WINNING THE MARATHON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 101, 14 September 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

WINNING THE MARATHON

DRAMATIC FINISH AT THE OLYMPIAD. South Africa won the Marathon race on the afternoon of July 14th. It was quite a dramatic finish to this great event of the Olympiad when the lank brown figure of McArthur, wearing dust-covered shorts of the familiar green, labored heavily around the arena towards the royal box with a great wreath of laurel tied with the Swedish colors thrust over one shoulder. But the generous applause which thundered round him from appreciative but disappointed partisans of this country and other nations were redoubled when' the second figure lin green paddled into the Stadium and Gitsham came to the tape after an exciting cross-country race with his countryman. Thus, South Africa won first and second places in the greatest contest of endurance in the games, and under the most trying conditions. • It was a hard course which ninetyeight runners essayed to cover in record time. It was full of hills and wrapped in choking dust, while a sun of almost tropical fierceness blazed on them remorselessly: Marathon traditions were ignored in starting and finishing the race at the Stadium, instead of running it from point to point. The competitors were away in a bunch about 1.40 p.m. They ran through the suburban town of Stocksiind, then through a series of villages, ending at Sollentuna, where they encirced the old church and returned to the Stadium by the same route. The Stadium was packed, every Swede able to do so having obtained admission, Thousands, including excursionists, patiently endured the stifling heat outside, all for the purpose of cheering the Swede who it was' confidently expected would win. They believed that knowledge of the course and local conditions woftld give Sweden at least, second place; but from the time the first of the runners cleared Sollentuna Church it was evident that South Africa was the most likely victor. > A tiny Union Jack with the South Afri- | can emblem topped the slender pole in the arena, which was the barometer on which all eyes were focussed. The Union Jack stayed there; sometimes the Finnish flag was next, sometimes the Swedish, or the American, but the second African flag was always below them. A rippling cheer outside in the streets heralded the approach of McArthur. He was a rather pathetic figure as he passed laboriously, but with grim determination. At the upper end of the arena a waiting official deftly threw the laurel wreath over his arms, bewildering him for a moment, but he kept doggedly on witlj his head up until he broke the tape, and that instant he collapsed in his wreath on the gTass. Cheering compatriots bore 'him shoulder high from the arena, and later, with his fellow-South African, borne before him, the victor was again carried in triumph through the Stadium to the royal box, where the King congratulated him, while the Americans chanted his name iii their peculiar fashion, and an audience that represented a dozen of the greatest nations joined in a whole-heart-ed tribute to this fine victory so finely won. And McArthur, with his head again erect. over. the laurel wreath, smiled like a boy of ten.