The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-08-14

aggeration in the minds of any OF the
1000 spectators who witnessed the
finishing struggle of the Marathon race
at the Olympic arena to say that
1t was the most thrilling athletic
event that has occurred since the Mar
atlon race in ancient Greece, where
the victor fell at the goal, and, with
a wave of triumph. died.
The veteran athletes of Europe,
America, Africa and Australia. who
have seen the greatest struggles of
every sort on land INC water for ath-
letic supremacy, declared that there
was nothing comparable to the great
race within their memories or in other
olympiads since the modern cycle of
these began.
1t was a spectacle the like OF which
none living had ever seen and none
who saw it expect ever to see it re-
peated. The rae itself, with 5S of the
best men winnowed from the athletes
of four countries competing, the arena
where it vas finished in the presence
of an enormous cosmopolitan assem-
royal representatives of several ma
tions and hosts of finely dressed meu
and women from the most fashionable
circles of Europe, as well as several
thousand Americans. and the dramatic
and exciting denouement at the end,
SOIllDlllCu W make d historic Oay.
American Day.
1t was an American day and the
resentments of the previous day which
ranked strongly in the breasts of
Americans here, were forgotten not
only in the victory of John f. Hayes.
the Irish-American Athletic club run
ner, but in The splendid record made
by the other Americans who were we'll
to the front in the line of those that
finished.
Since the beginning of the Olympic
games the great rivalry llad been be-
tween England and America and while
the minor competitions on the track
and field in which the two nations spe-
cialized We're fought out. Englishmen
consoled themselves for all the Ameri-
can success with the though. THAT in
the domain of long distance running
they always had been supreme and
whatever prizes they failed to grasp in
this the c%olonials would pick up.
Ene!ishmen Distanced.
The sequel may be old briefly. Six
Americans started in the Marathon
race and nine English OF
the first ten men to reach the coveted
We're officially placed us follows:
Hayes, first; Joseph Forshaw, Mis-
souri, Athletic club. third; A. R. Well
ton. Lawrence Y. NJ. c. A, fourth, and
Lewis Tewannina. the Carlisle In
dian. fifth.
The first 1nglishman who crossed
the line came in twelfth. He was w.
ed upon to win. Duncan, the former
English champion, who won the pre-
liminary trial, fell out at the twelfth
mile, and like several other contestants,
was taken into a motor car and
brought to the stadium.
II ;. ,,,,;<1o,11
race is not only u triumph for he
United States, but in a larger sense,
for America, because seven of the cad
ers at the end We're from North Amer
lea. The three Canadians. Wood, the
Indian; Simpson and Lawson, finished
fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively,
and with the representatives of the
United States, deprived England of it's
claim to leadership in the long dis
n running branch OF athletes.
Dorando Is Hero.
1t will not snatch any laurels from
the brow of Hayes, who won a good
race, to say that the hero of the day
was the Italian, Dorando. The adj
miration and sympathy OF every per
liant Italian, who, although he did not
win, deserved to win and did more
within the limit of his powers thar
any other ma who ran.
The crisis in a battle on which the
life of a nation hung could hardly have
more impressive than Dorando's
entrance into the stadium. Ten min
utes before the m~egaphone announced,
THE runners are in sight" guns had
proclaimed the arrival of the leaders
at the nearest station of the course and
intense silence overhung the sta
br%eathlessly the approach Of the first
For ten minutes all eyes were TO-
cused on the gate, almost directly OPP
posite the royal stand, where the con-
testants were to enter. Finally, after
pense, a runner came down the incline
leading to the track. He was clothed
in a white shirt and red knee pants.
He stood for a moment as though
dazed and then turned to the left, al
though a red cord had been drawn
ton for the runners to follow. 1t was
evident also to everyone that the man
was practically %delirious. A squad Of
officials ran out and expostulated with
him, but apparently he was afraid that
they We're trying to deceive him and
fought to go on to the left. At length
he turned about and started on the
right path along the track.
Staggers as in Dream.
Then followed an exhibition never
to be forgotten by anyone who wit
messed it. The colors and the number
told the spectators that it was Do
Tando. and his name was on every lip.
He staggered along the cinder path
like a man in a dream, his gait being
a walk nor a run, but simply
a founder, with arms shaking and legs
tottering. BY devious ways he went
on. People had lost thought Of his
nationality and p%artisanship was for
gotten. They rose in their seats and
saw only the small man clad in red
pants tottering onward with his head
SO ben forward that the chin rested on
his chest. They knew nothing of him,
as he a not been mentioned among
the probable winners, but they realized
that his struggle must have been a ter
rife one to bring him thus to the
threshold of victory.
Dorando staggered on toward the
turn and dropped to the ground. Inn
mediately a crowd of track officials
and followers swarmed about him. 1t
was evident that the man, with un-
daunted courage. had run himself to
the very limit Of endurance. None ex-
pected to see him rise, for, haggard
and drawn, he had fallen. like a good
soldier, when the last bit Of vitality
was exhausted.