Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-07-23
Three More Fifsts h
The Olympic Games.
40O-Metfe Hurdles, Broad Jump
And Wrestling Matches.
Robbed Of 1901 Metres Dash By
Speedy Walker Of South Africa.


gloom pervades the American camp
tonight. The athletes from over the
seas had strongly cherished hopes of
repeating yesterdays grand record
aking 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
important event in the Olympic games,
the 1O0-metres dash. short two feet
in front of j. A. Rector, the Univer-
sity of Virginia crack, thereby putting
an end to the astonishing succession
of American triumphs which had be-
gun to sadden the Britons.
Shoulder to shoulder, Walker. Rec
tor and the Canadian star, Kerr, ran
down the straight. with Cartwell, Tie,
Pennsylvania sprinter in close attend
ance. At the halfway mark Walker
forged slightly ahead, but at the tape
less than yard separated the first
three men. with the Canadian only
inches behind the Virginian, in third
place.
The American team did remarkably
vel! at the Stadium today, but sue
cess had elated them to the point
where they We're satisfied with nothing
less than everything in sight. A worlds
record, by c. j. Bacon of the Irish
Aerican A. c., in the 400-metres hurd-
ling, which he won in So seconds; an
Olympic record of "a feet. 61a inches
by f. c. Irons of the Chicago A. A.,
in the running broad jump: and the
victory of G. S. Dole Of Yale, in the
featharweight wrestling, out of seven
finals, should be a satisfactory days
performance.
Great Britain, as usual. came second
among the countries, with S. v. Bacon
winning the middleweight wrestling.
and the English team defeating the,
Belgians in the water polo. The Afri-
can colonial flag was raised to the
masthead to sgnaliZe Walkers great
feat; and FINLAND, whose representa-
tive, Saarela, conquered all comers
in the Graeco- Roman wrestling bouts.
having no flag. brought forth the
standard bearing the word "Finnland'
which the Firms carried in the opening
parade and it was elevated on the flag
pole
Walker achieved an ovation seen on
ly once in a lifetime on an athletic
lltHi, NHtII people rose WIFI u
great cheer and filled the air with hats,
while the boy who this morning was
unknown, but whose name filled Lon
don tonight, was lifted on the shoul-
ders of an enthusiastic friend
The American contingent had feared
that Kerr. the Canadian, would rob
them Of the 10O-metres, 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 I.
and that Is all there is to say"
The Olympic games are developing into
a huge success. While the meeting start
ed disconragingly with the weather and
other conditions strongly against IT, Lon
don is fast becoming athletic mad PeOs
pie everywhere talk Of nothing but the
Olympian runners and jumpers. and the
women seem as much interested as the
men.
Queen Alexandra and other members OF
the royal family were present and con-
graduated the African runner on his vic
tory The stands contained 10000 persons.
of whom at least one-half We're women,
whose multi-colored costumes presented
fascinating picture. The American sec
ton was truly American. with waving
flags and noise-making instruments.
There was organized cheering by large
band Of collegians. under the leadership
Of a frantic brandishing huge club and
shouting: "Rah, rah, rah. Bacon" which
was heartily taken up by the others.
when tho first American victory of the
day was proclaimed. This caught the
fancy of the crowd Immensely. as did
the Americans cheering for Walker,
who although he had defeated their IA
vorite, was as cordially greeted as their
own countrymen.
The jumping events were conducted on
the green turf in the center Of the sta
dunn and altogether today's games fur
nished series Of thrilling pictures and
quite as much excitement and as close
finishes as yesterday. In addition to
Walkers sprint, the 40O-metre hurdle and
Continued on Page Ffve.)