New-York tribune., 1908-06-28
AMERICAN TEAM SAILS
CROWD SEES MEN OFF.
athletes in Fine Condition for
OHM mic Games at London.

-,ros ,, thousands OF well-wishers. fourscore
American athletes. trained TO the minute and the
nick Of this country, sailed away yesterday morn
.,e on the American Line steamer Phiiadelphia
,,o,,n5 for the Olympic games. which viii begin
.nree weeks from yesterday. Every one was In
bannv mood and all were that America would
win she championship. she has done ever SINCE
the olympic games were revived
The men were charge OF Matt Halpin, VINO
managed the successful team which went 10
Athens two years ago Their physical condition
will he looked after by Mike Murphy. the veteran
trainer.
Though a big crowd ct the pier to see tne
so,s off there was not the least sign of disoroer'
a,d the few policemen hand had no trouoie
keeping order. Ralph Rose, the giant shot pue'er,
who stands six feet five inches. was the centre Oh
attraction. Just before the -teamer salied Rose
said: -.
90, ms, srs. t-in across the pond. 1 don't
know whether III be seasick or not i had one
nrevtous experience on the ocean. when came
down 10 the States from Alaska, ana theh No
done some travelling on the Great Lakes "neh
,bev were pretty rough, and don't expect 10 fare
too badly"
Matt Halpn had busy time making tne
<nal arrangements. He was all over the ship
booking 10 the wants Of his men, He was sure inc
sea trip wouldn't lessen the chances OF the a'et'
hu. rather thought the salt air would do them
good =,
Sea sickness is about one-haf Inauguration
said Murphy TO his Don't eat 100 rnuCh
during the first two days out Keep on the deck
SIS much as you can and the cases OF real SICK
,,ese will he mighty few" Murphy announced TO
,,. man as soon as they found their quarters mat
he would expect little work Of them during the
first two or three days of the voyage But ne
exnects every man TO train day, il possible
as soon as they get well started on the voyage
The Philadelphia is booked arrive at Southamp-
ton on July l. II is doubtful II the vessel makes
quite this good time the general expectation be-
ing that the team would not reach its destination
before Sunday forenoon. Murphy said before the
team sailed that the only work the men would 90
on the boat would be Of a light character IIns
will be much the American athletes have
done previous trips with Murphy There VIII
he short sprints the deck of the steamer Tor
the sprinters and jumpers. while the distance
runners win have exercises in jumping up and
down and dancing.
Followers of track and field athletics well
satisfied that Americas strongest team has sailed
and that she viii come out victorious in the
greatest athletic contest in the history Of the
snort Though America Will be pitted against the
world, il is almost impossible TO forecast defeat
for her.
The sprinters from this country are expected
10 carry everything before them. Among these
feet footed men Jimmy Rector, Nat Cart
NELL Lawson Robertson. II. ]. Huff and several
others, almost any Of whom might win
against the foreign short distance men, For the
10e-netre America banks her hoTss on j B.
TAYLOR, a negro and Harry Hillman, New
Yorker These two men are expected 10 finish
first and second. In the S00-metre race Hal
Sheppard is considered practically invincibe- He
will be ably supported by Jim Lightbody, L. P.
Jones and J. Bromilow-
England has always had the honor of producing
the premier distance runners. that is, from mile
up. America may the tables this year. On
the steamer yesterday was H. c. Balsteau. q young
miller who is considered the greatest man at this
distance ever produced in this country. II he is in
condition the foreigners will have close to
the worlds record time 10 beat him. Close to him
IN ability H L Coe, J. P. Sullivan, F. Rowe
end c. A. Dull Perhaps our chances of success in
the hve-rnile race are not so good. but Fred Bel
lars George Bonhag and John Eisele will be close
I'D at the finish. The first named has Yet 10 be
pushed 10 his limit.
With John GarrelIs. A. B. Shaw, Forrest Smith
son, Charlie Bacon and Harry Hillman TO carry
Americas colors IN the hurdle races, it is hard TO
see how can he defeated. They are the greatest
timber toppers in This country. and every of
them looked fit they boarded the steamer yes
.erdav.
Though " r -Dray the worlds record holder
tn the pole vault did not sail with the team there
four men on the steamer, all OF whom have
cleared IL feet better. They A. c. Gilbert,
with practice mark of Is feet; S H. Belah. c. S
Jacobs and r. T Cooke With Dan Kelly and
Frank Mountpleasant. Indian, to help him.
z. T. Cooke win come pretty close to winning the
running broad jump. In the high Jump America
looks up TO Tom Mofhtt, Harry Porter and John "
Patterson.
Ray ETry sailed OF the Philadelphia, expect
ing return with two more trophies to add
20 his large collection For years he has been
competing in the standing high and broad jumps.
and he hardly knows what the sting of defeat
means. With him is young Brooklynite, ]. A.
Biiler who is rapidly forcing his way to the
front in these specalties, and may day take
Ewry's place as champion. Between them they
should win many points for America There is an
other event the Olympic programme which Is
ordinarily omitted in American competitions, that
is the hop. step and jump. Our TWO adopts in this
contest are Platt Adams and J. s. O'Connell, both
New Workers.
In the field contests where strength and skill
count primarily America looms UP large. Sailing
yesterday several giants prepared 10
show the foreigners how TO juggle weights. They
were John Flanagan the champion hammer
throHer; Martin Sheridan. the aIl-round champion:
Ralph Rose. she champion shot putter; A. X. Dear
horn the champion discus tlrower: John Carres,
Mike NcGrath, Lee Talbot. W ". Coe and W.
". Burroughs Flanagan, Sheridan and McGrath
New York policemen. II looks now as IL these
would fight among themselves for the points
IN the weight contests. with nearly all the other
competitors eliminated in the trials