The herald., 1896-04-07
OLYMP|AN SPORT REVIVED
EIGHTY THOUSAND PEOPLE GATHER TO
WITNESS THE CONTESTS
The Exercises Open With q Te Deum, but
Notwithstanding This Religious Tone, the
Americans Run Away With All the Pre-
liminsry Honors THE Winners
Associated Press Special Wire.

ATHENS, April 6.--The athletic con-
tests which are intended by the pro-
jectors as revival of the ancient Hell
lenic contests opened today, and the
preliminary exercises were accompa-
MED by an impressive ceremonial.
Great enthusiasm was manifested by
the people and the occasion is being OBJ
served as a national festival. the city
being gaily and brilliantly decorated
and thousands of sight-seers being
abroad Many visitors are here, at
tracted by the athletic events.
The day opened with a religious cere-
mony the singing of TIE Deum in the
cathedral. This was attended by the
royal family and 81 great throng OF
spectators and auditors.
Although the sky was overcast and
threatened rain this did not detract in
any degree from the enthusiastic inter-
est in the sports. The number of spec
tators who looked on at the contests is
estimated at 10000. The royal family
entered the enclosure at O'Clock, eX-
cept the Crown Prince Constantine, the
Duke of Sparta, who has been an active
factor in the making of the arrange
ments for the contests, and who today
accompanied the organization commit
tee. The crown prince and the COM
mittee met King George as he advanced
in the midst of the arena. There he was
welcomed by his son on behalf of the
committee, the crown prince begging
him to take over the stadion, which had
been restored as nearly as possible to
it's pristine condition through the gen
erosity of M. Averoff. whose statue was
unveiled yesterday King George in re-
ply praised the Incompatible beauty of
the restored structure, and cordially
welcomed athletic young men who have
come from all parts of the world TO lend
additional brilliancy to the festival. The
Lei formal nOSSpSSiOn
Stadion in the name of Greece.
The united military bands, playing
as one, then rendered a hymn, while the
king, the members of the royal family
and their attendants. took the place
which had been allotted to them, all
overlooking the arena from an adVan-
tageous point of view and at the same
time in sight of those who had gathered
to witness the games.
The vast concourSe of people, eager
with interest, yet silent and attentive
under the open sky, listened to the cere-
mony, the religious touch which was
given to the exercises, the historic as
sociations of the place and the almost
reverent purpose manifested to revive
in some sort and preserve the memory
of the cherished glorieS of antiquity, all
appealed strongly to the mind of each
of so 900 persons who were ranged about
the arena.
All this was a stimulus to the young
athletes gathered to test their prowess
and all were eager in the competition,
although the utmost courtesy was man
ifeSted in the intercourse of the con-
teStantS.
The members of the American teams
of Princeton and the Boston Athletic
association came into the arena in eX-
cellent condition and full of confidence
and the greeks We're plainly in fear of
proved that the confidence of the Amer
leans and the fears of the Greeks were
both fully warranted, the Americans
carrying off first honors in each event
in which they entered. Today's con-
tests We're preliminary trials and so
decided nothing definitely as to the
final awards ofvictory. The trials were
running races at 100 metres, 400 metres
and 500 metres and throwing the discs,
as sport as Greece itsslf, and to which
the putting the shot of modern athletes
is most nearly allied. The hop, skip and
was also contested and won by an
American.
was won by f. A. Lane of the Prince
ton team; Zokoloy, a Hungarian, sec
ond. Time. Il 20 seconds.
In the second heat at 100 metres,
Thomas p. Curtis of the Boston Athletic
association Won; Chaalkokondghis a
Greek, coming IN second. lime, IL 40
seconds.
In the third heat of the 100 metres
Thomas +. Burke of the Boston Athletic
association won; Osnan. a German,
second. Time, II 40 seconds.
The fourth heat in the 10 metre dash
, is fixed for Friday.
In the running race for 800 metres
none of the Americans competed.
In throwing the discs Captain Robert
Garrett of Princeton won against the
Greeks, Paras, Revopulo and Verie.
In the 40 metre running dash, first
heat, H. B. Jameson of Princeton won;
| Osman, the German, being second. In
the second heat, Thomas Z. Burke won
! Gimely, an Englishman, being second
/ OF the above mentioned Americans,
| f. A. Lane is from Franklin, o. He
prepared for Princeton at the Witten-
borg college, Springfield, o.
/ Thomas II. Curtis was born in San
| Francisco and is "a years old. He has
| been football player and is considered
| the most prominent hurdler in America
| He is of medium height and weighs
about las pounds trained.
| Thomas E. Burke is not yet 81. He
| weighs 144 pounds. He was born ir
| Boston and won his spurs at the inter-
! national games between the New York
| Athletic club in New York, when he
ran the 440 yards in 49 seconds.
| Robert Garrett of Baltimore is q
years of age, weighs IFS pounds ant
| stands six feet and two inches in height
Jameson is from Peoria, ILL., He is q
n nierhe. 4