Largest Squad in History Shoves Off

for Berlin and Huge Games

Excerpt of United Press Release of July 15, 1936:

NEW YORK, July 15, (UP) - The largest and potentially strongest American Olympic team in history sailed for the German games today aboard the gaily be-flagged Manhattan in a bedlam of bon-voyage cheers from more than 10,00 well-wishers and an ear-splitting din from the tied-down whistles of harbor craft.

It was probably the grandest and noisiest farewell New York ever knew.  Ashore and afloat, and even in the air-where airplanes and blimps soared and dipped -- exuberance was so manifest it almost knocked your hat off.  It was a virtual tornado of massed joy because the team was off to the games --"full strength" -- after weeks of apprehensive uncertainty over financial shortages.

"Ray!  Ray! for the U.S.A. - A-m-e-r-i-c-a!" thundered the athletes, jamming the Manhattan's white rails as the long liner was backed out into the Hudson by three tugs.

LARGE PARTY

Of these 1064 passengers aboard this liner with the red, white, and blue funnels, the United States Lines announced that 688 were in the Olympic party, including athletes, officials, coaches, trainers, chaperones, newspapermen and relatives.  Athletes numbered 334. Forty-eight; other athletes have gone or will go later to Germany, giving Uncle Sam a total representation of 382 men and women in the Games.  Most of the Manhattan's other 376 commercial passengers were bound for the games also.

Owens, Metcalfe, and Wykoff Train

Aboard the SS Manhattan ...