Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-09-04

like carriage drive Five miles out
from the start Cameron. our bicycle
man, met me with his wheel didn't
need an attendant for the first five
miles. There were about twenty
ahead OF me, Cameron figured. per
haps few more. We didn't count
very carefully. After awhile began
TO overhaul and pass them. They
came back one by one. Some were
staggering along and some had drop
ped beside the road. didn't turn my
head to look at them-just kept plug
ging along and keeping my pace as
smooth as a machine.
AT about twenty-five miles | was
still fresh and strong, and | began TO
make my effort. Cameron had ridden
on to get the news and. coming back.
told me there were only two more
ahead Of me. They had passed six
minutes before. he said. | cut loose
now for all | had In me. | was never
in better condition. | wasn't even
tired.
"As We neared the stadium the
crowds grew thicker and thicker. The
last mil. was through q sort Of mead.
ow, and here the English jammed in
close to the course, leaving just room
enough for our elbows to swing with.
out hitting on either side, There were
stacks of police detailed to keep the
road clear.
"No-not sign of trouble anywhere
elong the line. There was just one
solid roar of cheering. OF course they
were cheering just as hard up ahead.
where Hefferon, the South African.
and Dorando, the Italian, were going.
Perhaps they We're cheering harder
for the first man than they were when
came along, but | don't see how in
blaZes they could. 1t sounded like Nj
agara falls and million Dutch bands
trying to drown each other out.
could see the solid ranks along at my
elbows on both sides, every man With
his mouth open like the hole in the
end of trombone. but couldn't hear
any single voice in the racket They
gave me as good as the next man. The
crowd in front leaned back hard
against the ranks behind to give me
room. My being an American didn't
cut any ice. 1t was getting near the
finish of the Marathon, and everybody
was just about crazy with excitement
Il kept looking ahead and wondering
why the other two didn't come back tc
me. | was running strong and increas
ing the pace with every mile and
knew the others must be failing. Yet
l ran and ran without getting sight
of anything but waving arms and flags
and surging crowds that closed in
ahead of me and then opened as came
to give me a fair lane. Those other
two fellows We're surely game. !
heard afterward that after Dorando
made his great effort outside mile
or so and got by Hefferon he began
falling down and staggering on again
when they helped him up, Talk about
gameness! What did was nothing to
that for didn't feel distressed at all.
1t didn't hurt me to run. ! had saved
myself for this, and l was going at a
mile run clip now without wracking.
'At last l got Hefferon. The poor
fellow was staggering. His legs were
pumping up and down mechanically,
but he was hardly getting out OF his
own tracks. l didn't turn my head as
went by at full speed, but saw that
he was too far in to make any effort
to tail on to the procession-too bad,
too, for 1t was only about 125 yards
outside the stadium gates.
''Dorando was nowhere in sight
felt for moment that the race was
lost-that he had finished ahead of me
after all. But l never let up. l tore
on into the stadium. I'll never forget
that sight. for was still fresh enough
to take it all in. About 10000 people
Cooked like two or three million to
me) were jumping up and down In the
grand stands and yelling their heads
off. They were turned away from me
toward the other man at the track.
All Of sudden the yelling almost
stopped. l ran across the cycle path
and turned to the left TO make the last
300 yards ON the running track.
Ahead of me there was a crowd on the
track. The crowd was punched up.
First they'd stand still, then all push
ahead for few yards and stop again.
Cameron, who came in with me. yell
ed: Run! Run! He hasn't finished!
Run like h.! You can get him! Run!
Run!
with 300 yards to go spurted for
my life l saw the little crowd on the
track push ahead rapidly, stop, gather
together and push ahead again just
like a football rush line showing the
ball over for touchdown. When !
came in Dorando was down about 125
yards from the finish. He was doc
tored and revived and pulled up to his
feet and showed along by the officials.
They got him to the line just ahead of
me and dropped him across it.
"As Dorando finished they had
stretcher ready to carry him Off the
field. was SO close to him that they
were still busy unstrapping and Open
ing the stretcAeI when. went hY. l
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