AN OLD-TIME RUNNER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 58

AN OLD-TIME RUNNER.

BILL LANG.

j There are probably few of the old brigade alive _ who have seen so much varied ser- . vice in the professional ranks as Biil Lang, "the crowcatcher," who, according to the> j "book," may be entitled to the description ;of England's greatest long-distance footj runner. Like many others (says Sporting i Sketches) he has had fortunes in his hands, ! but always showed a disregard for future , demands. His career in public will proI bably never be known- in its entirety, and ! it may be reckoned a certainty that his ; trials for his backers in private are sealed for ever. Many who survive the historic days when wagering on pedestrians was one of the delights of the sportsman may be heard^ asking, "What ha's become of Old Bill?" At 65 years of age he has been relegated to the Salford Workhouse, where ho is at the time of writing. Many of his reminiscences are more than interesting. Born at Stockton-on-Tees December 22, 1839, and being in the neighbourhood of Newcastle-on-Tyne, he got into touch with a drum-major of the 100 th Regiment. There was a Welshman who had done several gigantic things in his own country, accordi ing to his own confession, and although approaching 40 flattered himself he could 1 run. The drum-major thought he could not. After considerable argument the Welshman said he would run anyone within 10 miles over a mile of ground. "Why," said the military man, "Ive got a babe ia arms that can beat j t ou, and give you a start." "Aeh! you pc plowed," returned Taffy. "He shall give you 30yds in thc< milo," persisted the major. "Then I will run him, pc he ash. old as Adam," was the) rejoinder. When the "man" came on the mark the Welshman said with disgust, "Why, this isb. a boy; you make a fool of me!" Then up spoke the "babe" with a collection of

comprehensive epithets. He was about 16 years, old. He told hie antagonist he wouloj. beat the old -josser like a crow. But the "old josser" icould run. The youngster held him for a circle and a-half, and .alongside him moved his-' arms like an engine crank, to about 200 yds from home. Then; with an audacity all his own, lie tapped bis' man on the shoulder and shouted, "Come on!" and away he went to the post. The Welshman tumbled on the grass exhausted. When he" recovered he put hisa^arm round Lang, and said, "You perfeo' wonder ! Come with me to "Wales. We^will win pile of money." Young though he was, Lang managed to get matches, and soon attracted .attention of th© astute division. Contemporary with a group 'of the foremost runners, he more often than not came through, a winner. He met and defeated such as Soundexson, Jimmy Hancock, Jack ■ Brighton (Norwich milk-boy), Bill Richards, S. Barker, C. Mills, Paddy . Stapleton, Louis Bennett {"Deerfcot"), Harry Andrews,, Siah Albi«on, J. Neary, Bob M'lnstray, and others. That keen judge of moneys worth, George Martin, soon had Lang among his troupe of pedestrians. Not very long after hitching him- on he was made, as he expresses it, "boss" of_the lot, at a salary of £10 a week. This will give the present generation .an idea of the value of professional runnjng about the middle of last century. Lang, like most of the others, got rid of his fcnoney quickly. Such an idea as saving it was never dreamt of. When business - began to- fail- Martin intimated that the «alary _of the "boss" , must be- reduced, *nd accordingly.- he" safd, "Lang, your wage is.-£7."" . '"Are' they?" replied the crowcatcher; "then I'm off!" They; were af Boston, Lincolnshire, at the tune; and • "Deerfoot"_had been" doing - big. things. ' Lang" went to : him, and challenged him to- : run ie miles if the Indian would. concede 100 yds start. The "distance was -reckoned too far for the -Englishman, and,- haying the money behind him, Martin found the stake for "Deerfoot," ac he was .certain, he thought, to win. He was kept in strict training until the day of the race, which took place at Lillie Bridge. When Lang arrived at 'St. Pancras he had 2s fed in his pocket, and had only a week to prepare. In that time he reduced himself nearly a stone, and was thought much weaker than he would have been with a more careful preparation. The news spread about, and -everybody predicted "Deerfoot's" rictoi Ta ng kept the Indian -well in hand' and when, nearing ths finish he shot to the front. Martin^oausrhTTiitn comin? round* and called out, "Drop back a bit; don't win by too much!" "I'm going to win!" shouted Lang. Martin saw the K ame was op- It was a desperate finish, "Deerfoot" did the 10 miles in 51min 36sec, and the 12 miles in lhr 2min 2isec.' I f9f 9 *¥ u^ er the athletes of those days had for danger, news was brought Le ? g that he had to run Sf apktcra i a mdc for £50 a side. The former was a*, the time laid up with quinsy. His proprietor oame in and said, "I want you to run Paddy Stapleton. Can you run as well *y°H t /* 7~T on such and such a d ay?" "WelL I don't know," said he. "You sec m*. Ive not been out for. a week, and I've just- had. my throat lanced.'^ " Can you do v"'w tET "^f u 1 ' 11 W was the repry. Th* next day he ran a feriaJ The aiafchr had ba-a made,' and' he would nofc forfeit on account of a quinsy. ."When they got- on the track his pr>r*rietor sidled up an* aud, "Paddy's instructions are to keep in hand to 300 yds from home, and then to finish/ -'Then I. shall win." responded the invalid. And wia ho di 3, for when the signal wa3 given Lang shot to the front and won from end to end.

Probably the mast striking incident in his career, at anyrate th© one most talked ebout, was the race alon« the Newmarket load, when he ,clid a. performance hitherto ■unequalled. - Be- -covered a mile in 4-min 2sec, and that figure remains on the books to this day. Many distance runners have taken objection to the conditions, 'but there has never been a satisfactory reason why the- exeellenc-a of the feat should not receive the fullest acknowledgment JHis own rough description is full of hranan interest. The principal objection to th.c race- . being rejrarded as -on-e of tbe marvellous feats of long-distance pedestrianism is that the road is slightly down Kill, but it should be remembered Ihafc a turnpike read is not a carefully-prepared cinder path. Amonig those present on the occasion were Jem Me.cc and George Martin. The latter ha,d "touched out" among the distinguished racing clientele, and discovered a man who w-as good for a wager. Be went to Lang and said, "I want you to run a mile here on the road, and I want you to do something." They took him out a few evenings afterwards, and ran a trial. When he wa3 approaohins; the end he was told to " ease a bitr" "Now," said Martin, "how much can you pull out?" "Oh! 20-' ya.rds about," was the reply. "That'll do." called out Martin, ans he straightway hied him bo a person and said he had a man who could do a mile on the Ugh ioa'l in four minutes. The jenbwinc ones offered to lay the impossible edds of 500 to nothing that the feat could not -be done. The wagering, however, eie-ainst it was large, and those behind Lang *lood to win a little fortune. The evening before tlxe v?ce a stall were employed sweeping 500 yds of the track whore he was to finish Unfortunately for the success of the performance, rain descended during the night in torrents and the road was mi a •Woua state. Lang made his time until

the swept part was reached. It was lumpy and soft, and in the finishing effort he locked to the side/ He felt he was beaten, but with a grim determination he reeled past th© post and dropped into the arms : of a "pal." "What time?" shouted Martin. 1 "Four-two," responded a voice. '"Lost — I'll be d d!" F-aid Martin. Lang went to bed, and stayed fchere for many hours.