Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-22
ATHLETES
DOING GOOD WORK.
Capture Two Cold Medals at London
Sheppard Makes New Worlds Record
---yankeeSp Win Mostot Heats.

London, July 21.-Melvin w. Shep-
pard of the Irish-American Athletic
Club, who took the measure of Eng
lands best distance men in the 1900
metre run at the Olympic games just
a week ago. added another victory to
his long list today when he finished
far in the lead in the S00-metre event,
establishing new Olympic record of
1.52 As for the distance, and continu
ing on to the half mile which he ran
in 1.54, within three-fift of second
of C. H. kilpatrick's worlds record
made in New York in 1895.
Another gold medal went to America
when Harry F. Porter of the Irish
American A. c., captured the high
jump by clearing the bar at feet,
inches, and beating the Olympic record
made by ]. X. Baxter in Paris in 1900,
6 feet AS inches. After assuring
himself that he was the winner, he
went after the worlds record. The
bar was placed at feet, 81 inches,
just e-eighth of an inch higher than
the record, which was made by NJ F
Sweeney in New York in 1895, but it
was just a shade too much for him.
Better weather, a much larger at
tendance and exciting finishes made
today's Olympic games far more in
teresting than any that have preceded
them. There was absolutely no inter-
ruption and from 10 o'clock in the
morning until after in the even
ing, a great crowd of enthusiasts sat
in the stands cheering the victories
and those who failed but made a
| ~
and their countries.
AS expected it was largely Americas
day, for besides winning the only two
| events finally decided. the American
| sprinters won the great majority of the
heats in the events. While not so
| spectacular, as the races, the running
| high jump was the most keenly con-
| tested event of the day. 1t started in
| the morning and not until after s
| o'clock was Porter proclaimed the win
| ner. the Stars and Stripes being run
| up to the masthead for the second time
| in the day.
In the first section of this event, H.
A. Gidney, Boston, A. A, was defeated
| by Monson of Norway, and Leader of
| England but after the other sections
| had concluded a protest was entered
on the ground that the spot where the
other sections contested was more fav-
orable to the jumpers than that of the
| first section.
| The protest was allowed and Gid
ney in the second attempt did feet l
inch. thus qualifying for the final.
There, however, he soon found more
| than his match in Leahy. the Irish
| champion, Porter. Somody of Hungary
| and several others.
In his try for the worlds record Por-
ter made three attempts but without
| success. He will go to Ireland next
week, where he again will meet Lcahy
and it is possible that he will be able
to establish new record. His jumping
today appeared marvellous to the OK
perts and spectators, for not until he
went after the record did he remove his
sweater and he approached the poles
without the usual strained appearance.
Leahy, SOmody and Andre of France
| tied for second place, each having top
ped the bar at feet inches and al
| though they tried it quarter of an
| inch higher, none of them could ac-
| complsh it, 1t was decided to give each
a silver medal and award the points
for second and third places equally
among the three countries.
A 4. Motif of the University OF Chi
| cago did feet 1 inch, and as he has
II been i'll since coming to England, was
splendid performance.
II Sheppard won a great victory fol
Il America in the S00-metre nat race. He
II proved himself entirely too fast fol
II Just. the English champion, who was
II absolutely done up by the tremendous
pace.
l The two englishmen, Just and Fair
BARN Crawford, who qualified, thought
they could set a pace which would tire
out Sheppard but it seemed to be OK
actly what he wanted. The American
let Tairbarn-Crawford set the speed
as high as, he liked and kept right a.
the Englishman's heels. Just followed
close behind but the plan miscarriet
for the latter, who expected to come III
in the stretch and pass Sheppard, haf
no reserve left and was not only beater
bv the American but also by Lunghy OF
Italy and Braun of Germany
| The Americans suffered two disappoint
| ncnts in the heats of the 20O-metre fla
race, Lawson Robertson, Irish American
A. g., being defeated by Roche, the Irisl
champion, and w. w. May, University o.
Illinois. being compelled to take the dus
Of the fleet Canadian Kerr.
In the heats of the 4OO-metres fat they
took seven out of nine in which they
started. The two heats in which the!
lost in this event were won by Halswelle
who is considered the best man in Eng
land at the distance and who did thu
heat today in 40 rs seconds, and Mon
tague, the ex-champion Of England, VIII
beat Paul II. Pilgrim of the New Yorl
|, c. A. in 80 is seconds. ]. B. Taylor
Irish American A. c., the colored cham
pion of the University of Pennsylvania
made his first appearance in this event
and the remarkable ease with which h.
runs is an eye-opener to the English crit
les Taylor got warm reception an,
won his heat easily. Rhyl of Cambridge