The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-13
The Day Was Stormy But vast
Crowds Turned Out.
AMERICANS CHEERED.
Athletes with Australia Lead
ing Paraded in Procession.
United Kingdom Had 5l3 Men,
America Fifth With 14S.


teams If athletes are we'll satisfied With
the results obtained by them on the
frst day of the fifth revival of the
Olympic games. which opened at tne
stadium here, having got two men, ).
p. Sullivan and Melvin Sheppard, ootn
OF the Irish-American A. c., into the
final heat. which will be run tomorrow
of the 1,5O0 entries. They were un1or-
tunate, however. in the first race when
two of the best men at the distance
had to run against each other and these
same conditions prevailed in the sec
ond heat when J. P. Halstead OF Ne"
York A. c. was beaten by his team
partner, Melvin w. Sheppard, by hall
a yard.
The Americans point out the injus-
tice by the English drawing of heats
as shown by the fact that Halstead, al
though he ran much faster than the
winners of the other heats. is elimina-
ted from the final as he finished sec
ond.
London, July 13.-When London
awoke this morning it seemed as
though the English climate, that was
so kind to the sports held earlier in the
year, was trying to show the 1000
athletes assembled mere for the
Olympic games how disagreeable 1t
could be. Temporary shelters, how
ever, were quickly erected to
minimize the effect of the storm and
at the time previously fixed the in
auguration of the Olympic games was
carried out according to programme.
Shortly after o'clock IN the after
noon the royal box. which had been
fitted up for the accommodation of
40 persons began to fill up, the early
arrivals including the crown prince
and the princess of Sweden and their
princess of Greece, the Duke and
Duchess of Connaught and the Duke
and Duchess of Argyl. A short time
afterwards the playing of the ma
tfonal anthem by a band of the
Grenadier guards announced the ar
Alexandra and Princess Victoria with
their suites, who had been driven in
state from Buckingham palace. Lord
Desborough, chairman of the counsel
of the Imperial association, welcomed
their majeSties at the entrance to the
stadium and presented the members
of the international olympic council.
AS the king entered. the royal
bugler gave the signal. the gates lead
ing to the competitors quarters fed
open anu the dInlGIGS HldGCneU out
under the banners of their respective
nations. The procession was formed
in alphabetical order, australia lead
Ing the exception that the English
speaking races came last. This latter
section was led by the American team
with Garrels of the Chicago Athletic
association at its head. carrying the
Stars and Stripes. The British
colonies were directly behind the
Americans and at the end came the
United Kingdom as hosts AS the
procession came into the stadium
each country received applause, that
for America and the colonies being
particularly enthusiastic as the audi
ence which braved the elements to
witness the opening of the great
games included large contingents
from across the seas.
Crowds gathered inside and outside of
the stadium and long before the ar
rival of the king and queen the cheaper
sections of the stadium were filed with
SPECTATORS
At the last moment a change was
made in order of the events which were
TO follow the formal opening. The first
and second heats of the 1,500 metres run
We're placed first and both j. d. Light
body. Chicago Athletic association and
J. p. Sullivan. Irish American Athletic
club, were drawn in the first and Mel
vim Sheppard, Irish American Athletic
club and j. P. Halsteady New York
Athletic club. in the second heats re-
spectively and in fact there were two
Americans in most of the eight heats
OF this event to be run.
In the 400 metres swimming event,
which is second on the programme L.
Budd Goodwin. n. Y. a. c., was drawn
in the first: Harry ]. Hebner. Illinois
"A c.. second: C. NJ Daniels. N. Y. A.
G., in the third heat.
Hill and Vandeys were drawn in the
first heat of the 1000 tandem bicycle
event. Before the arrival of King Ed
ward. the athletes paraded around the
ground. The representatives of the
United Kingdom look formidable with
their 5l3 men. The nearest approach 10
this number was Frances 219. Sweden
came next with 1863 and then Hungary
with 154 men. The Americans would
have had the next largest army with
Jas. but Trainer Murphy refused to al
low all the men to come up for the GER
emony, insisting that they remain at
their quarters at Brighton until called
upon for more serious work. In all 81
countries were represented and among
that gathering Turkey was represented
with one competitor.
The athletes having taken up posi-
tion facing the royal box. the Ameri-
cans in the center flanked by the
Canadians and the Englishmen Lori
Desborough marched UP with the
members of the executives and said:
will your majesty graciously de.
clare the Olympic games opened ?"
In reply the king said:
Il declare the Olympic games OF
London open"
At the completion of this ceremony
cheers broke out from all parts of the
stadium. After the demonstration had
died down, the athletes gave three
cheers for his majesty and then march
ed past the royal box. The men made
splendid appearance, though unfor-
IunaIeiY the weather nr0Vanfad oil ~
the competitors from coming out ir
athletic costumes. The Americans