The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 (extracts)

92 The contest, if severe, was not a lengthy one. The City Police he]d their men splendidly, and although Liverpool did their utmost in the first pull they could not make much impression on the City, who gradually gained. As a last resource, the Liverpool men tried the turn, but before they were fairly fixed at that the City had pulled them over. The second pull was an equally good one, but the Londoners had the mastery, and after a really strenuous struggle they gained a great victory by two pulls to none. The wedes not turning out, K Division walked over for third medals. A few words of explanation are necessary as to a protest raised by certain members of the American Committee in the first round. The Tug of, ar is a game in which the English teams had carefully specialised, and they knew their business well. The Americans were magnificent athletes, but were not aware how to tie an anchor or how to place their men. They were, in fact, not used to the game at all, and were very naturally surprised to find how little their strength availed against skilful combination. The English policemen wore their ordinary duty boots, as it is their invariable custom to pull in these contests in such boots which have Lecome too shabby for street duty. When they heard that remarks had been made as to the nature of their footwear, they offered to pull in their socks. It is right to add that the American team did not support the protest made, and it was ruled out. The winning team owed much of their victory to the splendid coaching of Inspector Duke. He trained the men for five months, and their con– dition was much admired. XXI.-THREE MILE TEAM RACE (4·828 kilometres). FIRST ROUND. Heat 1.-H. A. Wilson, A. J. Robertson, W. Coales, and J. E. Deakin, all United Kingdom, time, I 5 min. 5~ sec., dead-heat for I ; P. Pagliani, Italy, 15 min. 221 sec., 5 ; L Cartesegna, Italy, 16 min. 26 sec., 6; A. C. H. Vosbergen, Holland, 17 min. IS! sec., 7; vV. W. Wakker, Holland, 17 min. 46l sec., 8. Also ran :-Italy, E. Gjovanoli, P. Dorando, and E. Lunghi ; Holland, vV. T. Braams; United Kingdom, N. F. Hallows. This was not an exciting race. Giovanoli led the first lap at a good pace, after which the British contingent went in front, and they were never seriously tackled, although Pagliani hung on most tenaciously. Hallows retired early in the second mile, but our other men kept together untH the last lap, and coming up the straight in line finished a dead-heat; Pagliani about 80 yards in the rear. Points: England, 6. No other team finished. Heat 2.-J. Bouin, France, 14 min. 53 sec., I ; J. L. • isele, United State ·, 14 min. 55 sec., 2; H. L. Trube, United States, 14 min. SS sec., 3; L. de B. de Fleurac, France, 14 min. 56 sec., 4; G. V. Bonhag, United States, 14 min. 56~ sec., 5 ; J. F. Svanberg, Sweden, 14 min. 57 sec., 6; J. G. Peterson, Sweden, 15 min. 14~ sec., 7; E. M. Dahl, Sweden, 15 min. 21 sec., 8; A. J. A. \Viegant, Sweden, IS min. 33 sec., 9; J. Dreher, France, rs min. 371 sec., 10; G. A. Dull, United States, I 5 min. 37g- sec., I I ; S. L. Landqvist, Sweden, IS min. 46~ sec., 12; A. Fayollat, France, 15 min. 52t sec., 13; P. Lijandier, France, 15 min. 56; sec., 14.