was not properly trained, but he showed he could run some, and he received a careful preparation for the Boston event. His trials were so satisfactory that some of his anguine supporters had hopes that he would beat Caffery, at any rate they felt confident he would finish first or second. It was unfortunate that Fred Hughson had trouble with his ankles and was compelled to quit, otherwise the Hamilton runners would have made another clean sweep. Like Sherring a year ago Hughson set out too fast a pace. He is a game boy just the same, and deserves great praise.
RACE DESCRIBED
How Caffery Again Won the Big Event and Broke the Record
Boston, Mass., April 19. - (Special.) - In one of the grandest exhibitions ever seen in this or any other country, John Caffery, Hamilton's greatest runner, showed the thousands of people standing along the course of the Marathon race from Ashland to Boston, that it was within the power of man to travel at the rate of ten miles an hour. This young man from across the border is certainly a great roadster, for he overed the 25 miles in 2 hours, 29 minutes and 23 3-5 seconds. This beats the record made by him last year by a little over ten minutes. He was not the only Hamilton boy to break the record. William Davis, the Indian Pete Hines has been training for this event, being also inside the record, covering the distance in 2 hours 34 minutes and 45 2-5 seconds. His performance is wonderful, as Davis arrived in this city last night, and the riding which he underwent Wednesday did not help him any.
Fred Hughson, the third Hamiltonian in the race, fell by the roadside after running 23 miles. He ran a great race up to this time and was in third position. His ankles were in a bad way and troubled him over the whole distance.
Conditions Favorable
The conditions for a record-breaking were grand. Just as the boys started Old Sol peeped through the sky. There was no wind and the roads could not have been better. Sharp at twelve the word was given for the 36 men to start on their long journey. Hughson, Caffery, Crimmins, McDonald and Davis went away in this order. Hughson set a fast clip for the rest of the gang, and at the mile mark the leaders drew away from the rest of the bunch.
Hughson Set the Pace
At Framingham, about four miles from the start, Hughson was running in fine form, and Caffery was at his heels, dogging him. Crimmins and McDonald were close up, and Davis was one hundred yards behind the last-named. Mellor was ten yards behind the Indian. The rest of the field were strung out. It was evident at this point that the race was between these six men.
All along the line Davis was the man the people wanted to see because of the race which he belongs to.
Hughson Still Leading
At Natick, which is the eight-mile mark, Hughson and Caffery were running close together, and McDonald, following instructions given to him before the race, was after Caffery. The Indian was contentedly running in fifth position, and Mellor was there with him. At the gait set at this point the men were inside the record by about six minutes. Hughson and Caffery seemed very strong.
A Killing Pace
From the ten-mile point to Wellesley the leaders still kept up the killing pace and it began to have its effects. Hughson at this point, the fifteen-mile post, was laboring on his way to the boulevard. Caffery's trainers were quick to notice Hughson's condition, and on entering the boulevard sent their man in front.
Caffery Goes to the Front
At the half-way mark Caffery went in the lead. He quickened his pace and it was a pretty sight to see the young man Hamilton is so proud of literally eat the big hills that stood in front of him. McDonald also passed Hughson. Crimmins, an unknown proposition, was in fourth place, and Davis was fifth.
Davis Finished Strong
The Indian seemed to go stronger the farther he went. On entering the boulevard he was met by Denny Carroll, who paced him the last eight miles, bringing him up the hills into fourth position.
Caffery was running like a wild man, and the pace set by him was beginning to affect McDonald. Caffery, five miles from home, looked like a sure winner. He had a lead of half a mile over McDonald. Hughson, in third place, was having a lot of trouble with his ankles. Davis, in fourth place, was running the strongest of the bunch, cutting down the gap which the leaders had on him. On reaching the three-mile mark Caffery was in the lead by half a mile.
McDonald was second, walking, when all at once he swooned and fell to the ground. The pace which he tried to follow had killed him, and he had to be lifted into a carriage and taken home.
Hughson Compelled to Quit
Hughson, who, on being told of the condition of the man who was so successful in 1898, quickened his pace, and after going a mile he fell to the ground. He was lifted into a carriage and tenderly taken to the hotel where he was stopping.
Davis Finished Strong
Davis came along at a very rapid gait, the like of which has never been seen in this country. With the help of Carroll, he stepped at a very lively gait.
The Runners Interviewed
Caffery, when he arrived at the finish, was received by an outburst of applause. His final effort was made in the last 100 yards, and he finished as strong as a bull, showing that he was in no way used up. It is thought by a good many here that he can bring the record down to 2 hours and 25 minutes. When seen after the race Caffery said he never felt better in his life. He will go to New York tomorrow, and from there he will return home some time next week. Kanaly, the champion ten-mile runner of New England, greatly added Caffery over the route. He was on a tandem.
Davis, for a man that was only in this city one night, put up a great race. He felt in elegant condition at the end of the race. He went to Denny Carroll's house, and will spend Saturday there. Carroll's work helped him immensely, so Davis said.
Hughson, when seen at his hotel, was in great shape, and he said his ankles were weak, and if they had stayed right there is no doubt in the minds of those who saw him running that he would have been inside the record. Money was placed that the record would not be broken, and the Canadians picked up all such bets.
Caffery Is a Wonder
Walter C. Kelly writes as follows in the Buffalo Courier:
The Marathon race of 1901 is a thing of the past. Like many other athletic events, it will now take its place in the annals of the athletic almanac. It will be forgotten, as athletic events are, but the performance of J. J. Caffery will long be remembered by the racing enthusiasts who long to see the runners reel off mile after mile until they have covered the quarter of a century. Caffery is a wonder when it comes to running the long distances. He has all the other aspirants for endurance honors discounted, and it is a foregone conclusion that the little fellow is the best in the business.
Caffery is a Canadian. He first became known as a runner on this side in 1900. Few people over here knew that he was a traveler of no mean ability. When the Marathon race of last year was being arranged, an invitation was sent to the Canadian. He accepted and entered the race. Right from the report of the pistol he shot away and ran like a hunted deer. He was in excellent condition for a bruising race. He ran as the Bostonians never before saw the road pluggers run. Before the race was half over it was odds that the Canadian would win. He was traveling fast and was in fine shape. The confidence of the onlookers was well placed, for, at the finish, Caffery led by a comfortable distance. Not only did he win the race, but he was successful in breaking the record. He finished three minutes better than the winner of the race, held in the previous year.
This year Caffery again ran a great race. He led all the way and was never headed. At the fifteen-mile mark he was seven minutes under the record. He kept the pace and finished the running with a new record to his credit. When Caffery returned to his home last year he was given a rousing reception. But on his return this year it will be a positive fact that the Hamiltonians will go crazy with joy.
