RAIN ENDS FOR TORCH'S ARRIVAL; WINDS CALM, SKY CLEARS FOR BIG RUN

Even the weather seemed to pay homage to the arrival of the Olympic torch in Cape Girardeau Monday.

On a rare stormy Memorial Day in Southeast Missouri, as many as 2,000 people gathered at the steps of the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau to view the passing of one of the world's oldest symbols of peace.

A number of activities scheduled for the courthouse lawn were canceled because of the steady rain, but the Sweet Adelines International singing group still was able to perform from the relative cover of the courthouse's front entrance.

The crowd waited through a downpour, through a chill wind and through an hour-long delay for the arrival of the train. There was talk in the crowd of the pride people felt at the torch's presence in the area and the likelihood that something like this would never happen again.

The flame was about one hour late because of rain and problems with railroad signals, said Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the Area Wide United Way. So when the locomotive did pull up at 2:05 p.m., with the towering Olympic flame sitting atop its specially-designed car, the crowd couldn't hold a grudge and cheered enthusiastically.

Even the rain stopped, the wind calmed and the clouds opened just a little.

After Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III, Jackson Mayor Paul Sander and former Olympian Ginny Fuldner finished their presentations, Cape Girardeau resident Kevin Leathers ignited his torch in the Olympic flame and lofted it above his head.

Escorted by three other runners and police officers from two states, Leathers jogged through the crowd to the Common Pleas Courthouse, up the stairs and made the first exchange to Ike Hammonds at the courthouse doors.

For several seconds both men stood with their lit torches and looked out over the throngs of people cheering them from both the steps and the street.

Tiny American flags fluttered wildly as the hands that held them clapped together.

Hammonds took his torch and rounded the corner of the courthouse and continued the torch on its way. Trailing him were the younger and more enthusiastic members of the crowd and the cheers of the others.

By the time the torch made its way to the outskirts of Jackson and was passed on to Charlton DuRant, who was to take the torch by bike to Hannibal, the dark clouds were descending.

But even if the rain had persisted it would not have kept away the thousands that lined the roadway in groups through Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

After all, what's a little rain when it comes to a once-in-a-lifetime event.