The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 (extracts)

75 who was present with her children, Lord Desborough fired the starting-gun, and the runners dashed off at a lively pace for the gates leading into the Town, and streamed down the hill past the Castle Walls along the road towards Barnespool Bridge, Eton, which marked the conclusion of the first mile. The leaders were W. T. larke and E. Barnes (both Engli h) with A. Burn of Canada, while T. Longboat (Canada) and Dorando Pietri (Italy) were close behind. At the mile another Engli hman (] ack) was leading and made the pace so hot that the distance was completed in 5 min. r 5 sec., fast enough for cold weather in so long a race, but not a little dangerous in the close, warm, and muggy atmosphere of that summer afternoon, when the sun was deceptively strong and there was very little air. Right at the end of the long line of competitors ran two American , Forshaw and Tewanina, who finished third and ninth respectively. Jack kept ahead, and finished the second mile in 10 min. 11 sec., and the third in 15 min. 42 sec., with Lord, Duncan and Price (all U.K.) running uehind him, and Hefferon ( outh Africa), and Dorando close at hand. In the third group were Appleby, Clarke, Beale, Barne , and Barrett (all U.K.), with Burn, Simpson, Longboat, affery, and Goldsboro (all Canada), Landquist of weden, and Nieminen of Finland. vanberg, who finished eighth, fresher than anyone else, and atten<led the Ball given on the evening of the Race, was a long way back, and so was Hayes, who won. Both evidently knew something of the value of running to schedule time in hot weather over so punishing a distanc . Jack, howe\'er, persisted in the lead at four and at five miles, in spite of tiring rapidly, and as soon as he reached the body of attendants (who were awaiting the comp titors five miles from the start) he stopped for re t and refreshment and never really got into his stride again. Price and Lord took on the lead, with Hefferon and Dorando (who watched each other as if they were racing alone) close behind them. Duncan's legs were troubling him, and he already had to walk. Price and Lord continued to lead, and at the tenth mile proceeded to race each other, Price gaining about 150 yard , and Hefferon passing Lord who was soon to find that he had taken too much oul of him lf. At Ruislip (about halfway, thirteen miles) Price was 200 yard ahead of Hefferon, and Dorando was going easily b hind Lord, who laboured in his action. Longboat and Appleby followed, and Aitken, of Australasia, looked as fresh as when he start d. The list of times and leaders at various distances, given below, will supply the mo t important detail· of the ne t portion of the race, so it will be enough to say hert that at halfway trouble had nude it appearance in Clarke's knee, and had it not b ~en for the indomitable resolution with which he answer d his trainers