Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-01
Olympic Athletes Cordially
Received at Oyster Bay.
I'm Proud Of You ALL The
President Tells Them.
vletols at London Depart Giving
Rousing Cheers.

Oyster Bay, n Y, Aug 31-With
gun from the local yacht club booming
welcome the American Olympic team
victors in the recent events in London
steamed into the waters of Oyster
Bay today, for their visit to Prcsi-
dent Roosevelt.
The offering of the first of the Pres
idential courtesies extended to the ath-
letes fell to the lot of the Presidents
yacht Sylph. Their steamer, the Sag
amore, had no sooner dropped anchor
thar she dispatched two launches, the
Dart and the Clean, to assist in trans
ferrng the visitors to the private pier
of w. Emin Roosevelt cousin of the
President. The march up through the
woods t. the summit of Sycamore Hill
was begun Immediately after the last
man was on shore.
They found Mr.. Roosevelt on his
broad veranda. where he had been
scanning them eagerly for several
minutes as they approached two
abreast. whistling "A. Hot Time in the
Old Town Tonight" James f. Sullivan,
the American commissioner, was the
first to be received by the President.
They then entered the reception room
with it's large pair of antlers from
WHICH ndIlS tnc SWORD, the TeNoINeF,
the field glasses and the Rough Rider
hat with which Mr.. Roosevelt went
through the war with Spain. After
shaking hands with the other members
of the committee. the President took
up a position on that side of the room.
With him were Mrs. Roosevelt and
their. son Kermit. Commissioner Sui
Ivan scted as master Of ceremonies,
charges in turn. The President grasp
ed each one by the hand and to each
he spoke few words of mingled
greeting and communication.
John J. Hayes, the Mara thOn hero,
had the distinction of being the first
to be presented. II am proud of you"
said the President To him as he gave
him vigorous handShake. Your feat
was marvellous. You won a great race
ard / am glad of it." Before Hayes
had realized how warm was the Pres
id"ntS greeting the President had
swung him around and turned him
over to Mrs. Roosevelt and she and
Kermit then engaged him in CONVEX
satiOn.
Melvin Sheppard next came up. The
winner Of the 15J0-metre race beamed
all over when the President assured
him that It was a Bully victory
which. he and the boys had won in
London. Ternanina, the Indian. who
came In ninth In the Marathon race.
Enthusiastically pleased the President
immensely. Il am glad, indeed he
said to him. that real original
American competed for America and
represented the country abroad. 1t
was fine showing that you made
l. ,nI, nd Xynr
one OF the team that had made the
trip. and when the last man had been
grsped by the hand and his heart
cEeered by the Presidents words and
he had passed into the dining groom
and partial of refreshments Mr..
Roosevelt followed in and then rad to
listen to some cheers for himself.
Mr.. Roosevelt checked an effort &c
repeat the cheers and addressed the
athletes as follows:
Gentlemen: l just want to say one
word of greeting to you. I am sure you
feel that everyone in America is proud
of you. ] don't want to speak in ny
rerboe but think it is the little truth.
Mr. Sullivan. to say that the feat that
this team has performed. has never
been duplicated in the history of ath
letics., l think it is the biggest feat
that has ever been performed by any
team of any nation and l congratulate
all of you. There is not man on the
team who does not deserve his share
in the total credit 1t is not only the
man who won tn" first. but it is every
man on the team who did his duty.
they all did. who deserves his share of
the credit. | congratulate you all and
thank you all l want to say, Mr..
= Sullivan. word of special thanks and
acknowledgement to you. Without you
we never could have gotten together
and sent over such tCa,p: and our
: those who were so glad to see you come
back NiClorS-we have plenty of those
but to these who in any way contrib
utcd to send you abroad in such shape
that you could be victOrs. | think |
. could come pretty near passing Il COM
petitive examination on the records
and fcats of You.
Now that we are here we must not
forget how proud we are Of American
ritlerlcn and revolver men. You know
l believe in straight shooting for the
battleships or private citizen, either
one
Mr. Roosevelt sat with Mr.. sullivan
IN the dining room during the rest of
the visit and appeared to be greatly
Interested in the first-hand reports
which Mr. sullivan was able to give
him of the contests in London The
President. 1t is known. expressed to
Mr.. Sullivan great pleasure over the
overwhelming victory over the teams
of all the other competing nations.
and then added: 1T was infinitely bet
ter to beat them on their own grounds
than If they had come over here"
81 John J. Flanagan. the weight throw
er. and Melvin Sheppard! the runner.
presented the President with their