The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-23
Success of the Great AthIeti 6 Meeting Is Now Assured
 By Attendance
AMERICANS HALTED IN
 VICTORIOUS CONTESTS
South African Runner Defeats Rector in Close Race, but Other Prizes Are Won During the Days
 Programme.

London, July 22-Comparative gloom pervades the American camp tonight. The athletes from over the seas had strongly cherished hopes of repeating vesterday's grand record. making d clean sweep in the track events, but dark horse in the person of the South African youth, R. E. Walker, upset the calculations Walker broke the tape in what is considered the most im- portant event in the Olympic games the 1OO-metres dash-a short two feet in front of J. A. Rector, the University of Virginia crack, thereby putting an end to the astonishing succession of American triumphs which had begun to sadden the Britons. Shoulder-to- shoulder. Walker, Rector and the Ca nadian star Kerr. ran down the straight. with Cartmell. the Pennsyl- vania sprinter. close behind. At the halfway mark, Walker forged slightly ahead, but at the tape less than yard separated the first three men, with the Canadian only few inches behind the Virginian, in third place.
 The American team did remarkably  had elated them to the point whese they were satisfied with nothing less than everything in sight. A worlds record. by c. J. Bacon of the Irish American A. C., in the kilometres hura- ling, which he won in 55 seconds; an Olympic record of A feet Az inches by F. C. Irons of the Chicago A. C., Tn the running broad jump, and the viz tory of G. S. Dole of Yale, in the featherweight wrestling out of seven finals. should be a satisfactory day s performance.
 Great Britain, as usual, came seconi among the countries with $. V. Bacon winning the middleweight wrestling and the English team defeating the Belgians in water polo.
 Africa Takes Medal.
 The African colonial flag was raised to the masthead to signalize Walker great sprint and Finland, whose rep resentative, Saarela, conquered all com CTS in the Graeco- Roman wrestling bouts, having no flag, brought forth the standard bearing the word Fin land" and it was elevated on the flag pole.
 Walker was accorded an ovation seen only once in lifetime on an athletic field. when 0,000 people rose win great cheers and filled the air with hats while the boy who this morning was unknown, but whose name fills London tonight was lifted on the shoulders of enthusiastic friends. The only demonstration approaching this during the meeting was the tumult after Sheppard's sensational win in the S0O-metres yesterday, but that was feeble by comparison. because Walker is a Britisher, and the British public is not partial toward American sue- cesses.
 The American contingent had feared that Kerr, the Canadian, would rob them of the kilometres. but they had not considered Walker dangerous. No one accepted the national misfortune more gracefully than Rector. When spoken to regarding Walkers victory the Virginian said:
 .Walker is a faster runner than l, and that is all there is to say"
 Success Is Assured.
 The Olympic games are developing into a huge success While the meet ing started discouragingly, London is fast becoming athletic mad. Peop'e everywhere talk of nothing but the Olympian runners and Jumpers, and the women seem as much interested as the men. A big attendance Is certain fro n now on. It would be hard to imagine a finer spectacle than the stadium pre- sented today. From athletic, social and spectacular standpoints, it quite equaled the expectations of the promoters. Queen Alexandra and other members of the royal family were present and congratulated the African runner on his victory The stands contained 40.- GOO persons, of whom at least one-hals were women. The American section was truly American, with waving flags and se-making instruments. There was organized cheering by large band of collegians under the leadership of a frantic youth, brandishing a huge club and shouting "Rahl Rah Rah Bacon!" which was heartily taken up by the others when the first American victory of the day was proclaimed. This caught the fancy of the crowd immensely, as did the Americans cheering for Walk CT, who, although he defeated their faY- orite, was as cordially greeted as their own countryman.
 A Brilliant Scene.
 The picture in the arena was worthy of a setting. When the Queen entered the royal box the runners were StrlVlnS Nltn every muscle set in the 400-metre race around the track, divers were throwing double somersaults from the tower and brawny wrestlers were struggling in the Graeco-Roman contests.
 On the platforms at either end of the oval a band of Danish lady gymnasts, who were the most attractive novelty of the meeting arrayed in white uniforms and yellow stockings were engaged in graceful exercises. In addition to Walk er's sprint, the 400-metre hurdles and the final heats of the 400 and 200-metre flat races were memorable events. The Amer jeans had the hurdles to themselves. c. J. Bacon of the Irish-American Athletic club and Harry l.. Hillman, New York Athletic club between whom there was as warm a rivalry between the men of different nationalities, ran clear away from their English rivals, Burton and Tremer. The Americans rounded the turn yards ahead of the Englishmen and fought it out for first place in the stretch, Bacon reaching the tape slightly in the lead.
 Bride in Tears.
 On Hillman's previous record he was ex- pected to win, for at the Olympic games fin St Louis in 1904 he ran the distance sn