Old Time Iron Men Tell of Days When Hurdles Were Hurdles

When the last discus hurtled into the Soldiers Field sward yesterday afternoon, reminiscences of other track days were beginning to be aired at the Algonquin Club. It was there that the squad of former contestants in I. C. A. A. A. A. meets gathered to discuss their chances in today's old-fashioned cinder events, and to recall their exploits on bicycles which have now become museum pieces and cinders which have long since disappeared.

Before the dinner each of the assemgled guests was given a certificate recounting the achievements he had hung up in previous meets. Henry McDevitt, a Dartmouth track star who was described on the program as being a lap ahead of all the other contestants, led a number of college songs, after which the meeting was given over to speeches.

Heading the list of Honorary Referees for the dinner last night was the name of Alvan T. Fuller, governor of Massachusetts. With him in the same capacity was Malcolm E. Nichols '99, Mayor of Boston. William F. Garcelon '94, a hurdler of first rank in the Intercollegiates of 1898 and 1894, in his office as official starter, told of the time when hurdles were hurdles, and when a hurdler had to be a high-jumper.

The principal speakers last evening were the former stars who are listed to take part in the grueling races which are scheduled to start at 2 o'clock this afternoon. A legion of stars returned to see the fifteenth anniversary of the classic American track and field contests, and most of them were to be found at the Hotel Algonquin last night, listening to and speaking of records which, they were all agreed would still be standing on the record books tonight.

Gustavus R Kirby, the man who as president of every athletic body in America has played such a large part in the recent history of track and field competition in this country, was the principal speaker of the evening. E. O. Stimson, the Dartmouth speeder who won the mile and the three-mile, one after the other, in 1876, told of the time when the Orange and Black team from Princeton carried away the first Intercollegiate title from Saratoga. He was followed by Dr. Graeme M. Hammond of Columbia, the iron man of American running. Although he did not figure in the first meet in 1876, it was in the following year that he accomplished the by no means inconsiderable feat of winning the 440 and the 880 and placing second in the mile his own efforts being sufficient to give the title to Columbia. He has won Olympic honors with the epee and the foil, but it is with spiked shoes that he will perform this afternoon, when he will appear on the Stadium cinders in a special half-mile race.