Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-15
SECOND DAYS GAMES.

of real work Of the fourth internatiOna
Olympic games which We're opened by
King Edward in the Stadium at Shep-
pard's Bush yesterday, was carried
out under unsettled weather conditions
and before a small crowd. The results
however We're satisfactory to Amer
leans. John J. Flanagan of the Iris
American Athletic Club broke tbs
Olympic record in the hammer throw
and won the first gold medal for any
event nj. j. McGrath Of the New York
Athletic Club was second i'm the ham
mer throw and won the silver media
an6 c. Walsh, a Canadian, third in the
hammer throw, won the first bronze
medal. In the 20-kilometre cycling race
T.. G. WientZ of the New York Athlet-
lie Club qualified by winning the third
heat.
The sun shone brilliantly at the Sta
dunn this morning, giving promise OF
perfect weather for the second day of
the Olympiad in contrast to yesterday 5
drizzle which threw a damper over
the opening ceremonies. The flags OF
all the nations that have sent athletes
to compete in the games, with which
the stands are decorated. floating in a
light breeze, added further touch OF
brightness to the scene, while among
the competitors, the improved climatic
conditions had a good effect, tighten
ing their spirits and increasing their
enthusiasm. The spectators, however
We're slow in coming and when the
hammer throwing, the first event on
the program, commenced, the stands
We're almost entirely deserted.
For the Americans the interest GEN.
tered today in the hammer throwing
and in the final heat of the 1900 metres
run, in which J. p. Sullivan and Mel
vir w. Sheppard of the American
team competed against TAFT of Can
ada and five Eneishmen. winners of
the preliminary heats run off yester-
day
The Americans also make their first
appearance today in the cycling
events, Wientz and Cameron having
been drawn in the third and fourth
heats of the 20-kilometre race. the fl
nal of which was to be run off later in
the afternoon. the competitors being
the winners of the various heats and
three leaders making the greatest
number of laps in the three fastest
heats.
The Americans We're rather fortu-
nate i'll the drawings for the hammer
throw, three sections of which were
contested today. Talbot, Rose and
Sherman We're drawn in the first sec
ton. Burroughs and Horr in the sec
ond. and Flanagan, ellis and Nc
Grath in the third
London, July 14.--America and Great
Britain captured most of the laurels
today in the first real business day of
the Olympic sports. Twice the Stars
and Stripes fiuttered to the top of the
staff in the center of the arena and the
American enthusiasts who monOpolZed
a section of the Stadium waved their
flags and broke out in cheers, which.
in a smaller field, would have been
deafening. The honors were nearly
even, for of the four events finished,
the United States and the United
Kingdom each won two gold medals.
Great Britain, however, took three
silver medals, while America got only
one. Canada, Australia, Great Britain
and Belgium each obtained a bronze
medal.
The Yankees had the hammer throw
to themselves, as had been expected,
and the performance of John j. Flan-
agan of the Irish American Athletic
Club in breaking the Olympic record
with the hammer and the almost
equally good record made by M. J. Nc
Grath of the New York Athletic Club.
We're eye-openers to the foreigners.
NJ w. Sheppard of the Irish-Amer-
lean Athletic Club. however, did more
spectacular work and aroused a great
er degree of enthusiasm by crossing
the tape ahead of his English rivals in
q dashing finish in the 1500-metre run.
This the Englishmen had counted on
for Wilson and Hallows. no prophets
conceding America better than third
place.
TO add to the satisfaction of the
Americans the judges announced that
Geroge w. Gaidzik of the Chicago Ath-
letic Association had done the best
work in the fancy diving.
The British pedestrians had their
own way in the 35OO-metres walk.
There We're no American competitors
in this event. The 20-kilometre bicycle
race was the most cosmopolitan event
of the day. l.. ]. WientZ of the New
York Athletic Club made a desperate
effort, but he was unable to secure a
place in the final sprint. The eight
riders We're well punched in the last
lap and it was only in the final hun
drcd yards that the fight was decided
The first three heats of the 3-mile
team race We're interesting. The United
Kingdom was ptted against Italy
Holland and Germany in the first and
in the second the Americans met teams
representing Sweden and France.
Great Britain had a walkover in the
first heat, four members of her team
keeping together throughout, running