The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-15


 Stockholm, July 14-South Africa which heretofore played rather a mod est part in this Olympic drama. came to the center of the stage at the mo- ment of It's continuation today winning the marathon race, the most important number on the programme. This might have been honor enough for a small nation, bus Ssuth Africa also won sec opd place secure lead, thus piling mp the glory
 The winner he classical Marathon was K. K. Me- ar, a tall Transvaal policeman who has never yet been headed in a similar event
 His compatriot, c. w. Gitshaw, came second into the stadium several hun dred yards behind, and third to ap- pear was the American, Gaston Stro- bino of the South Paterson Athletic club. who put up a braver fight than most of the runners. for his feet were skinned and bleeding and he was sui fering great pain He never lost his nerve, though and made a brave at tempt at feeling happy while he trav ersed the stadium track a furlong be- hind the second man at the end of the killing performance.
 The times as announced were McAr thur, 2 hours. 36 ninutes Gitshaw. ? hours, 37 minutes, B seconds; Strobino, 2 hours, 3S minutes, AZ 2-5 seconds.
 Americans Can Endure
 The Americans certainly gave death blow to the theory that the ath- ]etes of the United States are better at contests which require quickness and agility than in tests of endurance While 30,000 spectators, who were ,Prilled on the stadium seats, strained their eyes toward the archway from under which the runners emerged they saw the American shield on the breasts of six of the first 10 men who entered. The names of this roll of honor are Strobino, Andrew SockaieAis. Oldtown, John J. Gallagher, Yale university; Jo- seph Erxleben, Missouri A. C.. Rich ard r. Piggott. North Dorchester A. C.. and Joseph Forshaw, Missouri A. c. The American team numbered 12 and 10 finished. The last of these was Thom- H. Iilley. North Dorchester A. C., who finished eighteenth.
 Two Americans fell by the wayside Michael J. Ryan of the Irish-Amer- ican A. C.. who made good run for 19 miles and then succumbed to the heat, and John J. Reynolds of the same club, who fell out earlier
 Sweden furnished another dozen to the race and if their strength had been equal to their ambition they would have had a
 
 great pace but during the first few miles put forth all their powers and had nothing left when the final test came. Canada had reason to be ashamed, for two her representatives J. Duffy and w. H. Forsythe finished fifth and sixteenth re- spectively. jChanadas great hope, Cor kerey, ran with Ryan for several miles and they gave it up together.
 Finn Is Outclassed
 The tall Finn, Kolehmainen, another favorite. was outclassed. He took the lead at the beginning but Gitshaw caught him at five miles and ran at his heels with McArthur and F. Lord of Great Britain for ten miles mora; then robbed him of the leadership.
 Two miles and a half from the goal McArthur went to the front and held the lead to the end He had completed the circuit of the arena before Gitshaw came under the archway and he fall to the ground exhausted. The spectators cheered him Justify and as he lay pant ing Crown Prince Gustavc Adolph came up and shook him by the hand and patted him on the back.
 small party of South African enthu- siasts held an enormous laurel wreath ready in anticipation of victory. of which they were confident from the first They lifted the two green-jerseyed athletes on their shoulders and slung the laurel over McArthur, carrying the pair across the field
 Half an hour later after champagne had been opened in the dressing room the African delegation again brought out the victors and bore them around the track the band playing frantically.
 Strobino was fifteenth at the turning bround the quaint Solentuna church, which the runners rounded to re-trsce their tracks. Two Americans were ahead of him at that time and he ran several miles with Tewanipa; then joined Ko- lehmainen until the Finn dropped far back in the rear. He finished well up with the two leaders and seemed to be fin much better shape than either of them. for he stopped to shake hands with few friends and then walked briskly from the track.
 S0ckalexis Is Fourth
 It seemed long wait after Stribono before another runner appeared at the entrance. Then a second shield appeared with the American device. It was the Indian Sockalexis who crossed the line % yards in front of Duffy the Canadian. Both were in fine condition.
 While Gitsham arrived a little less than two minutes behind McArthur and Stro- hino 30 seconds later period of more than three minutes elapsed before Socka- lexis and Duffy came through. Then a dozen or more arrived in quick success aion. Each runner displaying the Ameri- can shield got a rousing cheer when he passed the American stand. Every one of the American runners came in strongly. Forshaw as easily as when he started and waved his hand in response to cheers. The King and Queen and Crown Princess in the royal box applauded the first corners and the Crown Prince greeted them effusively. Greek who finished 18th gave a military salute to the stands Dahberg, q Swcde stopped 50 feet from the end N His ls gs were paraiyzed and he rubbed them vigorously before he could proceed, then he walked stiffly over the line .I went out to win or die,'' said Me- lCOntinucd on Page Two)