New-York tribune., 1908-07-14
KING OPENS 0LYMPICS
RzINKEEPS CROUD DOWN.
Sheppard and SuILiUan Qualify in
f,500-Metre Race.

.o,a the hour set for the formal ceremony the
f.,.naance was far short OF expectations. The
-..,ire capacity of the Stadium is upward of
ct thousand, and. while the covered stands
.sined sections which We're well filed, there
- many vacant spaces In fact, if it had not
- for the American and Colonial contingents
.h,cb were there TO cheer their respective coun-
.,en and the sections around the royal box
.hicb were occupied by society, it would have
sc, q small affair far as attendance was
concerned.
7, some of the events, too, the contestants ap-
.-es affected by the adverse weather condi-
,;ons but in other events, particularly the 800
metre race, just short OF one mile, in which the
r-eatest interest centred. the ran to their
,orn. and twice during the afternoon the record
.o- the distance was broken. Melvin W. Shep-
.-5 of the Irish American Athletic Club of
Vow York was the first to accomplish the trick,
r-ben in the second heat, hard pressed by his
,ssm mate j p. Halstead, of the New York
Athletic Club. he the distance in the splen-
s,5 time Of 4705, just two-fifths of a second
Easier than that made by J. D. Lightbody, of
.he University Of Chicago at the Olympic games
6, St Louis in 1904. The two Americans in this
hest beat number of good men, including G.
Butterfeld, the English faur-mlle champion
uha finished bad third.
?
Glib ard Lightbody, who were first and second
-esrectively in the first heat Of this event,
sres The distance in 4-07 3-5 but they were not
-rassed and doubtless could have done better if
a mao been necessary. Meadows Of Canada, set
MT 10 make the pace in this neat. but Lightbody
vent to the front in the stretch and seemed a
likely winner until Sullivan, with fine burst
of speed passed him few yards from the tape.
The best. performance of the day, however, was
that of NJ F. Hallows. an oxford Blue, who
The distance in 4.03 % and cut a full two sec
ends of the record, much to the surprise of
those present as Hallows always has been at his
best at tlree miles, and ], 500 metres consid-
cred TOO short for him. He is now thought to
be the most dangerous rival of the Americans
Il the final heat TO be run tomorrow.
Through their defeat by Sheppard and Suln-
van. Haistead and Lightbody failed to qualify.
r l. Coa Of the University of Michigan. made
g strong BID for victory in the fourth heat, but
be was unable toNkeep up with E. V. Loney, Of
England although the time not particularly
fast Coe finished second.
The only other American in the race, f H.
Riley. Of the Irish-Amerlcan Athletic Club, ran
unplaced in his heat. the third, which was that
II which Hallows made the record.
When the city OF London awoke this morning
& seemed as though the English climate, which
was so kind 10 the sports held earlier in the
year was trying 10 show the two thousand ath- |
Ietes assembled for the games how disagreeable |
# could be. The last fortnight Of unsettled |
weather which has been a terror TO the visitors,
who have been trying 10 get in the best form for
the great physical efforts they are to make dur
ing the next TWO weeks. was followed this morn |
Eg by q downpour Of rain which threatened for
q tine 10 make a postponement necessary. TEN |
r1al
effects Of the storm. and at the time previously |
fixed the Inauguration of the Olympic games |
vas carried out according to programme.
Shortly after , O'Clock in the afternoon the |
Tovs box which had been fitted up for the |
accommodation Of forty persons, began to fill |
up the early arrivals including the Crown |
Prince and Crown Princess OF Sweden and their |
children. the Crown Prince and Crown Princess |
Ct Greece. the Duke and Duchess of Connaught |
and the Duke and Duchess Of Argyll A short |
tine afJerward the playing of the national /
anthem by hand Of the Grenadier Guards an |
bounced the arrival Of King Edward, Queen |
Alexandra and Princess Victoria. with their |
suites, who had been driven in state from Buck |
hshan Palace. Lord Desbcrough, chairman of |
he Council of the British Olympic Association |
Necomed their majesties at the entrance to The |
Stadium, and presented the members of the |
International olympic council.
As the King entered the royal box bugler |
gave signal the gates leading to the COM |
peutors' quarters few open. and the athletes |
marched out under the banners Of their re- |
spective nations. The procession was formed in |
aphaeetical order, Austria leading, with the ex-
oTpuon that the English speaking races came |
1sl This latter section was led by the Ameri- |
ah team, with Garrels, of the Chicago Athletic /
ASSOCIATION, at its head, carrying the Stars and |
hr'pes The British colonies were directly be-
ALho the Americans and at the end the United |
Kingdom as hosts
AS the procession marched into the Stadium
the athletes Of each country were applauded, |
'he welcome for America and the colonies being
particularly enthusiastic, the audience which |
oaFed the elements to witness the opening of
me great games included large contingents from |
across the seas
me representatives of the United Kingdom |
.'9Sed formidable, with an array Of 513 men.
france came next in numbers. with 219 con- |
ees'ants while Sweden followed. with 1876. and |
hungary, with 154 men. The Americans would |
aa1e mad the next largest army, with l4s, but |
%ke Murphy, the trainer, refused to allow ali /
- men TO come up for the ceremony, insisting /
'iat they remain at their quarters at Brighton |
-lH called on for more serious work In all
'"ehty-one countries were represented, and |
tHohs HAT gathering Turkey was represented
one competitor
- me sihletes having taken up positions facing
e royal box. the Americans IN the centre.
lied by the Canadians and the Englishmen. /
. .''c Des5orough marched up with members Of
executive committee and said:
., vii your majesty eracously declare the
'.sfnpic games oIenea?"
u repiy The King said: 4 declare the Olympic |
eSn1es Of London oper"
~ the completion Of this ceremony cheering |
'foks out from al rarts # ~. Stadium After /