The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-14
AMERICANS CARRY
 OFF GREAT HONORS Olympic Contestants Make An
 Excellent Showing RAIN DAMPENS THE ARD0R King Edward Formally Opens the olympiad in the Splendid stad-
 ium and Preliminary Events
 Are Finally Run Off.
RAIN DAMPENS THE ARD0R

London, July 1S.-Rain interfered badly today with the opening of the fourth international Olympic games by the King at the Stadium at Sheph erds- bush and although it cleared off before the hour set for the formal ceremony, the attendance fell short of expecta- tions. The seating capacity of the stadium is upwards of 10000, and while the covered stands contained sections which were well filled, there were many vacant spaces. In fact, if it had not been for the American and colonial con- tingents, which were there to cheer their respective countrymen, and the sections around the royal box which were. occupied by society, it would have been a very small affair so far as at tendance was concerned.
 In some of the events, too, the con- testants appeared affected by the ad- verse weather conditions, but in other events, particularly the 1500 metre race, in which the greatest interest centered, the men were up to their form and twice during the afternoon the record for the distance was 
 | rjsh-American A. c. of New York was the first to accomplish the trick, whea 1 in the second heat, pressed hard by his team mate J. P. Halstead, of the l New York A. C., he ran the distance in 1 the splendid time of 4:05, just 25 of l second faster than that made by J. 8. Lightbody of the University If Chicago at the Olympic games at St. Louis in l 1904.
 Americans Beat Good Men. l The two Americans in this heat beat number of good men, including c. l Butterfield, the English four-mile champion, who finished bad third. J. Sullivan of the Irish American Athletic club, and Lightbody, who were ] first and second respectively in the | first heat of this event, took longer to l cover the distance but they were not pressed and doubtless could have done l better if it had been necessary. | Meadows of Canada set out to make the ! pace In this event then Lightb ody went l to the front in the stretch and seemed a likely winner but Sullivan, with q 1 fine burst of speed. passed him a few l yards from the tape.
 The best performance of the day, how ever, was that of M. F. Hallows of OK ford Blue, who cut a full two seconds off 1 the record, much to the surprise of ev- l erybody, as Hallows always has been at 1 his best at the mile, and 300 metres was considered too short for him. l He is now thought to be the most se- 1 rious rival of the Americans in the final
 of this event. which will be run tomor- l row.
 Through this defeat by Sheppard and l Sullivan, Halstead and Lightbody failed l to qualify. H. l.. Coe of the University l of Michigan. made strong bid for vic l tory in the fourth heat, but he was un- able to keep up with E. V. Loney of England although the time was not par ticularly brilliant. Coe finished second. The only other American in the race, F. H. Riley of the Irish-American Ath- letic club ran unplaced in his heat, the third, which was that in which Hallows made the record.
 Opening of Games.
 Shortly after o'clock in the afternoon the royal box, which had been fitted up for the accommodation of 40 persons, be- gan to fill up, the early arrivals including the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden and their children; the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece, the Duke and Duch- ess of Connaught, and the Duke and
 
 playing of the national anthem by a band of the grenadier guards announced the arrival of King Edward Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria, with their suites. As the King entered the royal box bugler gave a signal, the gates leading to the competitors quarters flew open, and the athletes marched out under the banners of their respective nations. The procession was formed in alphabetical or der, Austria leading, with the exception that the English speaking people races came last. This latter section was led by the American team with Barrels of the Chicago Athletic association at it's
 head, carrying the Stars and Stripes. The British colonies were directly behind l the Americans and at the end the United | Kingdom as hosts. As the procession came into the stadium each country re- ceiyed applause, that for the American and colonies being particularly enthus- i astic, as the audience which braved the clements to witness the opening of the great games included large contingents from across the sea-
 Sun Comes Out.
 As the day advanced the downpour of
 rain gave way to a driZzle, which, how ever, soon passed over, and as the time approached for the opening the sun came out occasionally and with the assistance of light breeze, frightened up the dec orations.
 At the last moment change was
 made in order of the events which were to follow the formal opening The first and seccnd heats ot the 15O0 metres run were placed first, al4d both J. D. Light