The San Francisco call., 1904-08-31
AMERICAN WINS
The MARATHIIN
Thomas J. Hicks Defeats
Men of All Nations in His
toric Contest at st. Louis
ONE MAN USES AN AUTO
Tires of Running, Accepts
a Lift, Finishes First
and Is Then Disqualified

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 3O.-The Olympic
Marathon race. the third foot race con-
test OF the kind ever held and the first
ever held on American soil, partici-
pated in by thirty-one men, classed
among the ieetest runners OF the
world. was won to-day by Thomas ].
Hicks of Cambridge, Mass, who is the
first American 10 win this event, cele-
brated in the revival Of Olympic games.
Albert J. Corey Of Chicago, q native
born Frenchman. crossed the goal line
second. A. L. Newton Of New York
City finished third. The distance Of the
race was forty kilometers. equal to
twenty-four miles and fifteen hundred
yards. This distance was run by
Hicks IN the officially announced time
OF hours. IS minutes and So seconds;
Corey, hours. "a minutes and Is sec
onds; Newton, hours, A minutes and
50 seconds.
The first Olympic Marathon race was
held at Athens. Greece. in 1886. and
was won by Lieues. a Greek, in ? hours
and rs minutes the second Olympic
Marathon race was held in Paris in
1900 and won by Teato of France in
2 hours and So minutes. The winner
Of to-day's race received a cup pre-
sented by President Francis Of the ex-
position and an Olympic championship
gold medal; second, a silver medal, and
third, a medal OF bronze.
RUNNER Is DISQUALIFIED.
Fred Lord Of New York City was the
first runner TO cross the goal line, but
he was Immediately disqualified on the
charge that he had ridden about three
miles in an automobile in traversing
the course over the country roads.
Lord readily admitted that he had done
so because Of physical exhaustion for
time. Forty runners had been en-
tered IN the race, but only thirty-one
started. OF these sixteen were Ameri
cans. ten Greeks. two Kaffirs. one
cuban, one Frenchman and one man
from South Africa.
The starters pistol cracked at 1903
o'clock and Hicks sprang into the lead
with the field following at his heels.
The racers ran five laps on the Stad-
ium track and then, passing through a
gate, struck out on the country road
course, which was designated by red
flags placed along the way.
In entering the course Hicks had
fallen back with six men ahead. The
course led over hills and through dales
innumerable, being pronounced one of
the most uphill and downhilI courses
ever Travelled by athletes in any event
and the roads were deep in dust Spec
tators were gathered in throngs at diff
ferent points along the way and Justify
cheered the men as they passed. A
vanguard Of horsemen cleared the
thoroughfares and judges. physicians
and new spaper men followed in auto
mobiles.
HICKS GREAT PERFORMANCE.
When the halfway point was reached
Lord, who had become exhausted,
passed in an automobile. Mellor was
the first man TO pass the halfway
point, followed by Newton a short dis
tance behind. Closely following New
ton, came Hicks, running easily.
When the twenty-mile point had been
reached Lord again started running
Hicks was running with mechanical
exactness, slowly and with every mo-
ton Of his body indicating by it's regu-
larity and apparent effort that he was
SUI
fun Of grit. In answer 10 question
as 70 how he was feeling he called
back over his shoulder: Il want some
thing to eat as soon as 1 get there. J
am nearly starved"
He maintained his pace until withir
two miles Of the goal when he drop.
ped to z walk in climbing a hill the
first time he had ceased running. Al
the top Of the hill a crowd cheered hin
vigorously, which renewed his haggine
energy and he broke into run, main.
taining il until he reached the entranc,
TO the Stadium track. Then, amid ire
mendous cheering Of spectators he re
doubled his pace, rushed half wa,
around the track and in the gatherin,
darkness crossed the tape a winner.
The crowd had scarcely quieted from
its ovation when Corey. who had mad,
tremendous headway in the las
stretch, ran into the Stadium an,
crossed the line second. Again tn,
cheering ensued and when it had die,
away Newton ran into the Stadium
and scored as third man.
Long after night had fallen otbe
runners struggled in.
William R. Garcia Of San Francisco
one Of the runners, was found Ivfn,
unconscious tonight by the roadside
several miles from the Stadium. II
was conveyed TO the Emergency Hos
pital at the Worlds Fair. where he wa
restored 10 consciousness. The physi
cans state that he win probably b
iuily recovered after a good rest.