Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-31
AT ST. LOUIS.
Marathon Race One Of Features at
Fair Grounds.

st. Louis. Aug. s q 1s,r, olymp-
race contest of the kind ever held
! and the first ever held on American soil,
I participated in by 81 men classed among
The tieetest runners of the world. was
won. today, by Thomas }. Hicks of Cam
bridge, Mass, who is the hiSt american
10 win this event celebrated in the re-
vival of Olympic games. Albert j. Corey
OF Chicago, native-born frenchman,
crossed the goal line second. and A. l..
Newton of New York City, crossed third.
The distance of the race was 40 kilone-
| tres, equal to "A miles and 1900 yards This
distance was run by Hicks in the officially
| announced time of Ihiee hours. y minutes
| and SO seconds; Corey, three hours, "a
minutes and l6 seconds: Newton, three
hours. AZ minutes and 33 seconds.
The first Olympic Marathon race was
held at Athens, Greece. In lS5d, and won
| by Loues a Greek in two hours and 30
minutes; the second at Paris In 1900 won
by Teato of France. in two hours and
5? minutes. The winner OF today's race
| ,rt' ivrd a cup presented by President
| Francis of the Exposition. and an Olymp-
| ic championship gold medal. the second a
silver medal, and the third medal of
bronze.
Fred Lord Of New York City, was the
Inst runner to cross the goal line, but was
| Immediately disqualified on the charge
hat he had ridden about three miles in
an automobile in traverSing the course
CT the country roads. Lord readily ad
Ini;t"I that he had done ST. because of his
/ hESi~al exhaustion for Il time.
There We're thousands of spectators in
the Stadium ampitheatre to witness the
start. The threatening day had cleared
and the sun Shone brightly. Forty run
neis had been entered in the race but
only Il started. of whom IL were Ameri-
cans. ~ Greeks, two katfirS. one Cuban,
one trenchman and one man from South
Africa. The starters pistol cracked ut
1903 O'Clock and Hicks sprans into the lead
with the field following at his heels. The
tINr.l lam h.a t.ln. I'm
and then, RAISING through gate, struck
| out on the country road course, which
was designated by red flags showing the
way. In entering the country road course
Hicks had fallen back with six mel
ahead. The course led over hills and
through valleys innumerabe. being pro-
nounced one OF the most uphill and down.
hill courses ever travelled by athletes in
events. and the roads Were deep in dust.
| Spectators were gathered in tnlUnsss at
different points along the way and iu.;d-
ly cheered the racers as they passed. A
vanguard of horsemen cleared the thor
| oughfares, and judges. physicians and
newspaper men followed in automobiles.
The first turn was made three miles out
N. Spring OF New York City. Newton
was fifth and Hicks was seventh. Corey
followed as ninth. Three miles farther
on Newton sprinted to the front and with
Carr of New York City, held the lead,
running at a steady gait. Hicks in the
meantime had spurted little and passed
this point sixth man. with Corey, the
second man. behind him.
When the half way point was reached
ord, who had become exhausted. passed
in an automobile. Melor was The first
man to pass the half way point. followed
by Newton a short distance behind and
closely following Newton came Hicks.
running easily. The rest of the held came
Struggling along and soon after having
passed the half way point several were
A
Grawey OF Boston, dropped, overcome by
pains in his legs, pu. after rubbirS them
Il bit he got up and gaincly proceeded.
Mellor was overcome by pain III his side
and was forced to abandon the race.
Hicks hat steadily forged ahead alter
passing Melior bur WAS apparently ex-
hausted. in the distance behind him
Newton was coming along slowly but APP
parenty easily. Corey AT that time was
out of sight climbing hill. The fact
that he had gained the lead spurred Hicks
ing trot was to some degree accelerated
Meantime Frank Pierce of New York
City, John G. Lordon Df Cambridge, Mass,
and Nj. Spring of New York City, mad be-
come exhausted and were taken into au-
tomobiles
W hen the 20-milc point had been reached
Lord again started running. Hicks was
running with mechanical exactness
slowly and with every motion of his body
Indicating that he was suffering from ia
tisue But he was still full of grit. In
answer to a question as to how he was
feeling he called back of his shoulder.
Il want something to eat as soon as l get
there. | am nearly starved"
lie maintained his pace until within two
miles of the goal when he dropped to a
walk in climbing hill, the first time he
had ceased running. At the top of the hill
crowd cheered him vigorously. which re-
newed his tagging energy and he broke
into a pace. maintaining it until he reach
cd The entrance to the Stadium track
Then amid tremendous cheering Of spec
tators he doubled his pace, rushed half
around the track and in the gathering
darkness crossed the tape a winner
The crowd had scarcely quoted from
its ovation when Corey, who had made
Tremendous headway in the last stretch.
ran In and crossed the line second
Again cheering ensued and when 1t had
died away Newton ran into the Stadium
and scored as third man.