The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-22
American Sets New Record In the 300 Metre Run and
 Wins Medal
EXCITING FINISHES IN
 ALL TIE DAY'S CONTESTS
Porter Captures High Jump and Tries for New Worlds Record, but Fails-Americans Win 2 of
 15 Short Races.

London, July M-Melvin w. Sheppard of the Irish-American Athletic club who took the measure of England's best dis tance men in the 1500-meter run at the Olympic games. just week ago, scored another victory today when he finished far in the lead in the S00-meter event, estab- fishing a new Olympic record of :52 4-J for the distance and continuing on the half mile. which he ran in 1:54, within 80 of second of C. H. Fitzpatrick worlds record, made in New York in 1895.
 Another gold medal went to America when Harry E. Porter of the Irish -Ameri- can Athletic club captured the high jump by clearing the bar at feet inches, and beating the Olympic record made by J. K. Baxter in Paris in 1900, of feet inches. After assuring himself that he was the winner he went after the world record. The bar was placed at feet 5s4 inches, just 5s-inch higher than the record, made by M F. Sweeney in New York in 1895, but it was just shade too much for him.
 Better weather a much larger attend anee, and exciting finishes made todays Olympic sports at the Stadium far and away more interesting than any that have preceded them. There was absolutely no interruption, and from 10 o'clock in the morning until after o'clock in the even ing great crowd of enthusiasts sat in the stands.
 America's Day.
 As was expected, it was largely Amer ica's day, for besides winning the only two events finally decided. the American sprinters won the great majority of the heats in the other events. While not so spectacular as the races, the running high jump was the most keenly contested event of the day. It started in the morning and not until o'clock was Porter proclaimed the winner the Stars and Stripes being run up to the mast head for the second time in the day.
 In the first section of this event, H. A. Gidney, Boston Athletic association, was defeated by Monsoon of Norway and Leader of England. But after the other sections had concluded a protest was en- tered on the ground that the spot where the other sections contested was more fa- vorable to the jumpers than that Of the first section. The protest was allowed, and Gidney, 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 Porter made three attempts, but without sue cess. He will go to Ireland next week, where he again meets Leahy, and it IS possible that he will establish a new rec ord.
 Marvellous Jumping.
 His jumping today appeared marvellous to the experts and spectators. Leany, Somody and Andrea of France tied for second place. each having topped the bar at six feet two inches, and although they tried it quarter of an inch higher none of them could accomplish It.
 It was decided to give each a silver medal and award the points for second and third places equally among the three countries. T. Moffatt of the University of Pennsylvania did six fet one inch, which, as he has been i'll since coming to Eng land. was splendid performance. Shep- pard won a great victory for America in the S00-metre flat race. He proved him. self entirely too fast for Just. the Eng 1 fish champion, who was absolutely done 1 up by the tremendous pace.
 The two Englishmen. Just and Fair | bairn-CraWford who quailned thought | they could set pace which would tire out Sheppard but 1t seemed to be exactly 1 what he wanted. The American let Fair 1 bairn- Crawford set the speed as high IS 1 he liked, and kept right at the English- mans heels. Just followed close at hand, l but the plan niscarried, for the latter, l who expected to come up in the stretch and pass Sheppard, had no reserve left, and was not only beaten by the Amer | ican, but also by Lunghi of Italy and l Braun of Germany.
 Two Disappointments.
 The Americans suffered two disappoint- | ments in the heats of the 200-metre flat race, Lawson Robertson, Irish-American Athletic club. being defeated by Roche the Irish champion, and W. w. May University of Illinois. being compelled 10 take the dust of the fleet Canadian, Kerr Considering, however, that the Americans | entered seven of the 15 heats and took five of them, there is not much cause for | complaint.
 In the heats of the 400 metres flat they took seven out of nine in which they started The two heats in which they l