The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-11-16

| faction. But even this was peloW
Hoyt's own previous record, 1t is
worthy of note that in the whole
course of the games no world record
was broken.
Three times already before this
the American flag, and no other, had
gone up on this day. A detach-
ment of the crew Of the San Fran
cisco, who had not, like the other
Americans, got tired OF cheering on
former days, roared Justify every
time the flag was displayed. But
with the pole vaulting America
America rested its case; and even
before its flag went up for this
fourth time the great event OF this
great day came in, preventing envy,
and stopping for a time the talk OF
American invincibility.
The Greeks had waited long for
their turn. On Tuesday they thought
that in putting the shot their man
had won, whereas he had not reach
ed by several inches mark attained
by Carrot in one OF his earlier trials
For the first time one then felt the
real heaving of the heart OF the
multitude. Misled by the applause
and sharing the general impression
the man intrusted with the posting
Of the record put up the number OF
the Greek as the winner. The re-
yulsion Of feeling which came with
the speedy correction OF the error
was all the more painful. 1t was not
until quarter past FIVE on Thurs
day that the Greek flag was run up,
when the Judges decided that Metro
poulos had surpassed the others in
the gymuastic exercise with the
rings. Then the difference was made
manifest between generous applause
hitherto bestowed on foreigners and
real delight in victory, all the more
intense for the long delay and the
disappointment. Then it was that
il the seats had not rested upon solid
earth they might have come down
The young victor after being carried
about on the shoulders of the crowd
went to the dressing-room, kissed by
his father and brother as he passed
them. At last the Greeks had an
Olympionikes, although it was only
in minor feat of gymnastics. But
greater things we're yet to come.
The run from Marathon was felt
by all the Greeks to be the principal
event OF the games. National pride
would have been deeply touched at
losing it, Some of those who had
practised this run in anticipation
would have been almost, if not quite
content to reach the goal, and like
the ancient runner on the day of the
great battle, shout out with their
remaining breath chaiete nikopen,
and die.
For this run there were eighteen
entries, twelve of them Greeks.
Germany, France, Hungary, the
United States, and Australia were
also represented. Stories we're cir
culated regarding the prowess OF
the Australian and the American,
who had come in first and second in
the 1900 metre race. A mile run to
be sure was different thing from
coursing that long road from Mara
thon. Still the Greeks we're anxious.
The men started, from Marathon at
two o'clock on Friday, to run into
the Stadion to string stretched out
at the Sphendone, distance of 40
kilometres, or about TWENTY-FIVE
miles. The one hundred thousand
people waiting for them in and
about the Stadion could know moth.
ing of the stages of the contest, how
three foreigners, the dreaded Aus
tralian and the dreaded American,
and even before them, the French
man, took the lead and held it up to
a point within few miles OF Athens;
how they one by one then felt the
awful strain of the agony, and at
last succumbed easily to anyone who
seemed to have retained more