Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-25

Martin Sheridan, the athlete and spe-
cial representative of the New York
Evening World at the Olympic games
in London. writing of the trip of the
American athletes across the ocean,
says:
The voyage from New York city to
Southampton with the American OIym-
pic team was one of the most pleasant
trips ! have ever made. The weather
was ideal with the exception of one
day, when the sea was a little rough
The stateroomS on board the ship for
the first three days were very warm.
making 1t uncomfortable for the boys
to sleep.
The training on board of the ship
started on a Tuesday morning. with
the sprinters doing some Iimbering up
on wrestling mat spread at one end
| of the ship. The long distance men did
their stunts in running around the up
per deck, occasionally knocking over
some passenger who crossed in their
way. The passengers on board all be-
came very much interested in the work
| of the boys especially when the wres-
| Ting bouts were on, and several of the
| ladies spent most of their time watch
ing Flanagan, Rose, McGrath and Coe,
| the weight tbrowers, who played foot
| ball and tossed the medicine ball for
| exercise.
All the athletes with the exception
of the weight men dined at two long
tables in the center of the dining room
and ate from special bill of fare made
out by Mike Murphy, the trainer.
There was a special table for the
weight tbrowers
1t was here Ralph Rose, John Flana-
gan and Matt McGrath caused panic
in the pantry at the first meal, Rose
when he sat down to the table spied A
dish of nuts and Immediately made Il
grab for them, eating them dozen at
a time, shells and all. Flanagan grab
bed the fruit dish. and in two bites the
largest orange in the dish. skin and
all, had disappeared
McGrath for his first meal ate five
plates of soup. four orders of fish. three
broiled chickens, two steaks. six Eng
/ u.
three pieces of apple pie four cups Of
coffee and two pounds of cheese. His
record for eating still stands Rose
has the next highest mark, two bites
behind him. with Coe of Boston a close
third.
At night Rose. Dan Kelly and Grif.
fifth had slight attack of seasicknesS
and failed TO report for meals next day
On the day that the sea was little
rough, when the ship was rolling hard
all hands went down to dinner. A few
minutes after the boys sat down to
, eat some of them began to feel Bit
dizzy and began to leave the table
without tasting their food The first
man to leave was Rector. and the 9th
er boys gave him the laugh as he Went
out the door TO go on deck. He was
followed by Huff and Cartwell, and
the procession continued until there
were about ten left at the table The
last man to leave was John Flanagan
and when the mighty Jawn stood up
after having about half of his dinner
disposed of. all hands. including tn,
captain and every guest at the tables
stood up and joined in the ovation al
he left the dining room.
A funny joke was played on Oar
Kelly one night as he was sitting n
the dinner table. Motif of Pennsyl
vania came in and told Kelly he wa.
wanted at the telephone. Dan quit,
. innocently got up and went out to an
swer the call. As he went out tn,
door he asked one of the stewards
where the phone was. The steward an
swered that a shark by the ship had |
In his mouth. Dan failed to return 70
the remainder of his dinner
Matt Halpin called a meeting of th
boys for o'clock one afternoon, an,
after Halpin had told them about tn
time laid out for their exercise ever,
day Mike Murphy. gave the boys. on