Toxophilites at Storrs

The history of archery as a U. S. sport goes back to two brothers named Thompson. After the Civil War they retreated to the Georgia backwoods. Because of their rebellious records, they were forbidden to carry firearms. They got their sustenance with bow & arrow. When after two years they returned to civilization, Maurice Thompson went to Indiana, wrote books on archery. Will Thompson went to Seattle, wrote his famed "The High Tide at Gettysburg," became attorney for Railroad Tycoon James J. Hill. Together, with Maurice for president, Will for champion, they founded the National Archery Association which last week held its 54th annual tournament at Storrs, Conn.

Since the days of Will Thompson, Seattle has always been a capital of toxophily. Last year a 17-year-old Seattle high-school boy named Ralph Miller nosed out famed Russell Hoogerhyde, three times U. S. Champion, for the title. Last week, at Storrs, Miller jumped into the lead at the start. Shooting methodically, chin up, feet 12 in. apart, Hoogerhyde caught up with him the fourth day by breaking a record with 722 points for a single American round (90 arrows at distances of 60, 50, and 40 yd.). Day later. Hoogerhyde had: record scores for single and double American rounds, for single York round; a total score of 2,902; the title of National Champion for the fourth time. Miller had a record in the double York (144 arrows at 100 yd., 96 at 80 yd., 48 at 60 yd.) and a creditable second place with 2,767.

Entered in the Women's Championship was Mrs. Lyman Whitney of Boston, only living U. S. woman who has killed a deer with bow & arrow. She and the defending champion, Madeleine Taylor of New York, were defeated by a good-looking young woman from St. Louis named Mrs. G. De Sales Mudd. Mrs. Mudd had enough points (1,771) to win before her rivals began their last round. Slim, tall, with reddish hair and a hungry-looking Nordic face, Russell Hoogerhyde has been the foremost U. S. bowman since 1930. A onetime lifeguard at Michigan beaches, he came by his interest in toxophily when he took a job in Wolverine Archery Co. at Coldwater, Mich. He began entering tournaments in 1929, has only lost one since the 1933 National. He now runs the archery department of Horton Manufacturing Co. at Bristol, Conn. He practices two hours a day for six weeks before a tournament.

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