Alton High School - Tatler Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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the end of this excursion that the first race took place, and, as it was the only one not on the program, it was also one of the most exciting, and everybody without shelter took part in it. That was the sprint to get under cover when it began to rain. All stood waiting until the storm ceased, under anything that would afiford a protection to their “glad rags,” lamenting the fate that had sent rain at such a time, but soon the shower stopped, and the sun came out, leaving the track in very little worse condition. The officials quickly called the fifty-yard dash, and the great battle was on. Allen for Alton, remembering the defeat of the year before, won in a walk from Dial, the Granite City man, although he thought that, as in former years, they were running in heats, and this was just the first heat. The time was 5 3-5 seconds. Then came the shot put. That seventeen year old boy Howe, threw for Granite City, and, although he thought that he was playing baseball when he picked up the shot, he put it only 44 feet, 3 inches. The 440-yard run was now called, in which Paul ran for Alton. It was the fault of the crowd that he did not do better in this, but before the race was over, the soectators swarmed out on the track, and, getting in front of him, prevented him from making his usual whirl-wind finish. Beatty of Granite City, took first place with the remarkably slow time of 58 seconds. L. . Enos represented Alton in the pole vault. This statement tells the whole tale for who does not know what will happen when Enos enters the field? It hardly need be mentioned that he won the gold medal, clearing each height with the first attempt, at no time hard pressed by any competitor. The Granite City man, Varnum, the invincible ( ?) had to content himself with second place, although Enos had to go barely 10 feet, 2 1-2 inches to win. The next event, the 100-yard dash went the way of all the races in which Allen was concerned. He covered the ground so fast that in 10 4-5 seconds he had distanced the second man, Dial, of Granite City, more than 10 feet. The third man to straggle in was the Madison representative. Baker. Louis Enos is also noted for his kindheartedness, and, as this was the first meet in which he had yet appeared, he had not acquired that callousness of heart, which his brother before him displayed in taking all the gold medals. Besides had he not one gold medal which H. M. L. might wear? This explains why he relented, when he saw the looks on the faces of the other men who competed in the standing broad jump. Snadden, who jumped 9 feet. 6 inches, was permitted to beat him, much to the delight of the ‘‘Collinsvillians.'’ In the hurdle race, the judges seemed to have forgotten that they were officials, for although the rules governing this event were violated, nevertheless it was ignored, and on account of this negligence, Prince did not do himself justice. Varnum, the Granite City man, won this event in 15 2-5 seconds. Varnum won the high jump, the height cleared being 5 feet, 4 inches. 11

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Fifth Annual Meet Of the Madison County High School Association, held at Collinsville, May 10, 1907. There is an old Maxim, If you sow an act. you reap a habit this was never more clearly illustrated than in the Madison County meet of 1907. In 1904. our victory was so overwhelming that the other contestants worked early and late to win a few of the honors the next year, but in 1905. the result was much the same. The way in which the Alton men seemed to win with no apparent effort on their part, had a tendency to discourage the other participants, and so. in 1906, as they were the guests of our sister city. Upper Alton, out of courtesy to her, it was deemed best to sacrifice the pennant for one year. We loaned it to Granite City, just to keep up interest in the competition, but like most kind and generous deeds it was easier to repeat the next time. A little undue carelessness caused this to happen the second time, when on the sixth of May, 1907. the various high-schools of Madison County assembled at Collinsville for their fifth annual meet. Everybody looked forward with highest anticipation t ? the time when we should once more compete for the banner which hung so long in the hall of our predecessors. When the great day arrived, the whole High School turned out bright and early, and hurried down to the City Hall, each afraid that he would be left behind. There were several extra cars to carry the Alton delegation, and after much good-humored pushing and crowding, we boarded and the journey was begun. Here was one time and place when the athletes had the best of it. for everybody was determined that he should have seats, and even women and girls exchanged places with them and rode standing. Everyone was so busy that we reached Edwardsville in what seemed a very short time, and as we passed through, we did our best to impress the inhabitants of this burg with the importance of Atlon High School. But soon we continued on our way, accompanied by t'.ie Edwardsville rooters in another car, and, arriving at a “settlement. which the conductor called Collinsville, we descended at our destination amid a general storm of yells and tooting of horns. Many of the enthusiasts went to the opera house to hear the intellectual contest, which began almost immediately after our arrival, while others strolled around the village, finding here and there scattered individuals who wore other colors than the good old red and gray. This seemed to denote that some other of the numerous colonies of Madison County were represented. The track team, however, retired to the so-called hotel, waiting for the afternoon when they would perform. Noon had not long departed before the great crowds began to make their way to the place where the athletic program was to be held. There was plenty of cars running to the grounds, which were about a mile out. and we were soon transported to the fairgrounds. we were told, but we found when we descended from the car, that we had to walk fully a quarter of a mile, through some good farmer’s wheat field before we arrived on the scene of action. It was near 10

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The half mile came next. Paul's second race. About halfway around the course, the Granite City man was in the lead. Upper Alton second and Paul close behind him. when the Upper Alton man turned and saw a smile of discouragement on Paul’s face—that is, a smile of discouragement for him, because at once Paul quickened his pace, overhauled Upper Alton, and would soon have overtanken Heattv, had the race been a little longer, but contented himself with second, after giving Granite City the scare of her life. Xeininger of Alton threw against Granite City’s little fellow, Howe, in the hammer throw. Again, people wondered what was the matter with the judges, for they measured the distances with a very short piece of tape, and then guessed at the one who should take first. In looking over the contestants, they thought that Howe looked as if he could throw the fartherest, so they gave him first, announcing the distance as 137 feet, and retired Xeininger. who had never known defeat, to third place, much to the disgust of the onlookers. We all knew what to exoect when Stanley came out to run 220, although the Granite City rooters still deluded themselves into thinking their man could run. The contestants saw with sinking hearts that they were running against Allen, and their fears proved well founded for he ran away from them with ease, and won in 23 4-5 seconds. Dial, of Granite City, pulled down second place, with Baker of Madison third. It had grown so dark for the running broad jump that nothing definite could be settled, but the official records sav that either the Collinsville man, Snadden, or Parr, of Granite City, deserved the gold medal, and that the longest jump was 19 feet. 3 inches. Late as it was, the half mile relay, consisting of four 220-yard dashes, was run, resulting in the first for Granite City, second for Alton, while the remaining point went to Collinsville. The final score showed that Granite City had come off victorious, and Alton was again second, while Collinsville, Edwardsville, Upper Alton, and Madison brought up the rear of the procession in the order named. Xow we admit that Alton carried her generosity too far in allowing Granite City to carry off the banner the second time, but that school deserves much credit, as she worked herself up from last place in 1904, to the exalted position of honor in 1906 and 1907. The thing for 11s to decide is that we shall wish all others well, but see to it that Alton comes into her own in May when the great day again rolls around’.—M AR T! X BRISTOW. Official Score. Intellect mi! A t li l« o.l ic Granite City 15 Granite City . 67 Upper Alton . 8 Alton 7 Alton . 34 Madison . 5 Collinsville 2 Collinsville 9 Highland . 0 Highland 3 Edwar Jsville . 9 12