The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-17
British Tug-Of-War Team Wears
Spiked and Steel-BOund Shoes
Against Rules.
"KICK" GOES FOR NAUGHT
AND MEN ARE DISGUSTED
Larner, of England, Wins Ten
Mile Walk-Attendance
at Meet Dwindles.

e LONDON, July 17.-Alleging unfair
tactics on the part of the British team,
the Americans today protested the tug
of-war contest in the fourth Olympiad
and retired from the field.
The act Of the team caused the great
est excitement, but was fully approved
by the spectators and other nations, as
it was only too evident that the Eng
lish team had most flagrantly and
openly violated the most important rule
of the contest, which provides that the
contestants shall wear only ordinary
and not specially made shoes.
The tug-ofwar contest was to have
been decided by the best two pulls out
of three, and because of the individuals
entered it was expected by all that
America would have walkaway. The
first pull started, but the Americans
lost it, their feet being dragged over
the turf owing to the ponderous and
spiked shoes of the British team. Then
the Americans refused to pull again
and the event was protested.
The American team Was composed of
w. G. Burroughs. Chicago A. A; A. K.
Dearborn, New York A. c.; John j,
Flanagan, Irish-American A. A; M. j.
McGrath, New York A. c.; Ralph Rose.
Olympic A. c., San Francisco; Lee J..
Talbot, Irish American A. c.; w. w.
Coe jr, Boston A. A., and NJ. F. Horr,
Irish American A. c.
English Team All, Cops.
The English team, who are men,
bers of the Liverpool police force, wore
an immense shoe which could not under
any circumstances he used for ordl-
nary purposes. In addition to this
every man had the heels of their shoes
encased in steel, which sank into the
turf, while the head man had spikes
fastened to his shoes When the
Americans perceived how the regula-
tions were being ignored, they made
no effort. Rose, the anchorman, did
not even wind the rope around his
body, When the United Kingdom men
put their weight on, the feet of the
Americans, shod with the ordinary
shoes worn by athletes, slipped over
the turf.
Matthew p Halpin. manager of the
American Olympic team. who had al
ready protested to the officials, at once
reported the facts to James e. Sullivan,
United States commissioner. to the
games, who Immediately lodged a
formal protest with the association.
The Americans are disgusted at this
treatment. The rules say distinctly
that no competitor shall wear prepared
boots or shoes or boots or shoes with
projecting nails, tips, points, sprigs
or hollows of any kind, and that no
competitor shall make q hole in the
ground.
The American team, which was es-
corted on to the ground by Martin j.
Sheridan, Irish-American A. c., with
Rose, the San Francisco giant, bring
ing up the rear, was received with a
vociferous welcome from all parts of
the arena, their appearance evoking
the greatest admiration even from those
who were hoping to see some other
country carry off the event.
The final in the 10-mile walk was
won easily by G.. z. Larner. United
Kingdom, In hour Is minutes 81 2-5
seconds. E. ]. Webb. United Kingdom,
was second.
Rain spoils sport.
There were only three events on this
mornings program, the individual
saber competition and two archery con-
tests The bad weather again spoiled
the sport.
The attendance today was ever
smaller than yesterday. There prob |
ably will be reduction in the price of
admission next week to induce the |
Londoners to fill the stands.
In the first round of the individual
saber competition, Flesch, of Australia |
won. scoring five points to his oppo-
nent's nothing.
The first heat of the semi-finals of
tie 100-metre back stroke swimming |
contest was won by Bieberstein, Ger
many, in minute % 3-5 seconds. Dane.
Denmark, was second. In the second
heat Haresnape, United Kingdom, was
first, and Auhck. Germany, second.
Time. 1 minute 2S 1-5 seconds.