The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-12-08

wit that mada. great hit with the
royalty around the ring. y,
But we are getting away from the
story, and our friend. Georgantas. To
continue. the Greek only managed TO
get in one good throw, which won him
second place Q24 feet).s Martin threw
over 1876. Finn was third. After
the event Martin walked over to Georg-
antas, held out his hand and said:
well, you had bit OF hard luck.
But I want to congratulate you any
way. Sure, you made a great fight for
it." Georgantas put his right hand be-
hind him, turned his back on Sheri-
dan and walked away.
Sheridan was famous from that day
on. When he went back to his hotel
the Greeks all through the city streets
passed his name along and took off
their hats as he went by. This was
only the beginning of Sheridan's ex-
ploits. A little later he competed il.
the standing broad jump. Ray Ewry,
Of the New York, Athletic Club, is
holder Of the world q record in that
event, and it was foregone conclu.
sion that he would win. The real anx-
iety was about the places. There
were over thirty competitors, gathered
from all countries. -
Ewry won, but Martin Sheridan was
second with q jump of 10 feet 21s
inches. Robertson, Of the Irish A. A.
was third. l. think Martin Sheridan
was more pleased over winning second
in the jump than over taking the dis
Gus throw. He was just beginning to
demonstrate that he was d. great all.
around athlete. Next, a couple of days
later, came the stone throwing. Sheri-
dan was to meet Georgantas again.
hGeorgantas was the great stone throw
er. The event was held in the Stadion.
with at least q hundred and fifty thou
sand people, counting those OH tho
hill above the arena, looking on. Geos-
antas threw first, and the stone
wllirled out far beyond the marks
made by the other contestants. At last
Sheridan's turn came, ~ ,,,'...-.......
Martin went back ,,n.ssr the runway,
carrying the stone. Stopping for a
moment, he gathered all his, energies
for the trial. Then down he came,
running like a war horse, with his
brown hair flying in the wind, his
jaws set, his blue eyes staring out over
the clay infield toward the numbered
stake that marked Georgantas' throw.
1t would have made a picture for an
artist to paint, that trial Of Sheri-
dams. Flying past the chalk mark he
hurled the stone far af1eld. Turning
over and over in the air. it finally
plunged into the clay several feet be-
yond the Greeks throw.
Sheridan turned and glanced at
James E. Sullivan, who was one of the
Judges, then stepped back into the
ranks Of waiting competitors. In that
great throw. springing with all his
might from his left leg. he had straine
his knee. But like fighter who tries
to conceal his injuries from an enemy
Sheridan walked straight as long as
he was in range Of Georgantas' eyes.
1t was the Greeks turn to try. These
| <1,yo 70 okA -
The battle lay between them. Twice
Georgantas made the effort and fell
short. On the third attempt he bea!
Sheridan's mark and took the lead
again. Martin tried his best, but his
weakened left knee would not stand
the strain, and he could not increase
his throw. Georgantas, with another
grand effort, added a few inches. An
other Greek threw just behind Sher;-
dan, and the contest was over.
From the stone throwing Sheridan
went into the shot putting. And he
won again. Two f1rsts and two seconds
were now on his score card-sixteer
points. The Pentathlon Gan all-around
contest of five events) was next on the
program. Sheridan started and took
second place in the broad jumping, but
here his injured knee troubled him
and he dropped out. Two days late,
he was at it again, in the Greek dis
Gus throw and the standing high jump
Both events were held at the same
time and only a few yards apart. Firs,
; Martin would jump and then he'd rur
across the field to throw. The discu,
} was finished first.
, There was one thing the Greeks in
tended to win, by hook or crook, ant
that was the Greek discus throwing
9eorgantas was their best man. Mar.
tin had already beaten him in practice
but the English speaking Greeks tolt
, us that Sheridan could not win, ever
IL he threw the missile clear over thu
:, | cSl.