Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1908 — FEATS IN THE ARENA [ARTICLE]

FEATS IN THE ARENA

Olympic Contests Start Off with the Weather Doing About Its Worst. &AIV MARS THE GREAT OPENING Our Boys Win Places in the Finals of a Great Bun. Chief Honor Goes to a Britisher, and the Englishmen Are Ahead la , the 400 Metre Swimming Kace. London, July 14.—Rain Interfered badly with the opening of the fourth international Olympic games by the king at the Stadium at Shepherd’s Bush, and although it cleared off before the hour set for the formal ceremony the attendance fell short of expectations. In some of the events, too, the contestants appeared affected by tbe adverse weather conditions N but In other events, particularly the 1,500metre race, in which the greatest interest centered, the men were up to their form, and twice during the afternoon the record for the distance was smashed. Melvin W. Sheppard, of the Irish-Amerioan Athletic club, of New York, was .the first to accomplish the trick when, in the second heat, pressed hard by his team mate, J. r. Halstead, of the New York Athletic club, he ran the distance in the splendid time of 4:05, just 2-5 of a second faster than that made by J. D. Lightbody, of the University of Chicago, at the Olympic games at St. Louis in 1904. Sullivan Passes Lightbody.

The two entries from the United States in this heat beat a number of good men. including G. Butterfield, the British four-mile champion, who finished a bad third. J. P. Sullivan, of the Irish-Amerioan A. C., and LJghtbody, who were first and second respectively in the first heat of this event, took longer to cover the distance, but they were not pressed, and doubtless could have done better if it had been necessary. Meadows, of Canada, set out to make the pace in this event, but Lightbody went to the front in the stretch and seemed a likely winner until Sullivan, with a fine burst of speed, passed him in a few yards from the tnpe. Britisher Wins the Honors. The best performance of the day. however, was that of M. I'. Hallows, an Oxford blue, who cut a full two seconds off the record, much to the surprise of everybody, as Hallows always has been at his best at the three miles, and 1,500-metres was considered too short for him. He is now thought to l>e the most serious rival of the athletes from the United States in the fipal of this event, which will be run today. Through their defeat by Sheppard and Sullivan, llnlsted and Lightbody failed to qualify. 11. L. Coe, of the University of Michigan, made a strong bid for victory in the fourth heat, but he was unable to keep up with E. V, Loney, of England, although the time was not particularly brilliant. Coe finished second. England Abead at Swimming. In the 400-metre swim, first honors were taken by Britishers in the first and second heats.

OPENING GRAND PARADE Athletes March In Review Before the King and Princes. There was some apprehension that on account of the weather the opening of the games might be postponed. But there were 2,000 athletes from all parts of the globe in the shelters about the Stadium, and the committee decided to start on schedule time, despite the unfavorable weather conditions. Shortly hfter 3p. m.. the royal box, which had been fitted up for the accommodation of forty persons, began to fill up. the early arrivals including the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden and their children, the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. 4. short time afterward the playing of the national anthem by a band of the Gredadier Guards announced the arrival of King Edward. Queen Alexdra and Princess Victoria with tbelr suites, wlio had been driven in state from Buckingham palace. Lord Desborough, chairman of the council of the British Olympic association, welcomed their majesties at the entrance to the Stadium and presented the members of the Internattoual Olympic Council. As the king entered the royal box a bugler gave a signal, the gates leading to the competitors’ quarters flew open and the athletes marched out under the banners of their respective nations. The procession was formed in alphabetical order, Austria leading, with the exception .that the English-speaking races came last. This latter section was led by the team from the United States, with Garrels. of the Chicago Athletic association, at its head, carrying the stars and stripes. The British colontes were directly behind the United States representatives, and at the end the United Kingdom as hosts. As the procession came into the Stadium each country received applause, that for the United States and the colonies being particularly enthusiastic, as the audience which braved the elements to witness the opening of the great games included large contingents from across the seas.