CHAMPIONS DIE YOUNG.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16512, 24 August 1921, Page 3

CHAMPIONS DIE YOUNG.

REMARKABLE LIST. ts Whom the gods love die young.” Reasonably assuming that a man is young until he reaches middle age, one would think that Byron had here given an unconscious prophecy in regard to a long line of Australia's champions (writes ” H.C.S.” in tko Sydney “ Sun ”). The recent death of Harry Hawker recalls the fact in all its grim reality. Hawker, the wizard of the air, who had by his intrepidity and genius established for himself a name that was almost legendary in the aeroplane world, was in his thirty-third year when fate overtook him. Coupled with the name of Hawker will remain in sad remembrance the name of Lieutenant M’lntosh who, after piloting the “ Old ’Bus ” past the perils that lay scattered across more than half the globe, •encashed to earth during a pleasure trip, and so ended a brilliant career that had been crowded into a life of barely twenty-six years. Several world’s records stood to the credit of Harold Parsons, the motor cyclist, among which the road journey of 200 miles, covered in 3hr 20min, is barely nineteen minutes short of the world’s record track performance over a similar distance. There was still time for the gap to be narrowed, as the dauntless rider had only entered his twenty-eighth year when he was the victim of a street accident that brought his end. The untimely end of Victor Trumper at the age of thirty-three closed th© career of the most delightful batsman of all times. The sport is seldom discussed without reference being made to his name—a name which is the paragon of all good things and all good fellows in the cricketing world. Fate seemed unkind, too, when Albert Cotter gave his life fighting for the Great Cause on the fields of Mesopotamia. “ Tibby,” as he was affectionately known among all followers of cricket, was thirty-four when his name appeared in the casualty list under the heading, “ Killed in action.’' and yet in a few brief seasons he was the here of achievements which entitled him to a place amongst the world’s greatest bowlers. In the tennis world there was, perhaps, no greater, except the great Brooks nimself, than Anthony Wilding. But Wilding had lived only to his thirty second year, when, like Cotter, he, too, laid down liis life fighting nobly. Yet another of Australia's young champions to pay the supreme sacrifice in the cause of his country is D. M’Alister, who was twenty-nine years when the end came. “ Mac” was one of the finest rifle shots that Australia, or the world, for that matter, has produced. That he won his way to the hearts of all who knew him is clearly shown by the naming of that stately roadway which runs between a double row of gum trees from beyond the 1000 yards mound to the long line of targets at Anzac Rifle Range, established within recent years at Liverpool (N.S.W.). “ M’Alister Avenue ” will ever serve to refresh our memories with tender recollections of our soldier-champion. Those who glide along the beautiful Parramatta River for the first time are attracted by a stone column with a broken top that stands well out in the stream near Henley, and perhaps they are curious to know why it stands there. Most of us are sadly aware of the significance of that broken column, Harry Seirle, crowned by the glowing success of his sculling achievements in England, was stricken down on the howeward journey, and a career that seemed pregnant with still greater glory was broken short when its moulder had reached the age of twentythree. Poor “ Les ” Darcy, whose fighting career was dazzling, ' ‘ took the count in the 21st round ” at Memphis, U.S.A. His younger brother, ** Frosty,” showed promise of becoming a front rank figure in the’ world’s ” roped arena,” but he had scarcely placed his foot on the ladder of fistic fame when he was overtaken by the influenza scourge. Youngest of all among the great champions to meet death when at- the zenith of his fame was Barney Kierar, who died from an attack of appendicitis at Brisbane, just after passing his nineteenth year.