The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-14
How Americans Won at
Olympic Games.
Garrett Surprised the Natives
With the Discus.
Beat the Hellenic Champion al His
Own Game With Ease.

tCopyrfgnred, isps. by The Associated Press.)
Loxpox. April is.-A letter was received NJ
the ofhcs OF Toe Associated Press here today
from Athens, dated Monday, April 9, the day
of the first series OF the olympic games. The
mississ was penned by A. o. Tyler. the
irincofon role -vaniter and, in substance.
says:
Crowds Of people swarmed through the
gatos OF the stadion when they were opened.
huch a rush for seats has never been seen
even at a big football match. AT 3 O'Clock
the royal family arrived. slowly paradsd the
full length of the course and took their seats
IN the center of the amphithsat.r. SO soon as
they were seated, the combined bands iplaysd
and tho male chorus sang music specially
written for tho opening OF the stadion. Tho
effect was superb.
AT about 4 o'clock the 2i competitors for the
100 metre race appeared and were divided
into three heats. AS y. A. Lane sstPrincetonl
Thomas y. Curtis (Boston) and Thomas T.
Burke (3oeton) won their heats easily, air'd
the hand-ciaps. there were cries of Bravo
Americana" scattered over the vast arena.
which msde us very joyful. The hop, skip
and jump followed. J. u. Connolly tsunoik
A. C.. Boston) was the only American com
petitor. lie placed sweater on the mark TO
take of, but .he games officials would not
permit il to remain there. The applause was
deafoping when. at the last jump, he was the
Grst victor Of the new Olympic games. The
crowd strained to catch a glimpse OF him, the
artists wanted to sketch him. and the re-
porters Hocked 20 discover his history.
Thomss L. Burke (Boston) was entered for
tho 500 m eire race. but he did not compete.
Throwing the discus followed. The Greeks
were worry confident Of winning this event. A
discus is circular. OF wood. lens shape.
trimmed with iron and has brass plate on
each side. 1t weighs two Kilograms. Every
one except Prince George. who superintended
the gamss. and few officials wore removed
from, tho arena. Then in turn the strong men
of Grosce France and England, and then
Robert Garrett. Princeton's captain. hurled
the discus. The efforts of.the English novices
were ludicrous. Garrstt had practiced a little
during the forenoon; but he bad not even seen
. discus before today. Consequently you may
Imagine our Joy when the American competi-
tors first hurl was "a metres. b2 centimstres.
The Greeks almost tied themselves In knots
In preparing for throw. and then suddenly
stretched out and the discus sailed through
the air. The best Greek shrsw 2S metres. bl
centimetres.
Garretts second and third tries were un'
fortunate. the discus flying crooked. and the
other tims dropping from his hand "a he
pitched. But Garrett's first effort was sum
cisrt 20 secure him place in the finals. His
two opponents were native Greeks, and one
OF them was the champion for many years at
discus throwing. The other Greek was q
famous weight litter. Both were men of
magnificent physious.
The Crock champion In the finals threw
first and scored 2s metres, S8 centimetrss.
Onr champion. Garrett. followed with %
metres. 70 csntimetres. The third man was
so provoked at Garrctt's success that he was
only able to throw "a metres. IS centimstres.
The champion OF Greece then threw the
discus 2s metres. s51s centimstres and the
other Greek hurled it Is metres. Then came
the final effort upon the part of America, and
we all held our breath as Gsrrstt carefully
prepared for the throw. BY this time he had
caught the knack Of hurling the discus. and
had complete confidence in himself. He put
all his energy into the lat cast. and as the
discus few through tho air the vast ooncourss
Of people were silsnt, as IL the structurs wss
y
Grescs. the new land against the old. at tbs
fsvorite pastime Of the older country. and
the Greeks were painfully eager to see their
champion win.
When the discus struck there was tre-
mcndous hurst Of applause from all sides,
and we joined In il with right good will. Tho
Greek champions, however, did not applaud
ss strongly rs they might In fact their ap.
plauss was decidedly feeble. Then the throw
was measured, and the announcement was
made that Garrett Of America had thrown 20
metres. 10 centimstres. and had beaten the
Greeks ut their own game. At this. the
Americans gave three hearty cheers, and the
college CRY Of Princeton startled all present
with intensity and shrlllness Of the "Rah rah-
boom an Princeton.
The Greeks did not know what TO make of
tho college cry. although they seemed 20 un.
dorstsnd that they were defeated, and We
wore ovorjoyed at the fact. There is no doubt
that the Greeks were greatly disappointed,
but they took their defeat In a highly credit.
able manner.
In tho hrst heat of tho 400 metres run two
competitors started before the pistol was
fred and were put back two metres. II. H.
Jamison tPrinceton) was placed the fsrthest
from the pole: but on account OF .he others
being put back he was enabled 70 Jump inside
and directly behind Poleman, a German. who
tried TO fcul the American. But the only re.
cult Of Poleman's tactics was that he allowed
Jamison to gain the lead and the Princeton
man maintained IL to the end. Ho was
heartily chesred as he crossed the line.
Burke won the second heat. He had a
wslkover. trotied the whole straight, and
won BY 10 ysrcS This closed tho sports oi
the day. The royal family and suite srsiu
psrsded the course. and the $1,000 spectator,
present sought their homes filled with wonder
and admiration at The skill OF the Americana