Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-07-30

ITALIAN IS HERO Of DAY
CoIlapses Within Few Yards of Finish
When Victory Was Almost in
His Grasp.

London, July 26. - 1t would be nc
exaggeration in the minds of any OF
the 100000 spectators who witnessed
the finishing struggle of the Marathon
race at the Olympic arena yesterday
to say that it was the most thrilling
athletic event that has occurred since
that Marathon race in ancient Greece
where the victor fell at the goal and
with wave of triumph, died.
1t was a spectacle the like of which
none living had ever seen and none
who saw it expect ever to see it re-
|peated.
Great Day for America.
1t was an American day and the re
sentiments Of Thursday, which ranked
strongly in the breasts of Americans,
were forgotten not only in the victory
of John f. Hayes, the lrish-American
did record made by the other Ameri-
cans, who were we'll to the front in
the line of those that finished.
OF the first ten men to reach the
coveted point. four We're Americans,
and they are officially placed as fol-
lows:
Hayes, first; Joseph Forshaw, Mis-
souri, A. c., third; A. R. Welton, Law
renee Y. M. c. A, fourth; Lewis Te-
wilma, the Carlisle Indian, ninth.
The second man was Hebron of
South Africa.
The first Englishman who crossed
the line came in twelfth. He was w.
7. Clarke, and was not one of those
counted upon to win. The three
Canadians, Wood the Indian; Simpson
and Lawson finished fifth, sixth and
seventh, respectively.
Italian Is Hero Of Day.
1t will not snatch any laurels from
the brow Of Hayes, who won a good
race, to say that the hero of the day
was the Italian Dorando. The admi-
ration and sympathy of every person
in the Stadium went out to the gal
liant Italian, who although he did not
win, deserved to win, and did more
within the limit Of his powers than
any other man who ran.
The crisis in battle on which the
life of nation hung could hardly have
been more impressive than Dorando's
entrance into the Stadium. Ten min
utes after the megaphone announced,
"The runners are in sight, Dorando
staggered down the incline leading to
| the track, stood for a moment as
though dazed and then turned in the
wrong direction.
Limit of Endurance.
1t was evident that he was practi-
cally delirious Officials expostulated
with him, but he evidently thought
that they were trying to deceive him
and fought to go on to the left. At
length he turned and started on the
right path. Then followed an exhibit
ton never to be forgotten. He foun-
dered along the path like one in a
dream At the turn he dropped to the
ground. Immediately crowd Of track
officials swarmed around him. 1t was
evident that the man had run himself
to the very limit of endurance.
According to the rules of the race
physicians should have taken him
away, but the track officials, lost in
t;their sympathy for such man and
for such an effort, lifted him to his
feet and with their hands at his back
gave him support
Lifted Across Line.
-Four times Dorando fell in the SOC
yards that separated him from the
finish and three times after the doc
tors had poured stimulants down his
throat he was dragged to his feet and
finally pushed across the line, with
one man at his back and anothe,
holding him by the arm.
| His part in the race, for all practi
cal purposes, was ended when he en-
tered the Stadium, for unless he re
ceived assistance he could not have
finished, While this pathetic seen,
was being enacted the American
Hayes, entered the Stadium compare
lively fresh and trotted around. H,
came in less than minute benin,
Dorando, but in the excitement Of tn,
moment failed to get. even from hi
own countrymen, the reception he dc
i served.
More Medals for Yankees.
In the pole vault, A. C. Gilbert q
I Yale and e. 7. Cooke Of Cornell tie
for first place, with u feet 2 inches
and the gold and silver medals go Il
i America, while G. S. Jacobs. Univel
i slts OF Chicago, tied with sonderstror
OF Sweden and Archibald of Canad
Tor third, with vault of II feet
Inches s5s
q MINISTER IS KILLED.
~ 3sss -
IA Cow Becomes L. ra1aa $50, 49,,