The sun., 1908-07-19
OLYMPIC TEAM SIDELIGHTS
BRITONS GIVE FROSTY RECEP-
TION, BUT KNOW AN ATHLETE.

Jim Sullivan Hand and Glove with Lord
uesf,orouEl, but That Docs Not Mean
our Pole yaultcrs Can Dig Holes-John
FlanasaR's Palaycring Makes Friends
Loss has been written about the team OF
athletes now at the Olympic games than
any Bimilar combination that ever before
left these shores. However, the last, mall
brought few private missiyes which con-
tain some sidelights On the team and Its
doin1s In London. No doubt from now on
there will be plenty Of these letters. and the
peor,Ie at home win not pine for news OF
the boys. One letter il as follows.
well. we're here. Did you ever hit an
iceberg town in the middle OF summer and
meet lot of icicles walking around on
frozen feathers? Well. that Is, dear ole
Iuni,on' and tho men who are running the
Olympic games. When we, hoped of the
train at the station there were q few of the
main guys there, and they gave US a welcome
in their way, that Is with a passive nod.
stee.y stare and Pleased to meet you
indeed
of course the reception chilled us. the
preat athletes from America. because we had
q sort of opinion that we should be met with
sixteen band wagons and q wild eyed MOB
cheering for the wonders at every move
No 6and wagons for the English; they are
n pufely unexcitable race, and perhaps after
ali ID Is the best thing to take things calmly
suppose, too. that the sudden change from
handshakin ing made the contrast more no
ticeable. Among those who met us were
p. L.Fisher, who is secretary Of the Amateur
Athletio Association; j. Fowler Dixon,
member Of the British Olympic committee:
James p, Sulfiv an, the American commits
sioner;W. CD Kelly. and Simon Gillis OF the
New York A. c., who had just won the Eng
lish championship with the hammer.
sThen there was A. B. George. who lived
I'm America for q number Of years and won
several championships under the colors OF
the old Manhattan A. G. He only knew
Mike Murphy and Matty Halpin. as athletes
Of his day have either died or joiHed the has
been brigade. So much for the reception.
We passed out Of the station as tamely
as a lot Of pedlers bound on rural tour
and headed for the Morton Hotel at Russell
Square. Then we bad a bit Of trouble, for
the Morton could not take us all In together,
neither could any hotel In London for that
matter, for the big town is full to the doors.
AFTER q little delay Matty got US rooms
close by and arrangements were made Tor
our meals at the Morton. 1t suited every
one. but 1t was too good, for the boys dld
not want to 70 to bed at all but stay up al
night dancing and singing with the ,s EngHsn issa
Murphy or 'Halpin. and without much de-
Law the most of the team were hustled down
to Brighton, away from all temptamons.
Il is much more costly. but Mr.. Sullivan
eaid 1t had to be done II the boys e1peoteo
to 20 70 the scratch in good form. The big
feliowe, the weight throwers. stayed at the
Morton, and they are in clover. John Flan-
aran Ia the white haired boy OF the bunch.
and he il having the time OF his ME, and nus
palavering way has won all the parmaias
and mattresses, and they are all Vymg 70
wait on him.
aWe had one turn In the stadium and
all the BOYS did fine; they were full OF lie
after getting of the ship. In TACT think
we would do better to-morrow than In two
weeks, for I have an idea that the dead,
heavy weather will take all the running
out Of the sprinters and middle distance
men, We are here only a-couPle OF days
now and already few complain OF being
sluggish Rose says he can sleep. all the
would not wake him. Sheridan would like
TO be as popular as Flanagan. but the best
of his con. tricks won't do. There was
great lot Of the critics out to see Us do our
first stiints in the stadium and they watched
US very CLOSELY. taking in everything;
tell YOU that the English know an athlete
when they see him and they are not to be
fooled as TO what man can do in any event.
Their summing up OF our fellows Is that we
have some bully good ones some fairish
Rose put the shot over 81 feet in practice,
and that was the only thing done by the
members OF our team that at all seemed TO
awaken the curiosity of the English
"I am afraid We are up. against 1t IN the
pole vault. There is nothing in the Olym-
Bic Bic rules that provides for vaulter to, dig
q hole for his pole. and except. there Is 9; q
special ruling in the case our fellows will
be completely at sea. Mr. Sullivan has ap-
piled to the Olympic Council for ruling
Xnown and the belief now is that the hole
will not be allowed. Archibald. the Ca
madam yaulter, has a three prong pole
which he sticks in the ground and climbs
and he is the worst kicker against our men
digging the hole. If the hole Is not allowed
have small hopes OF our chances Of first.
Il am sure saw Dray OF Yale In taxi
cab Yesterday driving down the Strand nor
has the team management any idea that he
is going to appear in the pole vault. Now
and again / catch feeting gllmpses OF some
of the A. A. U. officials in town. but no one
seems to be breaking his neck entertain
ing them The only man who seems to be
in right is j. E. Sullivan, and he seems to be
a good deal around with LORD DeSborough
who is the big man of the British Olympic
Council and one OF the finest sportsmen in
England But here is funny thing. Mind
YOU, as thick as Sullivanis with Desborough,
Sullivan will not be an official at the games.
Perhaps he may be at the last moment, but
he is not down for any position just yet.
The English are running the show. and the
feeling is that they do not want any help
from the outside.
Il suppose by this time there is good deal
OF curiosity at home as to whether they will
let Tom Longboat run in the Marathon. He
has been protested by Mr.. Sullivan on behalf
OF America, but it is an open secret now that
the protest will not be sustained and that
the indian will be allowed to sport his war
paint, before the Britishers. After landing
here Longboat was taken to ireland by Tom
Flanagan for the purpose OF being trained
around the roads OF Kilmallock County
Limerick. - The English are not n bit afraid
OF the Indian, and any man oan get plenty Of
betsthat Duncan, the ten mile champion and
a winner of one of the trial runs, will show
his heels to the redskin.
From all | can learn the doings OF the
trip aornss have been already sent to Amer
lea. Taken as a whole. il was not a yery
eventful voyage. The boys conducted
themselves fairly we'll except at night
when there was some rough housing n a
few of the cabins. There was no bread
thrownp like on the Athens trim II ynt