New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-01
ATHLETES At STOCKHOLM
Hearty Welcome Is Extended to
the Americans.
THR0NG AT FINLAND'S PIER
Colonel Thompson Replies to
Words of Greeting from
the SWedes.

Stockholm, June 30.-An immense
crowd Of those identified with the Olym-
pic games, including the principal mem
bers OF the Swedish committee and the
entire track team, greeted the steamer
Finland when she locked near the heart
of the Scandinavian metropolis at u
o'clock this morning. During the hall
hour in which the steamer was tying UP
the Swedes sang Swedish and American
songs. The American contingent lining
tho rails followed suit and the ships
band played national airs.
Ernie Hjertberg. we'll known in Ameri-
can athletics, who Is now the trainer OF
the Swedish team j. =. Edstrom, vice.
president of the Swedish Olympic com
mittee, and members of the American
Legation headed the delegation which
boarded the Finland. Mr., Edstrom made
speech of welcome, In which he said
that he expected the Americans 10 viii,
the Olympiad, but he added that the
Swedes hoped to teach them something.
Colonel Robert NJ. Thompson, presi-
dent of the New York Athletic Club, re-
piled that the Americans hoped TO win.
He said that the large representation
was sign of esteem for Sweden and a
desire to get acquainted with the coun-
try.
The Finland Is said to he the largest
ship which has ever locked at stock
holm, and the Americans are conceded
to constitute the star attraction of the
! Olympiad. Hence, thousands of resi-
dents and members OF rival teams in
shifting groups inspected the shir
throughout the day until late in the
afternoon, when she moved into mid
stream. The Finland will remain there
so that the athletes may have the bene-
| fit Of isolation and quiet.
Dressed with the flags Of the American
colleges and athletic clubs and swarm
ing with stalwart athletes in neat uni
| forms, the steamer commanded great
admiration. The latter part Of the voy-
age from Antwerp was slow, because
great caution was necessary to pilot such
craft in. The steamer Baltic was
! passed last night, anchored forty miles
below Stockholm.
The majority of the American team
made no attempt at exercise to-day ex-
| cept 10 take long walks. The training
grounds arc in the suburb Of Rasunde
where football contest was being
! PLAYED this afternoon.
| The Swedish officers have extended
| every facility TO Colonel Frederick s
| Foltz, who IL in charge Of the American
army officers. The horses were inme-
diat.ly disembarked The Marathon
runners have taken up quarters in d
! country inn. where they will train alonr
| the course. Colonel Thompson has gone
| aboard a yacht chartered for the oCCa
| sion. where nc is entertaining u party
James j.. Sullivan, special American
commissioner, has established an Office
~ a hotel i'm the city. while Matthew
| Nalpiu, manager at the American team
and q majority ot tho American com.
mittcc will remain OF shipboard.
! stockholm presents a festive appear
arcc. The streets are decorated with
thousands of Swedish flags, blue with @
yellow cross, OF poles planted a hun
dred feet apart. The flags Of other I'd
| tionalities represented AZ the Olympiad
are interspersed in profusion. Tho con,
testants from tho various countries. al
wearing distinctive uniforms and easily
recognized b. national devices on their
| hatbands, are seen everywhere. Tn,
open spaces are crowded with athletes
practising every form If sports. Re-
tween 1000 and 5000 Of them have ar
rived here.
Americans predominant among the Wis
itors NJ the hotels. The Russian is the
only other contingent with quarters ~
shipbnard- tho steamer Eirma whicd
appears an infant in comparison with
| the Finland. The weather az IN 1905
favors the Americans. who ara more
accustomed to heat than their British
rivals. The thermometer for the last
four days has stood at about % de-
grees.