The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-12-08
He Defeated the Powerful Greelzl Champion
at His Own Favorite Sport and
Became the Hero of Athens.
Alone, the Winner More Than Doubled the
Points Made by His Contestants
From England and Scotland.

and records are still preserved, some
OF them, at least, OH marble tablets
chiselled by forgotten sculptors. II
WONDER unused Sheridan, "if the old
Greeks that walked under here were
better men than we are. They We're
big fellows have heard, and a, cham
pion was a great man in those days.
But I am thinking that all American,
and an Irishman at that, is as good
as any Of Them" And we walked Oh
out into the sunlight 90.
There were Huneariaps training
there, and Germans and Frenchlnen
and Swedes-and others of all shades
and nationalities.
Down the middle Of the field a man
was walking proudly. He was a, re-
markably fine looking man, tall, well
built, graceful with broad shoulders
and deep chest. His skin was burned
to a dark brown, as If 1t had been
stained with. -wal.,1e:r Juice. His hair
was long and biaclS-s--It-wasasbs brushed
straight back from his. forehead ami
fell in waving locks oTer his ears. The
effect Of his coming was startling. But
for the light blue running pants that
he wore he might have been some an
cient Greek athlete walking out from
the victor's gateway and coming down
to test our skill. Sheridan turned to
watch him, then advanced. "Hello
Georgantas,'' called Martin.
| The Greek, smiling, came and shook
! hands with him. Sheridan had met
him in the games two years ago at ST.
Louis, and had beaten him. Now the
Greek was on his own ground. Near
by there was a piece Of dressed marble
lying on the ground. 1t looked for all
the world like a huge oblong equine
capsule, and it weighed 141s pounds.
Georgantas picked it UP, retired fif-
teen yards up the field, poised it care.
fully in his right hand, and came run
ming down to chalk line-furiously-
like man about to make q long jump.
Ae he reached the mark he sprang into
the air. His arm shot out straight.
and the piece of Pentallic marble
hurtled through the air. It was a mag
niacent throw. had no idea that
Sheridan could come near 1t. But Mar
tin took his turn and dropped the rock
a few inches over the Creeks mark.
Then came a fine contest. The peo-
pie in the marble galleries clapped
their hands. The Films and Hungari-
ans, the Egyptians, the English, The
French and Americans-all the rest
crowded around to see the unexpected
clash Of champions. Martin threw
phenomenally well. But it was the
Greeks own game. His skill in it he
inherited from ancestors traced back
over thousands of years. With a final
splendid effort he outthrew Martins
best by several feet. Sheridan went
head and walked back again. The
Greek was smiling. Sheridan went u1
to him and held out his hand. The
Greek shook it.
'tieorgantas, said Sheridan, 81
thought 1 could beat you, but you arc
a better man than 1 am at this game
I'll run you as close as can, but ]
think you can win. Let's go and have
a try-out Of the discus" All this was
in the practice. In the games Georgian
tas only beat Martin about two feet
with the stone, and that after Sheri-
dams knee had given away. Up to
that time Sheridan led. Surely It was
a close run" for the Greek On the
same practice day in the Stadion Sher-
idan and Georgantas had it out with
the discus, Greek style.
Before going further, I'll explain
that this Greek style Of discus throw.
ing is a bit odd. In the first place ev.
erything in Greece is founded on hel
!: ancient slories. The Statdion itself i,
-rebuilt on the ruins of the ancient one
The public buildings in Athens am