Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-09-03
.GREETS ATHLETES
PRESIDENT WELCOMES VICTOR
IoUs OLYMPIC TEAM TO
SYCAMORE HILL.
WORDS OF PRAISE FOR EACH
Athletes Spent Pleasant Two HourS
at the Roosevelt Home
Two Medals for the
President.

Oyster Bay. N. Y, Sept. with
gun from the local yacht club boom
ing q rousing welcome. the American
Olympic team, victors In the recent
events in London, steamed into the
waters Of Oyster Bay Monday for
their visit to President Roosevelt.
When they left their boat and
reached the top Of Sycamore Hill,
wherein is perched the summer home
Of the nations head, Mr.. Roosevelt
was on his broad veranda where he
had been scanning them eagerly for
several minutes as they approached,
two abreast, whistling "A Hot Time In
the Old Town Tonight"
James d. Sullivan, the American
commissioner was first to be received
by the president. They then entered
the reception room. With the presi-
dent were Mrs. Roosevelt and their
son, Kermit. Commissioner Sullivan
acted as master of ceremonies, pre-.
senting each one Of his brawny
charges In turn. The president grasped
each one by the hand and to each he
spoke few words Of mingled greet
ing and commentator.
John J. Hayes, the Marathon hero.
had the distinction Of being the first
to be presented. 4 am proud Of you"
said the president to him as he gave
him q vigorous handshake. your feat
was marvellous. You won great race
and / am glad Of It."
Before Hayes had realized how
warm was the presidents greeting the
president had swung him around and
turned him over to Mrs. Roosevelt and
she and Kermit then entertained him
In conversation. Melvin Sheppard next
came up. The winner Of the 1900
meter race beamed all over when the
president assured him that 1t was q
"buliy" victory which he and the boys
had won In London.
T6Wanina, the Indian, who came In
ninth in the Marathon race, pleased
the president immensely. Il an glad,
indeed" he said to him, that Q real
original American Indian competed
for America and represented the
country abroad. 1t was nne show
ing that you made"
50 1t was with each and every one
Ot the team that had made the trip
and when the last man had been
srasbed BY the hand and his heart
cheered BY the presidents words and
Is HAD passed into the dining room
and partaken Of refreshments, Mr..
Roosevelt followed In, and then had to
listen to some cheers for himself.
Some one proposed three cheers for
"the greatset president the United
States ever had, Theodore Roosevelt"
and everybody responded.
John ]. Flanagan, the weight throw
err, and Melvin Sheppard, the runner,
presented the president with their
medals. Mr.. Roosevelt protested that 7
ne could not accept, but 1t was ex'
planned to him that both Flanagan =
and Sheppard had others exactly like
those which they were offering him
and thereupon he consented to keep =
them as souvenirs Of the olympiad
Of 1908. =
After the refreshments and the !
anSa0h of the president. all hands !
went out on the veraIda and, grouped
about Mr.. Roosevelt, they had theiI
picture taken. Departing they sang
"For He's Jolly Good Fellow" The
sylph's launches were awaiting them y
at the pier and after a two hours :
stay at Sycamore Hill, they were or
their way to New York. y