Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-06
ARRIVES IN GOOD
SPIRITS IN LONDON
American Olympic Team Con-
fident-Work on Steamer
During the Trip.

LONDON, England. July ON tho 6sssx
Of spirits and health the team of nearly
four-score American athletes who will
represent the United States in the Olym-
pic games, which begin here July II. 49,
rived on the steamship Philadelphia yes.
terday. The Americans were met at the
pier by James E. Sullivan, the secretary
Of the American committee. and as soon
as the bags were inspected the American
athletes were hustled into a waiting
train and whisked of to London. the Ho-
tel Morton being their destination.
Manager Halpin and NJ. C. Murphy. who
is with the team In the capacity Of train
err, reported that with few exceptions
all the men had stood the trip unusually
WELL and with a week Of preliminary
training which they will get here. would
be in good condition for the opening
Of the games. The Americans will have
the use of the stadium and other nearby
fields for training purposes, and although
they would much like a longer period In
which to work of their sea legs and get
in condition. they think that they will he
able to uphold the athletic reputation of
the United States in creditable fashion.
Work on the Steamer.
Trainer Murphy exercised strict disci-
pline over the members Of the team dur
ing the trip. and, barring a few of the
men whose condition was such that they
could do no training. all were given ath-
letic work every day. On account Of
the size Of the team it was necessary
to divide the men up into squads, one
part using the deck during the forenoon
and the other part in the afternoon. With
between thirty and forty men work
ing out together the deck resembled an
immense gymnasium,
Trainer Murphy, who took three athletic
teams to this country prior to the pres
ent trip, ordered much the same training
regime as former occasions. The
sprinters were given practice at starts
and such short dashes as the deck would
permit This work was supplemented by
vigorous exercises in dancing up and
down on mats to strengthen the endur-
ance and keep the muscles in good con-
dition. This was the main bill OF fare
for the distance runners twice day.
Trainer Murphy computed the amount of
leg motion necessary to run q mile and
created q good deal of amusement by his
instructions to the Marathon runners to
dance up and down for a distance of ten
miles.
The weight men, the pole-vaulters and
jumpers had to go through very much the
same sort of exercise, since they could
not practice their particular events to
very good advantage. Various games and
as possible and every effort made to re-
lieve the monotony of the trip.
Enthusiasm in England.
The arrival of the American team was
all that was necessary to kindle the fires
of athletic enthusiasm throughout Eng
land and all Europe as we'll. The Ameri-
cans. in fact. were the last to arrive. The
Swedes. Canadians, Germans and other
foreign competitors beat the men from
the land of the Stars and Strips to the
scene of the international athletic battle
by from two to three weeks and all en-
joyed the advantage of becoming more
acclimated than is possible for the Ameri-
cans and the additional help they re-
ceived by competing in the English cham
pionShpS and other games.
English critics have paid but scant at
tention to the merits of all other teams
but the Americans. The sentiment is
unanimous throughout England that the
American team. if it does not repeat its
former successes. will give the Brltons
the only real fight. The representatives
of John Bull know that Uncle sam 8
Young men have won every one of the
four OLYMPIC meets to date and they are
terribly afraid that the visitors VIII re-
peat it this month.
In spite of the strength of the American
team in the sprints and middle distances
the only events which the English are
willing to concede to the Americans are
the field events and not all of them. The
Rritons know all about the prowess OF
FLANAGAN. McGrath Rose Coe and Gar
rels in the hammer throw and shot-put
and they do not dispute the claims that
the Americans will about make clean
sweep of these events. In the pola
vault and high jump also they are willing
tn concede the superiority of the United
States. But they think that America
will fall down in the sprintS and quarter
mile and will score next to nothing IN the
distance runs from the 500 meters up
For some reason the Englishmen are Will
ing to back their man Morton IN potn
sprints against Cartmell. HUH, RectC ana
all the rest of the American sprinters'
who are in unusually good condition.
The Quarter-Milers.
Tn the quarter mile there is some uneasi-
,ass on the mart of the Americans on
account of the poor condition of Taylor.
the intercollegiate champion. Taylor
however, may improve from this time on
and if he does Americas chance In TINS
event will be much brighter In case
TAYLOR fails to round into condition TINS
event will have to be cared Tor py Hill
man and Merriam. The latter VINO Is tiie
C,hicago champion, is in unusually good
condition and Coach Stegg or the MO
way University. who accompanied ,te
team saws he will be very dangerous not
only for the 40 meters fiat but Tor the
hurdles we'll. a.,
There is much uneasinesS among the
American sprinters as TO what action the
English committees will eventually taKe
in regard to the drawing or meats LOT tle
Snrin1 events. Ii should be known that
the English care only for the winner or
the race Consequently in making up
their heats they never hesitate 10 put
three of their best men In single neat
knowing full we'll that the best man VIII
come out On top. But in this case points
are counted and seconds thirds ana
fourths are just important as firsts
To bring about a fairer method OF draw
ing I'D the heats was one OF the missions
of James E. Sullivan in going To Eng
land i'm advance of the team. The Amer
loan team contains about three sprinters
to England's one, and therefore desires
to have an opportunity TO score every pos
sible point.
Confidence of the Team.
Nearly all of the members of the Ameri-
can Olympic committee are already here
and will remain with the team until the
games are concluded. The strictest dis
taiv, al fhn of n.