The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-20
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close. but beyond reach. I remember
turning to Cameron and saying,
George, they're moving the stadium
away from me- Good old George just
kept shouting words of encouragement
to me, n on I sped.
"A half mile from the finish I finally
caught sight of Hefferon. That was
encouragement. I quickened my stride,
If that was possible, but the chances
are that Hefferon was slowing up
from fatigue. At any rate. I gained
inch by inch, and $50 yards from the
stadium I passed the South African.
Where was Dorando? was the sall-
important question that was buzzing
through my mind. 1 knew tina I had
not passed him. He must be in front
Of me. And there wal only a short
distance left to overtake the italian.
Cameron, who seemed to see and know
everything, saw a crowd ahead. Turn
Ing to me he shouted excitedly: The
italian is down, Johnny. Keep on your
pins and you'll win.'
II know from experience that when
a fellow is down after having run
twenty-six miles at such a pace he Is
down for keeps and visions Of victory
now flashed before my eyes. I reached
the stadium; I saw a madly excited
throng; I saw a crowd surrounding an
unconscious figure, which I learned
later was Dorando; I saw Americans
running around like maniacs; I say
women tearing off their q and
throwing them at me; I saw the finish
mark; but things suddenly turned black
when I saw f%uttering from a flagpole
the Italian banner, which meant that
Dorando had won. I had arrived too
late, after oil, it seemed.
And Then the Finish.
ST reached the finish mark and then
kept On running a hundred yards more.
The race was over. The stadium rang
with cheers from the Americans, but
there was a dead silence everywhere
else. All England and other nations
seemed to be stricken dumb by the
result.
1.-THE Americans naturally acclaimed
me as the victor, but the officials
seemed to be inclined to award first
place to Dorando. The Italian, I
learned later. had fallen twice on the
first turn In the stadium and collapsed
completely on the far turn. He was
unable to get on his feet again, where
upon CFOWuS rushed UPON TIC Truck
and carried the PROSTATE athlete over
the finishing mark. That. of course
was in direct violation Of the rules, but
for the time being Dorando came In
for all the glory. while I was scarcely
noticed, except by my own country
men.
"The officials finally held a confer
ence to determine the winner. That
night as we were seated in the dining
room I received a telegram informing
me that the officials had arrived at a
decision and that I HAD WON. 1t was
the greatest hour of my life. The rest
you all know The following day the
medals and trophies were formally pre-
sented bV he Queen.
with the Olympic meet ended, l
visited that little green island called
ireland, and then we set sail again
for the land of Uncle Sam The recep-
ton we received in New York was sure
ly the greatest ever rendered an ath-
letic team. But I might say here that
on my arrival at the City Hall, where
the prizes were presented, 1t was my
two sisters who happened to throw
their arms about me and kiss me, and
not a. regiment of other bellies, as some
Of the newspapers would have folks
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