The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-01
RACE TO THE SWIFT
The Olympic Marathon
Won by Thomas ]. Hicks
of Massachusetts.
(By the Associated Press.)

ST. Louis, Aug. 30.-The Olympic
Marathon race, one-third foot race.
the only contest Of the kind ever held
on American soil, participated in by
thirty-one men classed among the
fleeteSt runners of the world, was won
today by Thomas J. Hicks, of Cam
bridge, Mass, Who is the first Ameri-
can to win this event celebrated in the
revival Of Olympic gates Albert j..
Corey, of Chicago, native born
Frenchman, crossed the goal line sec
ond, and A. l.. Newton, of New York
city, crossed third. The distance of
the race was forty kilometers, equal
to twenty-four miles and $500 yards.
This distance was run by Hicks in the
officially announced time OF three
hours, twenty-eight minutes and fifty
three seconds; Corey three hours, thir-
ty-four minutes and sixteen seconds;
Newton three hours. forty-seven min
uteS, and thirty-three seconds.
The winner of today's race received
cup presented by President Francis,
of the exposition and an Olympic
championship gold medal, the second
a silver medal and the third medal
of bronze.
LOrg is Disqualified.
Fred Lorg, of New York city, wai
the first runner to cross the goal line
but he was Immediately disqualified
on the charge that he has ridden
about three miles in an automobile in
travcrsing the course over the coun-
try roads Lorg readily admitted that
he had done so because Of physical
exhaustion for a time.
There were thousands of spectators
in the stadium amphtheatre to wit
No cfn rt Fnr.tX hD n
been entered in the race, but only
thirty-one started. of whom sixteen
were Americans, ten Greeks, two KAT
frs, one Cuban, one Frenchman and
one man from South Africa.
The starters pistol cracked at 500
o'clock and Hicks sprsng into the lead
with the field following at his heels,
The racers ran five laps on the stadium
track and then passing through q
gate, struck out on the country road
course which was designated by red
flags showing the way. The course
led over hills and through wales in
Vulnerable, being pronounced one of
the most uphill and down-hill courses
ever travelled by athletes in events
and the roads were deep in dust. A
vanguard of horsemen cleared tho
thoroughfares and judges, physicians
and newspaper men followed in auto
mobiles.
The Running of Hicks.
Hicks ran with a mechanical eX-
actness, slowly and with every motion
OF his body indicating by its regular
ity ana apparent effort that he was
suffering from fatigue. But he Wad
full OF grit. In answer to a questlo !
as to how he was feeling ne calle>
back over his shoulder. Il want some
thing to eat as soon as ] get there,
I'm nearly starved" He maintained his
pace until within two miles of the
goal when he dropped to walk In
climbing hill, the first time he had
ceased running. At the top Of the
hill a crowd cheered him vigorously,
which renewed his tagging energy and
! he broke into a pace, maintaining II
until he reached the entrance to the
stadium track. Then. amid tremend-
/ Gus cheering of spectators, he doubled
his pace, rushed half way around the
track and in the gathering darkness
crossed the tape-the winner. Several
runners dropped exhausted along the
road.
/ Two are needed to start quarrel,