New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-15
Worlds Record in Swim,

Worlds Record in Swim,
The chief swimming event Of the day
was the final heat at 400 metres free style,
which the Canadian. George Hodgson. won
by setting another worlds record of 5
minutes "a % seconds. The Britsher, Hat
field, finished 2-5 seconds behind him,
with Hardwick. of Australia. third.
The American runners easily won their
heat with the Germans in the 16O0-metre
relay race. They will meet the British and
French teams tomorrow in the final heat.
The American team was made MP Of z.
F. Lindberg. Of the Chicago Athletic Asso-
citation; Melvin W. Sheppard. of the irish
American Athletic Association. James +.
Meredith of the Mercersburg Academy. and
Charles II. Reidpath. of Syracuse Uni
versity.
While the last Of the Marathon runners
were struggling in the attendants were busy
dragging I'm tables carloads Of flowers and
other decorations In preparation for the
great Open-air banquet TO which all the ath-
letes participating in the games were in
vited. The tables were laid for $500 per
sons and there was music by massed mill
tary bands and singing by choir of more
than 5000 men A fine display Of fireworks
took place after the banquet Speeches
were made BY athletes in uniform under
the respective standards OF their nations
Tickets were sold to spectators. who VII
messed one of the most remarkable spec
tacles Of the Olympic games. The orsam-
zation which made possible the smooth
management of so many UNDERTAKINGS al
Of considerable magnitude, has surprised
the visitors.
The great banquet was not the only &C
tivity Of the evening There was a per
formance at the Royal Opera, 10 Whlch
many Of the most prominent OF the Tor
eigners were invited. q concert In the Dig
gest hall in Stockholm by the choral So
cieties and an official dinner for the officers
who competed in the modern pentathlon.
The great Marathon day was ushered IN
with a blazing sun and high temperature
which meant much suffering for the run
uers. particularly those from countries Ike
the United Kingdom where such weather
is practically unknown.
While the church bells Of Stockholm were
ringing this morning many thousands
poured along the streets toward the
Stadium, the women all arrayed attractive
~ in their lightest summer dresses and
fimsiest bonnets. while most of the men
were in flannels or outing suits.
Although the race was not fixed to start
from the stadium until 80 O'Clock. long
before 10 o'clock crowds OF persons. far
more numerous than the stadium could
possibly hold, surrounded the entrances,
endeavorng TO obtain admission TO the
many tiers of seats. At the same time the
route the runners were TO take passing
through the suburbs Of Stockholm out to
Sollentuna and back were thickly lined,
while gray coated infantrymen bivouacked
with rifles piled along the course, waiting
to take up their positions as soon as the
race began. The soldiers IN their heavy
clothing were in veritable bath of per
spratiOn long before their hard days work
began.
When the Marathon runners began TO
appear in the great arena. soon after
o'clock. to loosen their legs in short lin
bering up jaunts on the track, round after
round of cheers went up from the groups
of spectators representing the various ma
tionalities. The stadium resounded with
yells and cries in many languages as the
men upon whom the hopes Of the nations
We're fixed were sighted on the track
Nearly ali the runners had handkerchiefs
bound around their heads. for the suns
rays poured down with great intensity
The Swedish runners were all in blue run
ming trunks and naturally commanded the
greatest ovation. The South Africans
were conspicuous in green silks, and were
the only ones on the field who went bare
headed. Several of the Englishmen wore
wide brimmed canvas hats.