The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-17
AN ODD DECISION.
British Olympic Association
Postpones Trophy Awards.
Committee Cannot Agree on
Equitable Basis.
ENGLISH NOT SQUARE.
Appear in the "Tug of War;
Contest in Spiked Shoes.
The Americans Make Vigorous
Protest But in Vain.

IN London this year and the same de-
cislon applies to the sports now going
on at the stadium at Shepards Bush.
The original idea was to offer a troph-
ey Tor the country securing the great
est number of points in all games,
those held In the stadium and those
placed at various clubs, such as the
tennis at Queens club, which was won
by Jay Gould, and the rifle matches
at 3Bisley, but the difficulty Of arriving
at an equitable method of allotting the
points has been so great that the idea
has been dropped. The committee work.
ed out several schemes but each was
open to so many objections, on account
OF unfairness to one nation or another
ana the attempt to reach a fair basis
having been found quite impossible the
British Olympic association had to de-
eide reluctantly not to offer trophies
of any kind excepting the gold, silver
and bronze medals in each competition.
captain w. Jones. assistant secre-
tary of the association, gave out this
information which has not been an
nounced here. He concluded his state
ment as follows: THE newspapers of
the different countries have to decide
the matter to their. satisfaction. Amer
lea probably more than any other ma
ton would have cause for complaint IL
we attempted toward a championship.
The distance to the United States is
great and we did not expect the Amer
leans would have as many entries as
the United Kingdom. In some events
America is not represented: There
fore IL points were awarded for every
event the United Kingdom would have
walk over
The Americans competing in the
stadium games are simply going In
for the championships in the field
hall
points by the American method. five
for firsts. three for seconds and one for
thirds.
Rain Interferes With Games.
There we're only three events on this
mornings program, the individual
sabre competition and two archery
contests. The first of the archery con-
tests was the York round for gentle
men, and the second the national
round for ladies' The bad weather
again spoiled the sport. the players
being repeatedly driven off the
grounds by the heavy rains.
The attendance today was even
smaller than yesterday. There prob
ably will be reduction in the price of
admission next week to induce the
Londoners to fill the stands.
In the first round of the individual
sabre competition the best perform
ance was given by Fleisch. Australia.
in the nrSt SeCtlOn- ne SCOISu HNC
points to his opponents nothing. Three
other sections were completed.
The first heat of the semiflnals of
the back stroke swimming contest was
won by Bieberstein, German, in one
minute 25-35 seconds. Dane, Den
Haresnap. United Kingdom. was first.
and Aureick, Germany. second. Time,
1 minute % 2-5 seconds.
America Makes a Protest.
America has protested the tug of
war Greece and Germany withdrew
was between the American team and
the second team Of the United King
dom.
The protest was made on the ground
that the United Kingdom team con-
trary to the regulations wore prepared
shoes. The American team lost the
first pull.
The American team had two more
pulls, the conditions being the best
two out of three. but in view OF the
to retire. The American team was
composed Of w. G. Burroughs, Chi
cago A. A.; A. K. Dearborn, N. Y, A.
c.; John Flanagan. Irish-American A.
c.; M. ]. McGrath, N. Y. A. c.; Ralph
Rose, Olympic A. c., San Francisco;
Lee ]. Talbot, Irish-American A. G.;
w. w. Coe, jr., Boston A. A, and M.
l.
Wore Spikes in Their Shoes.
The English team. who are MEM
bers of the Liverpool police force,
wore an immense shoe which could
not under any circumstances be used
for ordinary purposes. In addition to
this every man had the heels of his
shoes encased in steel which sank into
the turf while the head man had
spikes fastened to his shoes. When the
Americans had perceived how the
regulations were being ignored they
made no effort, the anchor man did
not even wind the rope around his
body. When the United Kingdom
team put their weight on the feet of
the Americans with ordinary shoes
worn by athletes, slipped over the
turf Matthew P. Halpin manager Of
the American Olympic, who had al
ready protested to the officials at once
reported the facts to James E. Sulli-
van. United States commissioner to
the games, who Immediately lodged a
formal protest with the association.
The Americans are disguised at this
treatment. The rules say distinctly
that no competitors shall wear pre-
pared boots or shoes or boots or shoes
with projecting tails. tips. points.
sprigs or hollows of any kind, and
that no competitor shall make a hole
in the ground.
The American team, which was es-
corted onto the ground by Martin j.
Sheridan, Irish-American Athletic
club, with Rose, the san Francisco
giant. bringing up the rear, was re-
ceived with a vociferous welcome
from all parts of the arena their ap-
pearance evoking the greatest admira-
ton even from those who were hop
ing to see some other country carry
off the event.
Even without the steel heels and
the spikes fastened to the shoes of
the headman. the footwear worn by
the United Kingdom would never
been permitted If there was any de-
sire to have fair pull. the Americans
declare. The shoes or the United
Kingdom were of tremendous size
and even heavier than those worn in
| the English navy. The soIes were an
| inch thick AS the United Kingdom