Atwood Hammond High School - Post Yearbook (Atwood, IL)

Page 29 text:

Giliff guys, and beleive me, they are going to give us a hard pull, if the reports concerning their prowess as athletes can be relied upon. That fellow standing just to the right, and a little bit apart from the bunch, in a light suit is Fleet. He is the the fellow that is going to give you one of the toughest races you ever ran. You can bank on that, for I was over at Giliff last week in the car, and I saw the fellows in practice. I noticed Fleet especially, he is one of the easiest runners you ever saw. and his speed is hard to hack. Laury looked the fellow over, who was going to give him ’“the run of his life, and had to admit that he had the appearance of a very capable man. But Laury had come to this decision: “Fleet may beat me but I am going to do my best. Then if he hits the tape before I do he will be sure to receive my congratulations.' Laury and Billings sauntered on up town, parted at the public spuare, and each hurried on toward home, so that they could be back on the grounds at two o’clock sharp. Two thirty o’clock had come at last, and the meet was on. The crowd was the largest in years. People had come in their cars for miles around to see the contest. Though a little contrary to the rule, the half mile run was to be the last event in the meet, and would, no doubt, be t he most exciting one. It was alarming how the “Giliff guys’ were taking some of the events which the home team was counting on so much, having won the majority of the dashes and the pole vault. But they were not “there,” when it came to the weight events. It was four o’clock. Only the half mile run remained, and the meet was over. The crowd was in a state of great excitement. Some were “rooting” for the “Giliff guys” and some for the home team. The score stood 35 to 37 in favor of Giliff. If Mandan failed to win the half mile, the meet was lost. The start and finish of the half was just in front of the grand stand. It was a half mile track, and was in fine condition. When Mandan appeared for the “line-up ' at the start, he was cheered again and again. He knew that the victory depended on him. It was a great moment. As he stood there he looked like a perfect athlete. The referee sounded his whistle. Silence reigned. They were lined up for the start. Mandan took a last glance at the grand stand. Did he recognize a certain figure about half way up, whose eyes were strained in his direction? He was not sure. Only a few more seconds remained. The referee raised his arm. “Get set,” and the pistol cracked. They were off. Mandan’s plan was to keep stride with Fleet, or possibly a few feet behind, until the finish, then do his best------The crowd sat with breathless interest, straining its eyes on the runners as they made their way around the track. Mandan and Fleet were running neck and neck, only one runner was ahead of them, and he was slowly but surely falling behind. He had made that fatal mistake of setting too fast a pace at the start. The runners had long since passed the quarter line; Mandan and Fleet were in the lead, running side by side. The crowd leaned forward. The runners were coming around the bend now, on the home stretch. They are coming in on the sprint. Mandan falls slightly behind. He realizes that he has about met his equal, if not more. Can he do it? For the sake of the school! He takes a last glance at the swaying crowd. His eyes are straining for a certain person. Yes! There she is. She waves her handkerchief. That is enough. He is inspired. Yes! He can now, and he will. They are nearing the finish. Mandan springs forward. Now he is even with his antagonist. The crowd goes wild. He crosses the tape but a head in the lead. He had won the day, the banner what else? He is almost smothered by the crowd that rushes forward to congratulate him. But this is all inferior to what is coming. The people were now rapidly leaving for home, going hither and thither. Mandan walked to the gymnasium, changed his clothes and started for home. When about half way there, someone came up behind him. He turned, slightly startled, under the impulse of the moment, and felt a tremor go through his body, for who could it b? but Ethel Gillard? She extended her hand and asked him to accept her heartiest congratulations. Winning the half mile not only won the meet but the girl tco. Hurrah for Mandan! was the cry all over the old town that night. Merton Suffern ’15

Page 28 text:

HOW HE The tiresome day was coming to an end at last. It was four o’clock. The students of the Galesburg High School were being dismissed, and they were a merry bunch, I must say. The students had just received their reports. Laury Mandan glanced over his and smiled, put his books under his arm. and started to leave. In the hall he met his English teacher. Miss Warren, who stopped and asked him if he was pleased with his report. More than pleased he replied, “you have more than done me justice in English. “Oh no, she said, “I simply mean to give everybody a square deal. Laury passed on down the hall, and was soon on the street going home. The smile had faded from his face. “Why should she treat me this way? This thought was running through his mind. Ethel Gillard, “his steady had dropped him. He knew not why. Was there another or had he fallen short? That very evening she had sent him a note, which read as follows: Laury, your company for Thursday night is not needed. —Ethel. He was certainly in a dilemma. Upon reaching home, he went to his room and flung himself in a chair. He glanced at his desk and his eyes fell on her picture, “Ugh,’’ he grunted, “I have that much of her anyway, and it always did flatter her. He leaned back in his chair and picked up an evening paper which lay at his side. While glancing over the sporting column, he gave a start. The Annual Dual Track Meet of the high schools of Knox county was to be held the following Saturday, on the home athletic field. According to the reports in the paper, the Giliflf high school, their strongest competitor, had a man, Fleet by name, who had in practice run the half mile in two minutes and nine seconds. Now Laury was the half miler on the home team, and this record set by Fleet was just one second DID IT less than he had ever been able to make' Laury pushed the paper aside, ran out, jumped on his bicycle, and started for the athletic field. He had thought, that he would not practice that evening, because of his ill luck and poor spirits, but he knew that the more practice he got in, and the better his form, the greater the chance he would have of winning that half mile run. Upon arriving at the grounds he donned his track suit and put in a good evening’s practice. As he went home to supper after practice he thought that he had been a little more loyal to his school, for who knew that the winning of that half mile, might mean the winning of the meet. He practiced every evening after school the remainder of the week, and during this time he had lowered his own record two-fifths of a second, making it two minutes, nine and three-fifths seconds, but he thought that he was capable of giving that two -nine -man a tough run to say the least. The sun rose the next morning (Saturday) into a cloudless sky. Only a slight breeze was stirring. What a day for the meet! Laury Mandan rose at six o’clock, took a plunge, and ate his breakfast. The meet was scheduled to begin at two-thirty o’clock. Shortly after twelve, Laury, with one o f his fellow students, Billings, took a stroll down to the athletic field, to take a last glance before the meet. The competitors from the various high schools in the county were arriving. but only a few of the great number of spectators, who would be certain to witness the contest, had arrived as yet. Laury and Billings were strolling around, not paying much heed to the other fellows on the field, when Billings stopped suddenly. Something had attracted his attention. What was it? We were soon to find out. “See that bunch of fellows over there talking, Laury, he said. Those are the

Page 30 text:

BASKET BALL TEAM 1912-1913 From Left to Right: Wyeth, Sub; Offenstein. Guard; Moore, Forward; Fisher, Captain) Forward; Biggs, Guard; Wilson, Center; Niedermeyer, Coach.