University of Virginia Library

Ambassador Refuses Flame
Rapier Torch Fizzles

By Charles K. Ribakoff II

Photo By Blechman

MIXED REACTIONS IN WASHINGTON

Mr. Ribakoff, a former associate editor of the Rapier Magazine, wrote this
story from his personal observations as a member of the news-making Olympic
torch return team.

In retrospect, the really amazing thing about Rapier's Olympic torch coup
was not so much the smoothness and precision with which they brought it off,
the extensive national press, radio, and television coverage, or even the
controversy it has set off at the University. According to a Rapier spokesman,
the amazing thing about the coup, which one UPI reporter called the funniest
thing he'd ever heard, is that it happened at all.

In spite of widespread skepticism that Rapier could have done it, over 100
students, including 3 women, volunteered to run the torch. Over 60 wanted to
run between 11 at night and 6 in the morning. In spite of sporadic rain on route
(which one Rapier editor speculated was caused by Zeus' temporary
displeasure), the runners ran almost twice as fast as anticipated. In spite of total
exhaustion of nearly everyone involved, the marathon was completed ahead of
schedule.

Rapier Editor's
Zippo Lighter

"You'll Never Know.
"Will You?"

It all started with a copyrighted story in the Wednesday Cavalier Daily,
reporting that the torch now burning in Mexico City had in fact been lit from a
Rapier editor's Zippo lighter, not from the flame of the gods on Mount
Olympus, as had been widely assumed. The story asked for volunteers to help
return the flame via an Olympic style marathon relay to the Mexican embassy in
Washington. By Friday morning, the story had been picked up by the UPI
national and international news wires, the Associated Press, the Washington Post,
the front page of the Richmond Times Dispatch, papers in Boston, Cleveland,
and other cities, and CBS and ABC national radio news. There were television
reports on ABC's national news program, and local coverage on several stations.

There was utter pandemonium in the Rapier office all day Friday. Calls for
information and interviews came from as far away as California. Over 100
adventurous students called to volunteer for the 120 mile marathon. At least
that many wanted to run, but had to be turned down. Reporters from the
national wire services were there for interviews. President Johnson, when called
for a comment by UPI, was reported to be "not available for comment at this
time." There were rumors of all sorts.

Photo By Mannix

FIRST LEG OF MARATHON BEGINS AT PRISM

The rumors were at least as exciting as the events. One rumor that was
especially prevalent, and was picked up by the wire services, was that the entire
Olympic Committee was flying to Washington to retrieve the flame. A
companion rumor was that the editors were planning a black tie cocktail party
for the Committee, and the Mexican Ambassador. Yet another rumor stated that
the editors were going to use the flame as a bargaining tool to get Tommie Smith
and John Carlos reinstated to the U.S. Olympic Team. Other rumors had the
'fake' torch in Mexico City blowing up, injuring two people. But perhaps the
best rumor was the one concerning Rapier's next activity. On the opening day of
the baseball season, when the President throws out the first ball, Rapier, it is
rumored, is planning to switch Presidents. When asked about this, Rapier
spokesmen had only a smug "no comment."

Original plans for the run called for the torch to leave the Rapier office at
11 a.m. Thursday morning, and proceed all night to Washington, with runners
doing 1 mile shifts. At an estimated average speed of 4 miles an hour, Rapier
planned to get the torch to Washington at 3 Friday afternoon.

The run went smoothly Thursday afternoon. Zeus apparently approved at
this point; runners and drivers always seemed to show up at exactly the right
time. However, a snag of sorts developed when the runners, apparently inspired
by the Olympic Spirit, ran nearly twice as fast as had been anticipated. The
editors decided to halt the flame for the night in Manassas, so the flame would
arrive in Washington on schedule.

The plans had to be modified again when a sudden heavy rain caused runner
organizer and taskmaster Ollie Trytell to halt the torch 20 miles short of
Manassas. This proved to be a problem because the only runners available were
those few with the flame; all the scheduled night runners had been told not to
come. An emergency broadcast on WUVA at 1:00 A.M. Friday produced some
20 volunteers, many of them undaunted first-year men with Friday morning
quizzes. Another seven runners showed up at 5 in the morning and, unable
to find rides until 8, piled into a notably unhappy 4 passenger Cougar for the
trip to the torch. This was indicative of the spirit and determination shown by
the runners and planners throughout. Editors David Greer, Bruce Minton, and
Tom Steele were up for nearly 72 straight hours. Many others, including Rapier's
crack squad of Golden Drones, the first-year staff members, were up as long.

Several amusing things happened on the run. Outside suburban Culpeper, an
older gentleman, upon seeing the runners, torch, and service vehicles, asked if it
was the famous Rapier Olympic torch. When told that it was, he delightedly
identified himself as a member of the class of '48, and, in the event the run did
not reach Washington, invited everyone back to his farm for a beer. Somewhat
beyond Culpeper, the convoy found and adopted a small stray kitten. It has

been named Torch, and it is now the official staff mascot. Sunrise Friday found
the procession about 20 miles from Fairfax. They stopped in Fairfax for some
badly needed rest, and waited for the rest of the staff in Charlottesville to arrive
with fresh runners.

It was decided that the traffic was too dangerous to run in, so the 13 car
motorcade began in Fairfax at 12:30. The motorcade stopped for a final
organization meeting at Arlington Towers, 1 mile from the Key Bridge, to begin
running again. The Arlington Towers Security Guards, totally befuddled at the
13 cars that pulled into their parking lot and discharged runners with Rapier
sweatshirts and a torch, nearly arrested everyone for being incredible

After the runners had crossed the Key Bridge, the motorcade picked up its
four car police escort which, unaccountably, included a paddy wagon. The first
policeman we saw sternly placed everyone under arrest for transporting stolen
property across state lines. As this could have seriously set back the tightly
organized schedule and, in fact, ruined the entire day, everyone was greatly

Photo By Blechman

WAITING FOR ANSWER AT THE MEXICAN EMBASSY DOOR

relieved when the officer broke into a smile.

The motorcade drove through Georgetown, and into downtown Washington
on the way to the Embassy. Stiff upper lip bureaucrats tried very hard to ignore
the torch bearers and motorcade, with a notable lack of success. Washington
students laughed, and some followed the torch to the Embassy. Many workers
in the city seemed to know what was going on. A recent graduate of University
Law School who saw the runners from his office window left work, grabbed a
cab, and met the group at the Embassy.

The torch procession arrived at the Mexican Embassy at 2:30, nearly half an
hour ahead of schedule. Some television crews, photographers, and several
newspaper reporters were waiting, along with sixteen mace equipped police, who
were trying very hard not to laugh. Some succeeded.

A delegation of editors David Greer, Bruce Minton, and Tom Steele carried
the flame, preserved in the lantern that has been its home since leaving Mexico,
and the torches used on the marathon that were lit from the lantern, to the
front door, and rang the bell. A crowd of nearly 100 waited 500 feet from the
Embassy, in accordance with demonstration laws.

An unidentified Mexican came to the balcony of the Embassy, crossed
himself several times, and prayed profusely, apparently asking the Lord to
forgive Rapier its many sins. But, anticlimactically, no one answered the door.

Photo By Mannix

LAST OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME?

The Ambassador, apparently unwilling to face a confrontation, had
conveniently left the Embassy a few minutes before the torch arrived. He
was reported to have returned a few minutes after everyone left.

Unable to reach the Ambassador, the editors decided to put out the flame.
After lighting cigarettes from it, they dropped the torches on the sidewalk, and
blew out the lantern. An unidentified woman came through the police lines and lit
a cigarette from the dying flame. When I asked her why, she said she was
preserving it for the 1972 Olympics.

After several more interviews, the remaining Rapier people adjourned to
Georgetown for a celebration of sorts, and to watch the event on the news. It
was reportedly carried live by at least on Washington station.

When asked if they planned to return the torch, Rapier spokesmen
announced that they would release a statement on Wednesday. But a usually
reliable Rapier informant pointed out that events had left the magazine in a sort
of bind. If they now produce what is, allegedly, the real torch, it will make the
Mexican Ambassador look extremely foolish. It was never the magazine's intent
to make the Mexican Government look stupid. "We are not trying to avenge the
Alamo," as one Rapier editor put it. Therefore, the torch now in Mexico City,
apparently good enough to pass for the real thing, may now become the official
Olympic torch.

Meanwhile, the flame has been preserved in Charlottesville. In the Rapier
office, another lantern flickers. You never know, do you?