The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-23
SOUTH AF,RICAN
OLlTRL)lNSa RECTOR

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Rector Takes His Def
Breaks Wol
LONDON, July s2.Comparative
gloom pervaded the American camp
Tonight. The athletes from over the,
seas had strongly cherished hopes Of
repeating yesterdays grand record,
making clean sweep In the track
events. but q dark horse In the person
OF the South African youth. r. z.
Walker. upset the calculations. Walk
err broke the tape In what Is consid-
cred the most important event III the
Olympus games-the 100-metre dash
q short two feet in front OF j. A. Rec
tor, the University OF Virginia crack,
thereby putting an end to the astoo-
iishtng succession OF American tri-
lumphs which had begun to sadden the
Britons. Shoulder to shoulder Walker,
Rector and the Canadian star. Kerr
ran down the straight. with cartmell.
the Pennsylvania Splinter, close be-.
hind. At the halfway mark Walker
forged slightly ahead. but at the tape
loss than yard separated the first
three men, with the Canadian only
inches behind the virglnian, in third
place.
The American team did remarkably
well at the Stadium to-day, but sue
cess had elatsd them to the point
where they were satisfied with nothing
less than everything in sight. a
worlds record by G. j. Bacon. OF the
1rish-Americnn Athletic Club. In the
40o-metres hurdling, which he won
in fifty seconds: an Olympic record Of
~ feet 4 1-2 inches by +. c. Irons, OF
the Chicago Athletic Associations In
tho running broad Jump. and the VIC
tory OF @. s. Dole. OF Yale. in the
featherweight wrestling, out OF seven
finals. should be a satisfactory days
performance.
Grent Ovation.
Great Britain. as usual, came second
among the countries, with 8. ". Bacon
winning the mtddleweight wrestling
and the English team defeating the
Belgians In the water polo. The
African colonial flag was raised to the
masthead to signalize walkers great
sprint. and Finland. whose represen-
tatiye. Saarela. conquered all corners
IN the Greco-Roman wrestling bouts.
having no flag. brought forth the
standard bearing the word FINLAND.
ana It was elevated on the flag pole.
Walker achieved an ovation seen
only once in lifetime on an athletic
1leld, when 10000 people rose with
great cheers and filled tho air with
mats, while the boy who this morrng
vas unknown. but whose name filis
Lonooh tonight, was lifted on the
sh s.l OF enthusiastic friends
me only demonstration approaching
Ha :
alter Sheppard's sensational win In ha
eoo metres yesterday. but that was
1eeole ny comparison, because Walker is
q br1tisher, and the English public is
not partial toward American successes
me american contingent had feared
mat Kerr. the Canadian would rob
them OF the 100 metres. but they did not
consider Walker dangerous. No one
accepted the national misfortune more
gracefully than Rector. When spoken
< 10 regarding Walkers victory the ytr-
ganian said: Walker is a faster runne r
than ]. and that is all there is to say
inc Olympic games are developing
into huge success. While the meet
Ing started discouragingiy. London is
FAST becoming athletic mad. People
everywhere talk Of nothing but the
Olympian runners and Jumpers, and the
women seem as much interested as
the men. "A big attendance Is certain
from this on.
Fine Spectacle. 5
It would be hard to imagine finer
to-day. From athletic. social and spec
tacular standpoints. lit quite equaled
the expectations OF the promoters.
Queen Alexandra and other members
OF the royal family werc present, and
congratulated the African runner on
his victory. The stands contained
10000 persons, OF whom at least one
half were women. The American sec
ton was truly American, with waving
flags and matchmaking Instruments.
There was organized cheering by a
large band OF collegians. under the
leadership OF frantic youth. brand
fishing huge club. and shouting: '"Rah,
'rah, 'rah, Bacon!" which was heartily
taken up by the others when the first
American victory OF the day was pro-
claimed.
. This caught the fancy Of the crowd
Immensely. as did the Americans cheer
feated their favorite. was as cordially
greeted as their own countryman.
The picture In the arena was worthy
of setting. When the Queen entered
the royal box the runners were striv-
ing. with every muscle set. In the 400
metres race around the track; divers
were throwing double fsomersaults from
the tower, and brawny wrestlers were
struggling In the Graeco-Roman con-
tests. On the platforms Mt either end
OF the oval band Of Danish lady
gynnasts. who were the most attrac-
tive novelty Of the meeting, arrayed in
+ white uniforms and yellow stocks. were
engaged in graceful exercises.
Had Hurdles to TIL emselves.
In addition to Walkers sprint. the
400 metres hurdles and the semi final
heats Of the 400 to 200 metre fiat races
were memorable events. The .Ameri-
cans had the hurdles to themselves. G.
j. Bacon. Of the 1rish-American Ath-
letic Club. and Harry L. Hillman, OF
the New York Athletic Club. between
whom there was as warm a rivalry as
between the men#of different nation
RACERAI