JOSEPH FORSHAW, MARATHON RUNNER by Christine Forshaw O'Shaughnessy

London, late afternoon, July 24, 1908: the last moments of the Marathon. The crowd had waited in the withering heat for hours, and their frenzy over this final event of Olympiad IV had reached a fever pitch. "I shall never forget my first impression of the crowd cheering wildly as I entered the stadium. It was the most wonderful sight I ever saw." (Joseph Forshaw, bronze medalist [2:57:10.4])

Joseph FORSHAW, of the United States, would ever after describe the last two minutes of this race as the "zenith" of his athletic career. Fifty-five years later, he would still remember vividly the huge stadium looming before him, the momentary dark- ness of the entrance tunnel, and then, pounding into the late afternoon light on the track, the deafening roar rolling up around him from the multitude. He always said that the noise almost had the quality of dead silence, so great was its impact on his senses. Entering the stadium packed with that hysterical Joseph and screaming throng, with Dorando PIETRI'S FORSHAW in desperate struggle finished, FORSHAW was less 1904 Event than two minutes behind John HAYES, the winner, in St. Louis in time to be running on the track with both HAYES and Charles HEFFERON (second) before the winner "I was next to the last man to leave Windsor. crossed the finish line. My instructions from Murphy (Coach Mike After the race he wrote: Murphy, of Yale) were to hold Tewanina, (a Hopi "We followed the plan adopted at previous Indian from the Carlisle Indian School) back and Marathon races, eating a good breakfast of keep him with me, and if I gave out to send him steak, following this with two raw eggs, with along to win the race if he could do so. Coming some tea and toast. We planned to take nothing down the hill from Windsor I was in the second during the race except sips of water, if neces- to last row and took it very slowly on account of sary. I wore high shoes with leather soles, with the grade and cobblestones. This was the only a strip of rubber between the shoe and the foot, bad part of the course. I came through Windsor and had socks well-soaked in tallow. Most wore last of the Americans excepting Hatch." a head covering of some sort but I did not. I "Tewanina and I were abreast for twenty miles. I think it is unwise in the heat. I felt at home at passed Duncan, the English champion who was the start because I saw several St. Louis friends expected to win the race, evidently distressed, who had rented rooms in Windsor to see us off. twelve miles out, at Uxbridge. Tewanina, seeing Mr. Walker, the Central High School coach, was Duncan ahead, had gone up to tire him out, there as well. My bicyclist was Dr. LeCron, which from what I have heard since, he formerly of St. Louis. He did splendid work for succeeded in doing. None of us feared Duncan, me, both before and after the race." having seen his work at Brighton. Appleby Shrubbs' former conqueror, we thought the best After the Start of the of the English. I knew always, however, that the Marathon Englishmen would come back to me, realizing race in that they had no Marathon experience, although London 1908 being fine distance runners. I have always found waiting the best in these races. Spurting in the first three miles killed the English competitors."

JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 - p. 10 Early in the Marathon (Corbis Bettman Coll.)

FORSHAW pacing TEWANINA (Corbis Bettman Coll.) "I had planned my race so as to go slow and got a terrible stitch in my side. I made repeated keep strong, running as fast as I could without efforts to sprint, but every time doubled up with distressing myself, until about eleven miles from cramp. That was the only trouble I had the the stadium, doing my best work after that I whole way. Ordinarily, I don't believe in spirits, was thirty-first and at the halfway post was but I had to do something and the side was fifteen minutes behind the leaders. In eighteen giving me trouble, so I took a drop of brandy. I miles I had passed all the lesser lights, and was feeling strong and full of running yet began picking up on the prominent men. I tortured by a sharp pain when I tried, with extra noticed quite a few resting or exhausted along effort, to sprint. I could see Hefferon and Hayes the roadside. Many were walking. Personally I just ahead but was unable to get the last spurt ran all the way. I never rested a minute or myself. The last ten minutes of the race were walked." the worst of my life. However, I took a grip with my hand on the side and covered the last miles "Through Harrow, when I was making up in that manner. It was hard digging the last three ground, I was in great shape, and shortly miles, but when I got to the Stadium I felt fine. I afterward I came in sight of the leaders. By now did not exert myself on the cinder track, as the I knew Tewanina was weakening and having position I was in I could hold, and it was trouble keeping the pace, so I began pulling impossible to better it." away from him. Hayes, all this time, was well to the front, hanging to the heels of Dorando, who "I was strong at the finish. Nobody touched me was trailing Hefferon. I never caught up with anytime in the race or going around the Stadium, either him or Hefferon. The Harrow schoolboys' where I ran strong, but with my hand to my side enthusiasm greatly impressed me and really over the stitch. I recognized several friends from gave me new heart. It was a great contrast to America in the stands as I passed. I shall never the treatment of the American athletes later in forget the Queen of England, jumping up and the stadium at which we felt disappointed." down in her box, waving her parasol to and fro. The noise in the Stadium was like thunder. After "After we had run twenty-one miles I pulled out passing the post I had a dip in the swimming and passed Simpson, the Canadian. I was tank to bathe my head with water and then feeling fine and passed him with a burst of walked to the dressing room without assistance, speed, covering 100 yards to his 20, Tewanina where less than five minutes after the race I was doing likewise. I ran fast, too fast, in fact, with a rubbed down. I dressed and went to the hotel by view to taking the heart out of the Canadian. If it the underground car in less than half an hour had not been for this spurt, I believe I could feeling tired, but thoroughly fit That's what have overtaken Hefferon and won second place. Murphy's training did for me." Next I headed Welton, who was running well and retained perfect form to the finish." "The Americans owe the victory, first of all, to Murphy, who got us in splendid condition. I have "I did not know until three miles from home how been in seven long races, but I never entered many men were in front of me. Then, realizing one in better condition than I was today. It was that I was well up, I thought I had taken the only a week ago that I ran a trial of twenty-seven measure of the leaders and might win. But miles along the Brighton road without hurting down Oak Common Lane I thought otherwise. I myself. I also had good attendants, one doctor p. 11 - JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 Joseph FORSHAW at Harlesden Clock

FORSHAW approaching Stadium (K. Rainham) who accompanied me in the Marathon at giving. He deserved more glory and was Athens, and the other an American doctor disappointed by so much honour taken away practicing in London. They encouraged me all from him by the crowd and given to Dorando, along the way, and I felt, having them there, whose race, although meritorious, was unequal nothing could happen to me. Apart from the to Hayes. The British newspapers, too, gave stitch in the side, I had no trouble of any kind. Dorando all the glory. The boys and I felt John My feet are as good as when I started." Hayes deserved better than that. He had won it fair and square, so we got a table and paraded Four days later on July 28, he wrote further about him around on it like a king for all to see." the race: "Enough credit cannot be given to Trainer Mike "The secret of the excellence of the American Murphy. America's success is due mainly to him. runners was well kept. Scarcely anyone knew He has proved a wonder in conditioning men. where we did most of our training. Newspapers Murphy made us work desperately hard from the said we had never seen the course, whereas we time we arrived and yet the work was done so had been all over it. I missed all the Stadium scientifically that I put on seven pounds in events, sacrificing everything to get in good weight, in spite of running ten to twenty miles condition, and trained as I had never trained each day, and was heavier than at any time before. During the week before the race we except at Athens." stayed at Chequers Inn, Uxbridge, Middle Course, where we were treated excellently." "Of the Marathon itself I can speak only with the highest approbation. It was the best race in "I did two trials on sections of the course. which I ever ran. "The roads were fine, much Murphy made an awful row because two days better than in the Marathon at St. Louis, and the before the race we went fishing. The climate, crowd was sportsmanlike and as good to me as especially at Brighton, suited us splendidly, when I was running in our own Marathon at though I think better time in the Marathon would home. I was greatly impressed by the conduct of have been accomplished if the race had been the crowds along the course. They treated us run in the spring. For my part, the weather was finely, and were of great assistance in cheering not too troublesome – the humidity and heat us. It gives a man heart to run through lines of were so similar to home. I am returning for St. sportsmen such as turned out to give us a Louis Saturday, carrying the pleasantest cheer, as we passed. I was laying well back in personal recollections of the Marathon." part of the race and they would tell me where Regarding his run with TEWANINA, FORSHAW wrote the leaders were. The rank and file cheered us in his personal notes after the Marathon: and encouraged us in every way as we passed. "Tewanina endured more agony than anyone To me they shouted, "Go it, Yank," and "Brave, and ran gamest. He was suffering from bad Stars and Stripes!" Toward the finish, when I knees and his feet were sore from the trial. He was passing the Clock [i.e. Willesden Corner] cannot speak English and had great difficulty they were calling out that I was going faster and understanding his bicyclist, as Murphy had stronger than those who had gone before." [i.e. feared. So I was ordered to be his pacemaker. HEFFERON, PIETRI, and HAYES] "Pops" felt the Indian was the tougher of us two In a letter to his family referring to what happened and would have a better chance at the victory, at the awards ceremony, he said: but only if he were held back as long as "Hayes ran a grand race let out to the last ounce possible. He thought Tewanina would run too showing splendid judgment. I waited Saturday to fast, too soon, instead of saving his strength for see him get the grand reception at the prize- the end. He said I was the better planner "You

JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 - p. 12 HAYES and FORSHAW after awards

FORSHAW & Team carry HAYES (Corbis Bettman Coll.) know how to bide your time." He made me in that race was to bring Tewanina along. I did, promise to keep this in mind. "Better to run for but left him for the last burst. The Olympics are the team. Pace the Indian. When you give out, good for the world, whatever might have send him on ahead. He can win it with your happened at them. They are best of all for the help. Only go all out if you think the mate can't men who take part in them – teaching as they win. Our goal is victory for America." Pops do comradeship and discipline." figured I would only last about 10 miles. As it When he entered the Stadium in London, FORSHAW was I lasted a lot longer. Tewanina and I ran was announced as "Forshaw of St. Louis." This shoulder to shoulder for 20 miles. But he was in appeared in all the U.S. newspapers and so such pain that he couldn't keep up very long pleased his father that the elder FORSHAW decided after that. I left him, finally, but I think if I had immediately to change the name of the family firm made my move a little sooner I could have from "4-SHAW" to "Forshaw of St. Louis." caught the others." (i.e. HEFFERON, PIETRI and When the victorious American team returned HAYES) from the Games they were welcomed home with a Joseph FORSHAW was always somewhat haunted grand ticker tape parade through the Streets of by the question of whether he had made his move New York City on August 29. Alfred Vanderbilt too late. He had sensed that TEWANINA was organized the event. Each medalist was made an weakening, but felt torn between following the honorary member of the New York Athletic Club trainer's orders versus leaving his teammate and presented with the club's gold winged foot pin, behind – it was, after all, a team effort. Had he a memento Joseph FORSHAW wore in his lapel for disregarded Murphy's orders, and left TEWANINA the rest of his life. Two days later, on August 31, sooner, could he have won? He always wondered, the team was also feted by President Theodore and in another note, said much the same: "I made ROOSEVELT at Sagamore Hill, his summer home on my move too late. I was strong at the finish, yet Oyster Bay. tortured by stomach cramps that robbed me of the necessary final burst of speed to catch the leaders." He used to say that it might just have been possible, if he had moved out US Olympic earlier, to catch the leaders and Team with hold them off, in spite of the cramp, President ROOSEVELT at since he was still feeling strong. He Sagamore never knew, but had no regrets. Hill "...Not that I minded. It was glory enough to finish third. It was something to remember, to have done my part for a team that took three of the first four places, five out of the first fourteen." A 1939 account of FORSHAW'S summed up his thoughts on the 1908 Marathon: "America won that race on strategy and team tactics. We were not in the picture until the 15th mile when we swung out for a fast finish and it came off. My job p. 13 - JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 Louis, which adopted the "1904" for the emblem on their jerseys to advertise the forthcoming World's Fair. The team won everything in their section, losing only to the World's Championship Por- tage Lake team at Houghton, Michigan. There was no pro- fessional hockey in the U.S. at that time. FORSHAW played right wing. In 1899, FORSHAW entered and won both the South- western Amateur One Mile Speed-Skating Championship, and the school bike riding champion- Joseph ship at Central High. That FORSHAW same year he was the high with "1904" scorer in an All-School track Hockey Team meet. Once, on a dare, he Joseph FORSHAW was born in St. Louis on May 13, skated 100 miles down the frozen Meramec River 1881, the second of seven children of Joseph (who with friends – and reached the agreed upon had emigrated from England in 1870) and Margaret destination first, in under 9 hours. FORSHAW. Frail and delicate as a child, he was In 1903, Joe FORSHAW joined the newly formed subject to repeated fainting spells, and attacks that Missouri Athletic Club to hone his swimming skills, left him gasping for air. His parents took him from and participated in all of the Ten Mile Mississippi doctor to doctor until he was seven, but the River Swims sponsored by the Club in the ensuing physicians always diagnosed his condition as a years. Although he never won the Swim himself, weak heart, predicting that he would not live to he coached Bud GOODWIN of the New York Athletic maturity. Despairing of doctors, Joe's father Club to a win and a course record on the decided to try his own regimen to build up his Mississippi River course. FORSHAW had no sickly son. They embarked on a program of long intention of becoming a runner at the time he walks and, later, running and skating short and joined the Club, but on hearing that a small closed then longer distances. "I remember one Indian meet for members only was being planned, he summer day when in company with he and some decided to enter the half-mile and one-mile runs other nimrods we covered 30 miles on foot- on a on the program. He landed a second and a third, leisurely walk. When we skated, he thought and thus began his career as a middle distance nothing of covering fifty miles on a one day outing." runner. In 1904 FORSHAW competed in the Games Another part of his father's health program was a held in St. Louis in conjunction with the Louisiana "protein drink" of sherry into which a raw egg was Purchase Exposition. He won the Two Mile Run in whipped, to be consumed after long runs! By 1894, the Olympic Open Handicap Meet on May 21 the fainting and gasping had disappeared, and the (10:24.6). He placed third in the Olympic Open child who had been the class weakling, smaller Run in the AAU Handicap Meet on June 2 and than most of his friends, found that he could outrun placed first in the Special Athletic Events One Mile every boy in the neighborhood. Later, when a run on July 2 (4:41.6). He took first place in the neighborhood field day was organized, he won One Mile Run in the Olympic Irish Sports Meet on every event. July 20 (5:10.8), first in the Western AAU In 1898, when the first artificial ice rink was Handicap Two Mile Run on July 29 (10:59.0), and opened in St. Louis (one of only 3 in the U.S.) third in the Western AAU Championship Meet One FORSHAW entered all the skating competitions, and Mile Run on July 30. Although most of the thirty- won most of them. He also organized and played eight athletic events held between May 14 and on the first St. Louis ice hockey team, the Central November 24 in 1904 were called "Olympic Squad, representing Central High School. Out of Competitions," and most of the men who that team, when they graduated, came the nucleus competed in them were told they were in the of the nationally known "1904" Hockey team of St. Olympics, when the International Olympic

JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 - p. 14 ted by the American Olympic Committee to run in the Olympic Marathon to be held at Athens that Spring. No selection trials were held, as the prece- ding winter months were too cold. The four were selected based on the fact that they were considered the most talented and well- conditioned distance run- ners in the U.S. at that time. FORSHAW placed US Olympic twelfth in that Marathon. In Team at an excerpt from the journal Athens 1906 Committee met several months after the Games, he kept during those Games he wrote: only selected competitions were accepted for "We sailed from Brindisi about 6 P.M. April 18 for inclusion in Olympiad III. Unfortunately, none of Patras, reaching there the following morning. the events in which FORSHAW had competed were We had another workout and dinner about 10:30 deemed "Olympic." It was during these games a.m., then took the train and came into Athens however, that he decided to venture upon a new about 7:15 P.M. April 19. We were met at the course. Fascinated by the rigorous Marathon run station by a brass band and driven to the held during the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, and Olympic Games Headquarters where some very his interest piqued by the concept of strategy and fine Port wine was opened. We went from here planning, Forshaw made up his mind to have a go to the Zappeion, the athletic headquarters and at long distance running. boarding house, and got to bed pretty late. This On May 6, 1905 came Joe FORSHAW'S first building is new, and was kind of damp. While it Marathon - the Western AAU Cross Country was grand from an architectural point of view, it Freeburg to St. Louis Run. Sponsored by the didn't suit us to live in, neither did the food Missouri Athletic Club, it was the first Marathon satisfy us, and after a few days we got out, and ever held in St. Louis. The course was 25 miles. put up at Hotel Hermes. Things now began to Forshaw won, crossing the finish 20 minutes go better. We worked on the road, and saw ahead of the next runner. His time was 3:16:37.4. some of the Games as they came off, After the race he said: swimming, fencing and track events. Bob "I surprised myself by winning the race. I had LeCron (Forshaw's bicycle attendant) got here expected the outsiders, who had more two days after I did and we are seeing some few experience, would finish ahead of me. I owe my things together, but not a great deal, as I am success to Robert Fowler, the Boston runner. resting for the race." He sat next to me at the dinner table yesterday "Tuesday, May 1 at 3:00 P.M. we left in carriages and gave to me all the hints that he knew about for Marathon, Spring, Fowler, Frank and myself the game. He told me to grease my stockings accompanied by Joe Spencer and Wiflot and shoes with beef grease. This I did and it (presumably their attendants). It is the toughest prevented any blisters or sores on my feet. He most mountainous course ever dreamed of. We also told me to eat the solid food that was had to take enough food to last for three meals. prepared for us at the table, but to merely break We arrived at Marathon at 7:00 P.M. and saw the the eggs to look as though I had eaten them. Plain of Marathon and the bay where the His suggestion to drink nothing but beef tea Persians landed and were slaughtered. Our helped me, and I thank him for that." carriage got in about an hour before Spencer FORSHAW won two later marathons that same year. and Fowler and we had to sit down in a dirty old "Training for those races, I used to ride out to tavern and wait till they came. We went out but the railroad station at Glencoe, Missouri, mail were advised to stay inside or bandits might do my sweater and extra duds home, and then run us harm. It was a beautiful clear moonlit night, over that high hill and back to the AAA (Amateur but other than that there was nothing remarkable Athletic Association) Clubhouse in Forest Park." about this old town to suggest the fame it possesses in history. It was so primitive I felt like In 1906, FORSHAW and three others were appoin- I was living in ancient times. There is a kind of p. 15 - JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 public fountain in the center, where the women congregate to wash their clothes and draw water. The houses are all built of stone, or mud, and are crude in the extreme. There are also brooks of clear water running down from the mountains in which you will see women beating the dirt out of clothes with clubs. When we arrived we were assigned to a school room, with a few blankets on the hard floor but no pillows." "We had some good steak and tea and rolls provided by Joe Spencer at about 9 P.M. We then went to bed with our clothes on. In the room were all kinds of foreigners – one had a long knife by his side as if he feared violence. We were watched over by Joe Spencer and Wiflot, one of whom was armed with a revolver. We had scarcely laid down an hour when we were driven out by thousands of bugs, so we searched the town and found another place to sleep which was a little better than the other, and we had eight hours or so of sleep. We had

Pages from a breakfast and dinner similar to our supper. Joseph During the morning we went out into a field FORSHAW'S under a large tree and rested. The principal journal written occupation here seems to be taking care of during the sheep and goats. The shepherds are in their 1906 Olympic ancient garb and carry the staff identically as Games pictured."

"We toed the mark 53 of us at 3:00 P.M. (On Wednesday, May 2) At the start they hit a hot pace led by Blake of Australia. He went down and out at 15 miles. Daly of Ireland, Spring and Fowler of America were retired soon after, and many Greeks were quitting every mile. I think more than thirty Greeks started, but only 5 persevered to the finish. My knee went stiff at about 16 miles, but I plugged it out, though very tired and discouraged. I put up a good strong finish at the Stadium and got 12th place. I was given a good deal of applause and credit for finishing. Sherring the winner ran a wonderful race. He had been here training for 8 weeks. After the race we were given all the champagne we could put away as a stimulant. We got very little sleep that night but took a good nap Wednesday afternoon. The boys got their prizes Wednesday, and they were not as good as they expected. Wednesday night we were enter- tained at a champagne feast by James E. Sullivan. Thursday afternoon we were guests on a special train led by a brass band to Raphissia, where we were again feted and toasted, and champagned. We came back to a great private estate, Villa Atlantis, and had a great feast of ice cream, cakes, candies and goodies. There was dancing, cheering, singing, and the Greek Poet

JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 - p. 16 US Marathon Team 1912: front: DEMAR, SOCKALEXIS, STROBINO; center: GALLAGHER, LILLEY, Coach MURPHY, TEWANINA, ERXLEBEN; back: FORSHAW, unbroken) for running straight up Pike's Peak in REYNOLDS, Colorado alongside the cog railroad in 2 hours and PIGGOTT, As. Coach HAYES, 41 minutes. The finish was at 14,000 feet. For this SMITH, RYAN run he was awarded the Rocky Mountain Athletic Club Trophy. In both 1911 and 1912, FORSHAW placed second FORSHAW in the St. Louis Marathon, each time just behind training on the younger Joseph ERXLEBEN. It was his showing ship to (2:37:32) behind ERXLEBEN (2:36:30) in the St. Stockholm recited one of his poems. After leaving here we Louis Marathon on May 4, 1912 that secured his came back to Athens where we were marched place on the U.S. team once again, for an through the streets with a band at our head. unprecedented third run in the Olympic Marathon. After a hurried clean up and a little supper we He was incredulous at being chosen, at the age of were off again to the American Minister's (Mr. 31, for another Olympics. On June 1, 1912, a Jackson). We had another great feast here. We reporter from the St. Louis Star Times learned left Athens Saturday night May 5th on a Greek before FORSHAW of his selection and actually gave him the news first. In an interview published in the steamer." paper that day he said: Early in 1907, FORSHAW won the AAU Cross "Really, this is the surprise of my life, and I hope Country Run of six and a half miles, and also that I will be successful and bring back the captured the WAAU Cross Country Championship victory to St. Louis. I did not think that I would be th on April 13 (38:42.8). He finished second at the selected this time, owing to my showing in the third annual St. Louis Marathon on June 1 behind race in Boston, when I became sick and did not Sidney Hatch of Chicago. run as well as I should have. But I am in

On May 2, 1908, FORSHAW was again second in condition today to run the race of my life, and I the fourth St. Louis Marathon (2:30:00.4), losing to will be in better shape when we toe the mark in Hatch (2:29:56.4) by a nose. This was the race Sweden. I am glad that Erxleben is going along, which won both HATCH and himself spots on the as I consider him one of the greatest long- 1908 U.S. Olympic Marathon team. On June 9th, distance runners in the world. Erxleben has the 1908, he was among 76 athletes named to the youth and the stamina – that will help him – and United States team for the Games to be held in between the two of us we ought to hold up the London the following month. The United States name St. Louis" Committee said in its statement that the athletes "The best time I ever made for the 25 miles, selected made up "the strongest team that has which will be the distance of the race at ever represented America in any meet." Stockholm, is 2 hours and 30 minutes," he On February 21, 1909 FORSHAW took third prize continued. "That was in 1908, at the trial run at in the YMGC Marathon Run in New Orleans over St. Louis for the London meet. However, I am a distance of 20 miles. That same year saw one of positive that I will be able to travel at a faster his greatest feats of endurance and fitness when gait at Stockholm than I have in St. Louis. All I'll on May 30th he set the all-time record (still have to do is to get in condition and run. In my

p. 17 - JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 US Olympic Team 1912 (Corbis Bettman Coll.)

two previous trips (to the Olympics) I have not in 27 years. I hadn't seen him since 1912 when taken in any of the sights, as it has been my he worked with "Pops" training us for those ambition to make a great record." games. We agreed that long distance running has hurt neither of us. It hurts nobody if you "I will have plenty of time to train, getting at least train properly before you go in for it." three weeks' preliminary running before the race. The climate, too, I am sure will help, as Interestingly, throughout his long life Joseph around St. Louis the air is so close that it is FORSHAW never suffered from any form of arthritis, impossible to breathe perfectly after running 10 nor did he ever suffer from bad hips or knees. He or 15 miles. In races here I have often never broke a bone. According to his physician his weakened after going half of the distance." blood pressure was astonishingly low and he had, according to that doctor, the slowest heartbeat the "I expected to get the word, yes or no, this latter had ever encountered during all his years in evening, but I want to thank the "Times" for medicine. giving it to me first. If I lose, it will be because a Joseph FORSHAW returned to St. Louis and the better boy beat me, but I hope an American gets family business after the 1912 Games, and put his the honor if I can't land it." running shoes away. In 1914 he married and When the team left the U.S. for Stockholm (with eventually raised four children and had 17 grand- 1908 Marathon victor John HAYES along this time children who all grew up in St. Louis. His love of as Mike MURPHY'S assistant), they trained amateur sport never faded; rather, it grew through rigorously aboard ship for the entire voyage. All the years. He loved to quote the Latin form of the except Jim THORPE. In his notes FORSHAW said: Greek motto, "Mens sana in corpore sano" – "a "We all worked pretty hard, except Jim. He spent sound mind in a sound body", and this remained most of his time on board in a hammock, resting his creed for life. In 1915 he started a new amateur up I suppose for the test. The coaches grumbled ice hockey team and continued playing regularly a lot about it, but maybe old Jim had the right until the age of 51, when he played his last full idea. His performance said it all. He just knew season of amateur hockey. His teammates then he didn't need to work the way the rest of us were almost all 15 or 20 years younger than he. A did." member of St. Louis first amateur Lacrosse team, FORSHAW was also an avid tennis player. FORSHAW placed tenth (2:49:49.4) in the Marathon In addition to his own athletic pursuits, FORSHAW at Stockholm on July 14, 1912, less than thirteen twice served as president of the WAAU and was minutes behind the winner, MACARTHUR of South always a leading figure in planning and judging Africa (2:36:54.8). He was the oldest of the amateur sports events in St. Louis. In 1926 he American entrants, indeed of the top ten finishers. organized the St. Louis Silver Skates Speed In this race, America took six of the top ten places Skating Carnival, which became an annual event – a testament once again to Mike MURPHY'S skill in the city, and he founded and served many times as a trainer. as head of the Missouri Skating Association. In Years later, in 1939, FORSHAW ran into John 1932 he organized a post Olympic skating carnival HAYES on a trip to New York City, and wrote of that and brought Sonje HENIE and other Olympic encounter: champions to St. Louis following the first Winter "I met John Hayes again today for the first time Olympic Games held in the U.S.

JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 12(May 2004)2 - p. 18 Among his special interests were the Boys Club of St. Louis, with which he worked for many years to sponsor athletic teams and sporting events for underprivileged youths; Father Dunne's Newsboys' Home and Protectorate, which sheltered and educated homeless and destitute boys, where he organized the athletic program; and the annual Tuberculosis Society Baseball game which was held in St. Louis every July to raise funds to help in the fight against T.B. Always searching for a new sport, FORSHAW decided in 1939 to take up figure skating, and passed six levels of school figures. After this he skated regularly every winter, giving frequent figure skating and ice dancing exhibitions in his home city. He taught all of his grandchildren to skate, starting lessons when they were three years old, and always made sure they had skates that fit. I clearly remember skating double with him and learning to do an arabesque. He had a very firm way of holding one's hands that made even young and shaky skaters feel secure. When he Joseph reached his eightieth birthday, he decided to hang FORSHAW up his skates. After that I remember him catching about 1938 and passing footballs (while running backwards) an interest in professional sports, but he was and hitting baseballs to his grandchildren on probably St. Louis most active amateur sport Sundays. There is also a hazy recollection of one promoter for nearly 60 years, and had a hand in of his favorite quotations from some poem of long almost every major amateur sports event in the ago: "Rather would I be crowned... with the simple city. He worked tirelessly, endlessly, with the laurel wreath... in the shadow of the Acropolis..." "Game for the Game's sake" as his ideal. That is all I remember. But it is enough. I would give anything to listen to my Joseph FORSHAW was my grandfather. He died grandfather's Olympic stories again, to watch his on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1964. My blue eyes grow luminous as in his mind's eye they sole recollection of the service several days later are with him once more; THORPE, TEWANINA, is of one bell tolling above an overflowing church, SHERRING and "Pops"; PIETRI, MACARTHUR, and three sentences spoken from the pulpit: "I HEFFERON and HAYES. I would love to hear the have fought the good fight. I have finished the hushed thrill in his voice as he relives the races, race. I have kept the faith." He finished every race the thundering welcomes in the stadiums, and the in which he ever ran, and the faith from which he final seconds of the most glorious race of his life, never wavered was his undying devotion to the 1908 Olympic Marathon. But he has passed amateur sport - to competition for the love of the the last post. He has won the crown. He is gone. game and the lessons it taught. Joseph FORSHAW Now, gazing up at the night sky, at the stars was an amateur athlete in the truest sense. with their Greek names, I imagine him running still, Except for the Olympic runs, he had no trainer. He for the love of it, through the heavens, laughing trained himself. He ran because he loved to run. and reminiscing with the others about their days in He competed because he loved to compete. For the sun. him, the reward of amateur sport was the comradeship and discipline it called forth in those St. Louis, late evening, July 24, 2003: New York who took part. That was all. The determination Athletic Club ninety-five years later. pin (presen- and perseverance it demanded defined his life ted to US and made him who he was. He never developed medalists after 1908 Olympic Games)

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