Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-14
OLYMPIC CONTESTS BEGIN
Royalty Fills Boxes for Opening
Races in Stadium.
RIsH.AMERIcANs RUN WELL
r"Neral Heats of Fifteen Hundred
Meter Race Taken by New York
sBrIntcr-EnEland Fol-
lows Close.

lows Close.
L1NuDN July t3.-The American team
Of athletes arc well satisfied with the re-
anlts obtained by them on the first day Of
tho fifth revival Of the Olympic cham
pionship games. which opened at the
Stadium here today. having got two msn,
J. T. Sullivan and Melvin W. Sheppard,
both OF the Irish-American Athletic club,
into the final heat, which will be run to-
morrow. Of the 1~,500-meter race. They were
unfortunate. however. In the first heat,
when two OF their men at the distance had
TO run against each other. and these same
conditions prevailed In the second heat,
when ]. p. Halstead, New York Athletic
club. was beaten by his team partner.
Melvin w. Sheppard, 10y half a yard. The
Americans point out the injustice caused
by the English drawing for heats. as shown
by the fact that HaIstcad. although he ran
much faster than the winners Of the other
heats, is eliminated from the final, as he
finished second.
Royal box Fills.
Shortly after 3 O'Clock ir the afternoun
the royal box. which had been fitted UP for
the ccommodation of forty persons, began
to fill up, tho early arrivals including
the crown prince and princess Of Sweden
and their children. the crown prince and
princess Of Greece, the duke aEi duchess
Of Connaught and tho duke and duchess
OF Argyle. a short time afterwards the
playing Of the national anthem by a band
OF the Grehadier guards announced the
arrival OF King Edward, Queen Alexandra
and Princess Victoria with their suites, who
had been driven IN state from Buckinnham
palace. Lord Dcsbrough, chairman OF the
council Of the British olympic association,
welcomed their majcsties at the entrance
to the Stadium and presented the members
Of the International olympic council.
AS the king entered the royal box a
buElar gave the signal at the gates leading
TO the competitors quarters flew open and
the athletes marched out under the banners
of their respective nations. The procession
was formed In alphabetical order. Austria
leading. with the exception that the English
speaking races came last. This latter sec.
ton was led by the American team with
Carols Of the Chicago Athletic association.
at its head, carrying the stars and stripes.
TIL British colonies were directly behind
the Americans and at the end of the
United Kingdom as hosts. As the process
sion came into the Stadium each country
receiped applause. that for America and
the colonies being particularly enthusiastic.
as the audience which braved the elements
TO witness the opening Of the great games
included large contingents from across the
seas.
Weather BecOmcs Better,
AS the day advanced the downpour gave
way to a drizzle, which, however, soon
passed over, and as the time approached
Tor tho opening the sur came out occasion
any and. with the assistance of a light
breeze. frightened up the decorations.
Crowds gathered inside and outside of
the Stadium, and long before the arrival
or the king and queen the cheaper sections
OF the Stadium were filled with spectators
prepared to stay OUT the afternoon no mat
ter what the weather conditions were.
AT the last moment a change was made
In order OF the events which were 10 follow
tho formal opening. The first and second
heats OF the 1900 meters run placed first
and both J. d. Llghtbody of the Chicago
Athletic association. and J. p. Sullivan OF
the Irish-American Athletic club, were
drawn in the first and ]. p. IIalstead of
the New York Athletic club, in the second
meats respectively, and. In fact. there will
be two Americans in most Of the eight
heats of this event to be run.
In the 400 meters swimming event, which |
Is second on the program, Budd Goodwin
OF the New York Athletic club, was drawn
In the first; Harry ]. Hcbner OF the Hin
OILS Athletic club second; c. NJ. Dariel, New
hork Athletic club. in the third heats. Only
winners In each heat and the fastest loser
are TO conIpet in the second round.
Hill and Vanden Dries were drawn in the
first heat Of the ZOO meters tandem bicycle
event.
Grand Parade of Athletes,
Before the arrival of the king the ath
letes paraded around the ground. The rep.
reseniatives Of the United Kingdom look
formidable with their 5lS men. The nearest
approach to this number was Frances 2s
Sweden came next with 1863 men and then
Hungary with 15t men. The Americans
would have had the next largest army with
l4S' but Trainer Murphy refused to allow
all The men to come up for the ceremony
insisting that they remain at their quarter,
NJ Brighton until called upon for moro
serious work. In all twenty-one countries
were represented and among that GATHER
ing Turkey was represented with one com
pet!tcr.
King Edward Says Word.
The athletes having taken up positions
facing the royal box. the Americans IN tho
center. thanked by the Canadians and thu
Englishmen. Lord Desborough narebe,
up with the members Of the executive com
mlttee and said:
VIII your majesty graciously declare
tho Olympic games opencd?" I
In reply, the king said:
II declare the Olympic gumcs Of Lon
don open"
At the completion Of this ceremony. cheer.
ing broke out from al, parts OF the stadium.
After the demonstration had died down
the athletes gave three cheers for hts
majesty and then marched past the ROYAL
box.
The men made \ splendid appearance
though, unfortunately. the weather pre-
vented all OF the competitors from coming
out IN athletic costumes. The Americans
were among those who wore street clothes
but. even thus attired, the size Of the men
evoked much favorable comment. RaInb
Roce OF the Olympic club, San Francisco
and Lee J. Talbot Of tho Irish American
Athletic club and tho other giants OF tho
team towering over a majority Of those
whom they are TO meet. Only fifteen
members OF the American team were in the
parade. and this contingent appeared small
beside those teams representing the United
Kingdom and some OF the continental
but nevertheless their reception