Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-09

April Wnlle the interest In this event
may not be SO intense in this country as 1t
is In Europe, there is still enough OF 1t to
inspire the utmost curiosity. The exclusion
OF foot bail, base ball and polo three popular
sports. here, is undoubtedly the only reason
why the announcement has not been received
with the same fervor manifested on the
other side 1t is reported, but not authenti-
cally, that the New Manhattan Athletic club
OF New York will send a team over. II
they do there is but little fear but what
their showing will be up with the very best,
and 1t Is the general wish that America will
be represented. These Olympan games are
of especial interest to the students of all the
colleges In this country, but more particu-
larly to the Princeton university This Is
owing to the fact that the American repre-
sentative Of the international committee is
a professor at the college. Prof. William
M. Sloane, who Is at the head OF the de-
partment OF history and political science in
the university, is authority on the subject
and all OF the American business connected
with the games passes through his hands.
He has taken pronounced interest in the
colleges athletics, and 1t was probably
owing to this fact that he was chosen as
the American representative. Prof. Sloane
Is much disappointed over the outlook, in
asmuch as he apprehends that no American
team Will go over. 1t was his hope that IA
whole shipload of athletes would be sent
across and that they would hold the pole
that would reach the persmmons The
card Of sports being prepared includes fleet
races" 100, 400, 800 and 1900 fiat metres
Equivalent to about 11o. 44o, $50 and 1850
yards); contests, running long and high
jump, pole vault, putting the shot and
Quoits; cross country race, forty-eight klo-
metres equivalent to 29.76 miles), from Mara
thon to Athens, for cup offered by M.
Breal Of the French institute. Gymnastics.
TnI txI, ,,,I
parallel bars. vaulting, weights. Teams Of
not fewer than ten members will be ad-
mitted to contests, yet to be
arranged. Fencing, wrestling and marks
manship; yachting and rowing accord
ing to the entries and under special rules to
be obtained from the French Yacht union.
Cycling, 1000 and 10000 metres equivalent
to one mile and quarter and six miles and
quarter respectively on a track, without
pacemakers; 100 kilometres (sixty-two niles
and twelve-hour contests with pacemakers.
Horsemanship, contests in lawn tennis and
cricket or similar games for which con-
testants and teams offer. Olympian games in
the future will take place at the following
dates and places: 1900, at Paris; 1904, at New
York City; 1908, at London. Thousands of
masons and carpenters are now at work
rebuilding the famous Stadium In Athens
and replacing, at great cost, the important
scenic surroundings Of the original festival.
Boxing has been entirely eliminated from the
games. In ancient times the Greeks were
great pugilists and their boxing bouts were
Of a deadly order. 1t Is expected that the
colleges of the world will furnish most of the
athletes.
The Northwestern Association of Trotting
and Pacing Horses has arranged for an ex-
cellent race meeting for Washington Park,
Chicago, The program adopted contem-
plates an innovation when compared with
former meetings. 1t was decided to COM
mence the meeting with horse show, which
will open on Saturday, June 81, and occupy
the first two days of the meeting. The
Washington Park club will make this a So
ciety event similar to the we'll remembered
Derby days, which have been social feature
with that club for the last ten years or
more, excepting last year, when no running
meeting was given. On Tuesday morning,
June 80, will commence four days of straight
trotting. pacing and bicycle races. The
crack harness horses, like Patehen and
Gentry. will not be in it this year and the
boys with the bikes will. The "blke" feature
will. doubtless, serve as good drawing
card, though the combination seems a little
peculiar. 1t Ia little bit like having horse
back riding and dog races to attract a crowd
to fat stock show.
The twelvemonth Just closed-1895-in the
outset was expected to be the greatest year
Of international sport ever known in the
q D.
poirtment. There were events enough, but
so much wrangling and dissatisfaction was
never the lot of sportdom before. What
effect all these contretemps will have on
competition during the present
year remains to be seen. The prospects for
| cup race are infnitesimal, the Dunraven
experience being the most damaging and
disgusting faux pas OF all the numerous
of the year. We will be repre-
'ented at the great regatta at Henley. how
,ver. as Yale has concluded to attempt the |
rick at which Cornell so ANONYMOUSLY failed
md the British turf will also be invaded by |
american horsemen. The London Athletic |
hub Is also In the field with challenge to
he New York club and 1t Is still possible |
hat Oxford or Cambridge will come over to |
Measure strength with an American uni
'erslty crew. Again. 1t looks as IL the three |
continents Will make an effort at resuscitat- |
ng the game of the professional rover 20
hat In an indefinite sort of way the pros
'ect for international sport In 1896 isn't falf |
'ad
BY the time The Bees readers scan these 1
ages will be well on my way to Ell Paso.
he interest is constantly on the increase
n the big knuckle carnival which opens up
N Friday morning next. and the outlook Is
osy for tremendous attendance. Last
unday l. briefly touched upon the main
vent, the battle between Maher and Fitz-
immons, and while the tenor of my remarks
hight have led one to believe that lent a |
rife Fitzsimmonsward ! am honest IA ad-
lsing every better to reflect seriously be-
ore he lays his dough on either man and |
you are not overburdened with the article
hat Is supposed to accelerate the locomotion
I the female equine 1t might be the wisest
Ian to keep your stun in your inside pocket.
here are a whole lot OF wise guys who are
haking their heads ominously when refer
ing to the second event, that between
1alcott, the Barbados wonder. and Bright
yes, the plantation coon, and I'll admit the
hances here are good for dump. Still it
Ill require the actual argument with the
hts TO convince the great rank and file of
istiana's followers that the man lives, any
here near his weight, who can do the Bos-
IN shade. That Walcott is a wonder none
IN gainsay. He is built on the plan Of the
frican quadrumana and seems TO possess
bout the same inordinate vitality He has
lily demonstrated his worth In MANY |
loody scrap. On the other hand. Collins
10 Dallas man, is utterly unknown outside
Texas, bur there II must be acknowI
iged he stands ace high. Again. while 7
~ that there Is a chance OF a surprlse | !
ere, walcott looks to me like ready money.
here is always q likelihood OF the unex. /
,cted when a new man is to figure In the /
sal. A champion Is as likely to be deyel-
,ed today or tomorrow as he was when 4
m Corbett harvested his laurels, and the i
'eotasor who figures on form alone Is the /
an who oftenest gets the short end of the :
oney. In any event the contest will evil /
'ntly be one worth double the price Of !
nm "a. "A. a.,. / !.