100 YEARS AGO
London, July 14. — America and Great Britain captured most of the laurels in the first real business day of the Olympic sports. Twice the Stars and Stripes fluttered to the top of the staff in the Center of the arena, and the American enthusiasts who monopolized a section of the stadium, waved their flags and broke out in cheers, which, in a smaller field, would have been deafening. The honors were nearly even, for of the four events finished, the United States and the United Kingdom each won two gold medals. Great Britain, however, took three silver medals, while America got only one. Canada, Australia, Great Britain and Belgium each obtained a bronze medal. The Yankees had the hammer throw to themselves, as had been expected, and the performance of John J. Flanagan of the Irish-American Athletic Club in breaking the Olympic record with the hammer, and the almost equally good record made by M. J. McGrath of the New York Athletic Club, were eye-openers to the foreigners. M. W. Shepperd of the Irish-American Athletic Club, however, did more spectacular work and aroused a greater degree of enthusiasm by crossing the tape ahead of his English rivals in a dashing finish to the 1,500-meter run. This the Englishmen had prophets on for Wilson or Hallows, no prophets conceding them any better than third place. To add to the satisfaction of the Americans, the judges announced that George W. Gaidiz of the Chicago Athletic Association had done the best work in fancy diving. The British pedestrians had their own way in the 3,500-meter walk; there were no American competitors in this event. The 20-kilometer cycle race was the most cosmopolitan event of the day. L. G. Wientz of the New York Athletic Club made a desperate effort, but he was unable to secure a place in the final sprint. The eight riders were well bunched in the last lap, and it was only in the final hundred yards that the fight was decided.
50 YEARS AGO