THE LIFE CYCLING DEPARTMENT. VOLUME 21. PHILADELPHIA, PA., MAY 27, 1893. NUMBER 9. JDST A WORD! i FEW WORDS ON WHEELS, WHEEL ING AND WHEELMEN BY ONE OF YOD. Cycling Situation ol the Day-Insnre Yonr Wheels-Smart Cohoes Wheel- men A Hard Road to the Fair- He Talks ol the Weather. If one only knows where to look for it there is plenty of cycling literature to be found in the laud. When passing a news stand the other day my eyes fell on a weekly story paper which caters to those youths who think that bowie knives", fracases and duels and hair- breadth escapes are evcry-day incidents in the lives of a large part of our population. On the front page of this paper appeared the legend: BICYCLE BEN, THE KNIGHT OF THE WHEEL, OR, THE COINERS OK COLD CREST. _ "Plenty of life in that," thought I, and I paid five cents for the privilege of taking home the paper. It teas lively. Bicycle Ben has more adventures in five minutes than the ordinary cycler has in all the course of his natural existence. He in an athlete, and a handsome one, too, for if he were not how could the author reasonably expect to make the lieroine, who is beautiful and wealthy, Ml in love with the hero, who has nothing but his good looks and wonderful luck to re- commend him to any susceptible maiden? The first instalment of "Bicycle Ben" ends in a blaze of glory. Just before the subtle sentence, "To be continued in our next," are these lines: "Across the chasm lay th* slender trunk of a limbless tree that had fallen from tide to side and lain there for a Ion; time. It was 10 slen- der that no foot traveler had ever dared attempt crossing it, but the rash end daring bicyclist was going to trust himself nml wheel upon it. "With such a course decided on, there was no time for thought or turning bauk. "Out upon the slender trunk of the fallen tree darted the during knigbt of the wheel, dashing, it scorned, to certain death! The picture on the front page graphically depicts Ben in the act of wheclingacross"the slender trunk of the fallen tree." To appre- ciate what a really difficult task Ben hud on hand it is necessary to know that he was obliged to wheel across a tree trunk that was about as large as the pneumatic tire on his wheel. But perhaps the artist made a slight miscalculation. The author of "Bicycle Ben" is wasting his talents. Heghould be circulation-swearer on the New York World. CONCEHNIKG BICYCLE INSURANCE. I hear that a new bicycle insurance com- pany has been formed in the West. The bicycle insurance business must necessarily be more or less guess work, for the simple reason that bicycling, as a national pastime, is not old enough to enable statisticians to figure out a reasonable basis upon, which to make charge for insurance. It was this way once with the plate glass Insurance business. It is not so many years go that heavy French plnte glass was entirely unknown as nn article of value for window display purposes. And it was not for some years after it was thoroughly intro- duced before insurance companies knew what was a reasonable premium to charge for in- surance. During the past five years cycling has grown to such an amazing extent that there has also grown aneed for a reliable insurance company which would insure a wheelman against loss when his machine is stolen. If the Western company has solved the problem of rates, its stockholders should make money, for no sensible cycler would go uninsured in these days when wheels are so marketable and so easily stolen. THEX'RK SMART, THEY AHB. The Cohoes Whc*lmen are smart. Women nre invaluable affairs where tickets re to be told. This has been demonstrated from the time the first church fair was held, nd the first stra'wberay festival took place. Women have suclTa sweet way of telling you that there's "no time like the present" when you mumble something about "in a few days," r "call again," and they know so well the weak points of us poor men, that I verily be- llave they could sell a man tickets to his own electrocution, should that modern mode of killing ever become a gala event like guilli- toning is in France. Yes, the Cohoes Wheelmen are smart, with t> Yankee smartness that gives big promise of- .good-sized treasury at the end of the year. Their sisters and their cousins ami their tints have been selling tickets for their race meet, and that means that many a young roan of Cohoes who never in his life expected to see a cycle race or this particular one, at JIT rate will buy tickets, take his best girl with him and try to get his money's worth. Or there is a slight chance that thereafter he will steer clear of women who have tickets TYHKELIXG TO THE FAIR. If one is to believe the daily papers there is a whole regiment of wheelmen bearing down on the World's Fair. Rumor hath it that from all parts of the country cyclers are starting on their wheels for Chicago. Rumor does not say whether these people are adopt- ing it as a mode of travel because it is inex- pensive and they have plenty of time, or be- cause they think it is great sport to wheel over all kinds of roads for hundreds of miles in weather that is suggestive of straw hats nd negligee shirts. I have no doubt that Hundreds of cyclers have cajoled themselves into the belief that they were going to wheel all the way to the Fair. But in nine cases out of" ten a little sober thought has convinced them of the im- practicability of such a project. There is not one cycler in a thousand who bas the time, even were he possessed of the inclination, to wheel to the World's Fair. It means days of hard travel over dusty roads nd in all kinds of weather. It means that inch vahuble time that could be spent to dvanUge in looking at the thousands of things that attract visitors to Chicago willbe wasted in getting there. "Wheeling to the World's Fair." It has a pleasing sound, but not sufficiently seductive is it to induce the average cycler to give up the conveniences of the modern railway car- riage for the sake of being romantic. AND AGAIN THK WEATHER. The weather is a topic that is dear to the mewspaper correspondent's heart. Even such T«ter;vns as Joseph Howard, Jr., and Foster Coates and Julian Ralph are not above dis- coursing on the loveliness ordisagreeableness t the weather. In fact, when news is scarce nd imagination has gone u-huutiug, it is the correspondent's salvation to the extent of a paragraph or two. I can,~therefore, with impunity say that we k»ve had a lot of weather lately. In fact, there has been altogether too much of it. From drenching rains to scorching heat is C ite a jump and yet that is just what we ye had to experience for the past few days. I am refering only to the daytime; the venings have been delightful. Never before k«ve 1 seen so many cyclers between the tours of six and nine o'clock. The up-town treeU of New York, our beautiful Riverside J)rive and lovely Central Park have been thronged with riders, many of whom have given up day riding on account of the heat to join those who have only the evening at their disposal. This is a great rldins year, and the end is not yet. ROLAND HENXESSY. NEWS FR03I AFAR. Appropriate Opening of a New Season Hill-Climbing Proposed and Club Races Defended. SYDNEY, April 16. Editor SPORTISG LIFE: The opening run of the cycling season look place on Saturday, when some hundreds of wheelmen, belonging to the various clubs affiliated to the Union, mustered in the Do- main; then proceeding through the main streets of the city, en route to their destina- tion, Botney, which has been the rendezvous of wheelmen for year's past when opening their season. Quite a number had their ma- chines beautifully decorated with floral de- signs, the result being a very pretty eftect. After arrival at Bbtneya short programme was gone through and some good racing wit- nessed. Tea was then announced and ample justice done to good things provided, after which the usual amount of nice things were said ot each other, and the return home ended a very enjoyable outing. The first sports meeting of the Albnry Bi- cycle Club took place on the local show grounds, April 3, when, owing unfortunately to the cold, showery weather, the attendance was not so large as had been anticipated. However, some good racing was put through with. From Melbourne comes the information that at the meeting held there to award the prizes of the recent inter-club races, Mr. Muirhead spoke of the advisability of hold- ing an Australian hill climbing contest, and in order to promotesuchacompetition offered to donate a trophy. Such a contest is of fre- quent occurrence "at home," and it is a long time since it has been tried here. The hill at Heidelberg would suit admirably, and it is to be hoped that the inter-club committee will consider the idea. There seems to be a good deal of specula- tion as to whether the inter-club contests will be continued this season; and as the winter is fast approaching, it is to be hoped that the committee will immediately set to work and endeavor to start the contests early, so as to finish up before the racing season commences. The success of the scheme is very apparent, and road riding has received an impetus which has benefitted the sport to a great extent, as well as being beneficial to the trade. It would be a pity if the contests were allowed to drop, and it behooves all those who are truly interested to further them as much as possible. Various altera- tions in the conditions, however, should be made, and the system of only allowing road- ster machines to be used is an important one. The question of using racing machines is hardly consistent with the idea for which the contests were instituted, viz., to promote road riding, and to assist in the furtherance of ton ring, which is the real enjoyment in cycling and tue foundation of the sport. J. A. CHUCK. GRAND AND RAPID RIDERS. Men Who Battled Through Snow and Ice Now Give Place to Those Who Will Race Through Dust and Heat. GRAND RAPIDS May 20. Editor SPORT- ING LlKB: The eyeliug season has opened here, and in order to "keep up to date" I will send you a few notes once in, a while if you have room for them. The Grand Ilapids Bicycle Club is a very healthy organization, having increased its membership to about 150. New club rooms were secured early in the winter and weekly entertainments of all kinds served to keep up the interest during tho months when the "steel horses" were stalled for the winter. Two or three of them were not stalled at all though,since Messrs. Hyman and White only missed three or four days each during the entire winter, and it was the hardest winter we have had here in a longtime. The regular schedule of club runs has opened, and has been very successful so far. The first run of any account took place last Sunday, when F. N. Hyinan, J. H. Taylor, A. B. Richmond and M. J. White made a century run. The start was made at G.50 A. if. and the finish at 6.-15 P. M. Time over all, eleven hours and fifty-five minutes. The actual riding time was eight hours and twenty-two minutes. The roads were poor on account of recent rains, and for this reason five short runs were taken instead of one long one. The bars have been applied for. There are only halfado^eii members of the Century Road Club in this city. On the thirteenth we had an "unlucky thirteen" party at a Rummer resort three miles north of the city. The event was in honor of Mr. J. H. Taylor and Miss Daisy Thompson, who both claim May 13 as their natal day. A light banquet was served and dancing was enjoyed till a late hour. There are several "rooters" for the cash prize league here, but the majority of the wheelmen still favor the "amateur" racing of the L. A. W. I should think that if.there was pure amateurism anywhere it would be where no one rides a mile faster than 2.35, and that is here. Yet I know of one or two instances here of L. A. W. members "realiz- ing" on pri/es. I suppose they are the kind who prefer impure amateurism to pure pro- fessionalism. The third annual twenty-mile road race of the Grand Rapids Bicycle Club will take place May 30. It promises to be more suc- cessful than ever this year, as applications for entry blanks are coming in from crack riders all over the State. There will be a dozen prizes, so that there will be lots of chances of win. The course has always been a straight-away one, but owing to the carry- iug away of a bridge over the river during the spring floods it will be run this year en- tirely on the west side to Plaiufield and re- turn, twenty-two miles. M. J. W. HERE'S THE MENU. If You See a Soft Spot in It Where You Think You Can Capture a Pot, Begin to Train. CHICAGO, May 22. The International Race Committee met to-day at the Great Northern Hotel, and announced the following pro- gramme for the meet, Aug. 5 to 12, to be held here: First day. One mile novice, half-mile Illinois Division championship, two mile 5.50 class, half-mile handicap, two mile Illinois Division championship, one-third mile open, five mile handicap, one mile open. Second day. Two-thirds mile handicap, one mile Illinois Division championship, one mile three-minute class, two mile team race, quarter-mile open, five mile Illinois cham- pionship, one mile haudicap, two mile lap race. Third day. One mile novice, one mile handicap, quarter-mile national champion- ship, one mile 2.40 class, five mile national championship, one-third mile scratch, one mile ordinary national championship, two- mile handicap. Fourth day. Half-mile national cham- pionship'one mile scratch, open; two mile national championship, quarter-mile, open; two mile tandem national championship, two mile handicap; one niile'andem national championship, half-mile, 1.20 class. Fifth .day. One mile uovice, half-mile handicap, one mile, 2.SO class; six mile inter- national championship, hulf-mlU?, open; three mile haudicap, one-third mile, open; two mile team international championship. Sixth day. Sixty-mile international cham- pion, one uiile handicap, quarter-mile open, one mile international championship, two- thirds of a mile, open; one mil* iu vital ion, one mile consolation. CHEEKY CYCLERS. WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO INJURE CYCLING IN GOTHAM. Some Examples ol the Wheelman Who First Rides Oyer a Pedestrian and Then Blackguards Him For Getting Rnn Down. NEW YORK, May 23. Wheelmen here are getting to be a nuisance. They not only swarm upon every street covered with asphalt, making it unsafe for a pedestrian to cross such streets but when accidents do occur, instead of admitting that they are in the wrong and apologizing to those they have injured, your New York wheelman assumes the Monte Cristo the-world-is-mine sort of a position and proceeds to abuse those he has injured by his carelessness and recklessness. Here area couple of sample cases taken from the columns of the daily press, and which fairly illustrate the height to which this devil-may-care class of wheelnie"ii here has reached. George Wcrner, a young rider of New Ro- chelle, was fined $10 in the Yorkville Police Court Sunday by Justice McMahon on a charge of disorderly conduct. At 10.30 o'clock, on Saturday night, Werner was rid- ing a bicycle up Lexington avenue. He had neither bell nor light on his wheel and rode at a rapid pace. At the Twenty-eighth street crossing Warner ran into Sergeant James Fagin, of the Thirty-fifth street squad, send- ing him sprawling upon the pavement. Werner was unseated and thrown down by the shock. On regaining his feet he roundly abused Fagin, who was quite badly bruised by the fall, for "obstructing the highway." He was somewhat surprised when the Sergeant, who was not in uniform, placed him under arrest and turned him over to Policeman Cahill. Werner paid the tine imposed by Justice McMahon and set out again for New Ro- chelle. . _fc Now here is a fair sampleof your lampless, bellcssand brainless bicycler who is fast bring- ing the entire fraternity of the wheel into disgrace here. Dozens and dozens of just such similar accidents happen each day and even- ing, but the perpetrators of them escape be- fore the victim recovers sufficiently from the shock of the collision to have the causer of it arrested. A few more Seargcant Fagin cases might help matters considerably, since \yhile it is hopeless to expect to teach such riders any sense, it may be possible to make the game at a $10 limit too rich for their racing blood. On Monday evening another case hap- pened, this time the victim being a young woman and the rider an East Side cyclist en- joying the name of lilnke. The young woman saw the rapidly-approaching wheelman and stepped aside to give him plenty of room in which lo pass, but he nevertheless ran into her. The shock was so sudden that it threw her violently against the pavement and se- verely bruised her. Instead of apologiz- ing for his own clumsiness, Blake roundly abused his victim. Police Captain Devery and Sergeant Mc- Coy, of the Eleventh Precinct, saw the aflair and started to cross the street in order to ar- rest the culprit. They were in civilian dress, but Blake no sooner saw them coming to- wards him than he mounted his wheel and hastened away. Captain Devery is a stout man, but he is also tall, and McCoy is still stouter and taller. The two gave chase. Though they ran mightily they were no match for the wheelmen, and it began to look as if jrfsticc would be foiled, when, luckily, a passing cub barred Blake's progress at the corner of Broome street. Before he could again get off he was in the clutches of the law. He was taken to the Eldridge street station house and locked up on a charge of assault. This is only one of many similar incidents which are constantly occurring, not only on the East Side, but in various parts of the city. As far as Captain Devery is concerned, it is the straw which broke the camel's back. Lately Broome, Eldridge, Ludlow and other streets have been paved with asphalt, and they have become the favorite thoroughfares of the bicycle men of the neighborhood. The latter were inoffensive enough at first, but now they have become so bold and ride so recklessly that for a pedestrian to cross the roadway at hours when they are practicing is like dodging across a race track. As is well known, almost the only -play grounds on the East Side are the streets, and they arc nearly always tilled with children. Wagons are sufficiently noisy to give warn- ing of their approach, but not so with the safety bicycles. These swoop down like the wind, tumbling children over to the right and left. Then they dart away as swiftly as they came. Many complaints have been made to the police b; injured in this way. made to the police by persons who have been Captain Devery is convinced that a police- man OD foot is no match for a bicycle rider, and it has occurred to him that if the Police Board equips a cavalry squad forthe annexed district why could not a few bint-coals be mounted on bicycles to look out for wheel- men. "Why," exclaimed the captain in an inter- view with a World reporter, "I didn't have any idea how fast those bicycles can go. I always flattered myself that I could sprint a bit, but I'm not in it with a wheel. There's one thing sure, the only way those fellows can be nabbed is by chasing them on a wheel. I'm going to instruct every one of my men to arrest I mean, to try to arrest every wheel- man who rides recklessly." Young Mr. Blake remained all night in Essex Market, aud next morning, his man- ners having been improved by his confine- ment, he abjectly apologized to the young woman and promised to be in future more of a man and a gentleman, ami was allowed to go without being fined, as the New Kochellc specimen was. These are but two samples taken from the daily papers within two days of each other and in no wise betokens the magnitude and extent of the utter regardless way wheelmen use the better paved streets of this city. Al- ready the muttering*, which betoken the coming storm, are heard, and if wheelmen do not look to it there will come a downpour of popular dislike to cycling that before it can be stayed will make the city cycling of such riders as Blake and Werner a thing impos- . It is all good enough to point out the fact that the Liberty bill has been passed and all that sort.of thing, but when wheelmen begin to run down people here like policemen and deputy commissioners of public works, as they have done, it wou't take long for such men to place Tammany against cycling, and then the latter will have as much chance to keep the boasted Liberty bill from being re- pealed and replaced by a prohibitory measure which would relegate bicycles to the com- pany of small-pox patients and other dangers to the public health aud happiness, as a man would of inflating a punctured tire with a rye-straw. Wheelmen do not seem to recog- nize this danger, and yet it is a great deal nearer to them than they would like to have it. Did they appreciate what will certainly come to pass if they do not put a stop to the way they now disregard the safety of every other user of the public streets we might per- haps be treated to less scorching and reckless riding. MAC MAKES IT. HE RIDES THE TWENTY-FIYE MILES WELL INSIDE OF RECORD TIME. How the Man From Maiden Lelt Pace- makers and Record Behind His Flying Wheel Over the Linscott Course. BOSTON, May 23. "Eddie McDuffee broke the American 25-mile road record yesterday, and came within a few seconds of equaling the world's record. "McDuffee made his ride over the Linscott course. This course has been chained by a competent surveyor, but, in order that no discussion might arise as to the distance, Mc- Dufl'ce started some few feet back of the scratch. "It was 3.08 when McDu'ffee got the word. His first pacemaker was John Corcorau. Mac cut out such a hot pace, however, that he soon passed not only Corcoran, but also his next two pacemakers, Barnard and Lent. Twelve minutes after the start he came down the hill at the five mile murk riding like a fiend, and without a pacemaker. E. G. Merrill picked him up here, and the two started for Medford at a clio which seemed more than ordinary mortal could stand. At Mcdford Guy Geary jumped in and carried Eddie over the hills to West Medford. Here Dodge did the donkey work, Bianchi falling in a few miles farther along, and Peter Me- Duffee catching him at the greenhouse just before reaching the turn. Peter carried Eddie around the turn in just 39 minutes. "Coming home Eddie increased his pace and passed most of the pacemakers. Gary met him when half-way home, and just be- fore reacfhing the 20 mile mark Quinn caught on. Just Ih. 1m. 50s. after the stait these two climbed Elm street hill at an easy pace. Once on the top it was a down-grade to the finishing mark, and MeDuftec did his pretti- est, finishing in the record-breaking time of Ih, 13m. 55 2-os. The four watches held upon this performance sgrced in everything but a few seconds, and on these the slowest time was credited to McDuffee. "As he finished he was cheered by the crowd of 500 or so who had gathered to sec bis struggle against time. The gentlemen who officiated were: "Referee, C. D. Waitt; judges, J. M. Lins- cott, Fred Forbnsh, D. J. Coburn; timers, G. W. Domtee, Major W. S. Atwell, Warren Dow, J. C. Kerrison; starter, J. C. Kerrison. "Last evening the Maiden Bicycle Club held a jollification and Eddie McDuffee was the 'only man in town.' "McDuffee is a born athlete and is built up' from hi* feet to his head, his body being fiirely proportioned. Ifc stands 5 feet 8 inches in height and weighs 15<J pounds, and is but 22 years old- His powers of endurance are remarkable. Beside being a good rider, Mc- Duft'ee can box, run and jump, and he neither smokes nor drinks. He made his debut as a racing man Memorial Day, 1891, since which time he has defeated some of the recognized cracks. The early part of last year tic rode tinder the colors of the Press Cycling Club; then for the Manhattan,and finally he donned the star and circle of Maiden. His best com- petitive record is 2m. 24s., but, if he chose to 'go on the circuit,' he could, with prepara- tion, ride with Windlc and Zimmerman. He is one of the very best road riders in the country, and had it not been for an accident he would have done great work in the Lin- scott race." Boston Ilerald. PLUCKY. A Century Against Odds Court Ad- journcil In the Riders' Honor. SAVANNAH, May 20. The century run fever is on here. At 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning five of the local wheelmen started out to make the first century in this section of the country, with what results is best shown by the following account of the aflair taken from the columns of the Press: "One hour's riding brought the party face to face with a blinding rain storm, which did not abate until Hinesville was reached. It was not long before the water stood four inches deep on the hard dirt roadaudpeddalling was most difficult. "A number of times the parly was com- pelled to wade through water nearly waist deep, but, with grim countenances, on they went. " 'There goes my tire,' said Goodridge, as he scored the first accident in the guise of a puncture. For nearly an hour all were de- layed making the repair and oiling up. Soon after starting again Osborne broke the guard off his pedal, and Fretwell snapped his saddle and bent his crank. "The party had been worked hard when Hinesville was reached, and were mud and water from head to foot, and a queer-looking lot of objects, as was evidenced from the fact that court, which was in session, adjourned to inspect the riders. As soon as it was pos- sible to convince the crowd that the cyclists were not demons the party moved on for their destination. "After riding about an hour and having an old aunty notify her children that a lot of 'typewriters was going past,' they reached Walthourville, having made the trip from Savannah in just till. 25m. "Osborne and Fretwell concluded to take a train home, as their wheels were damaged. Two or three hours were spent in the town, and, after eating a fine dinner, very kindly prepared by Mr. E. P. Miller, the remaining three started home and made the trip without accident or note, arriving at 8.30 p. M. and making the good time of (ill. 10m. "The route taken was as follows: Ogce- chee canal to Ogeechec, to Canoochee river, to Bright's still, south to Walthourville via Hinesville. The whole distance was 109 miles; actual riding time 11 hours and 55 minutes. The Century Club will be organ- ized at once by Messrs. Wenzel, O'Byrne,and Physical Director Goodridge. A number of other Savannah riders intend to take the same trip. The boys say they had a groat time, notwithstanding ttie mauy difficulties encountered." ______ AN .OPEN ING BUD. The First Blossom of the Racing Bloom Which Will Open Every- where on Tuesday. NEW YORK, May 21. The Riverside Wheelmen sustained their claim to being the champion road club of this cjty by de- feating the Harlem Wheelmen yesterday in a fifteen mile team race. The race was held at Eoselle, N. J., on a two and a naif mile stretch of macadum road. Both clubs were represented by their speedi- est men, and consequently a close and ex citing contest was expected, but it was easily proven that the Harlem riders were not in the same class with their opponents. The following men composed the teams: Riverside Wheelmen F. W. Titus. F. W. Kosher, J. W. Judge, A. E. Stilger, C. Granger and II. S. Thompson. Harlem Wheelmen E. H. Frost.H. Byran, D. J.Thompson,C. Fullc, W. D. Wehren- berg and J. 11. Fulle. The race was started at 5 o'clock and was a procession. Youug Titus, of the Riverside Club, ltd at the first five miles, crossing the tape in 15m. 45s. He was followed by Messrs. Granger, Thompson, Moiher and Judge, At ten miles Titus had increased his lead con- siderably covering the distance in 32ra. 13s. Messrs. Mosher and Thompson had improved their positions during the second five miles, finishing second and third respectively. Titus practically loafed in at the finish, having distanced all his competitors. His time was 46m. 15s. The other men finished in the following order: F. W. Mosher, R. W., 2d; H. S. Thompson, R. W., 3d; C. Granger, R. W.,4th. —————.—« —————— T. W. AND "YONNY." Elliptical Sprockets Are Good For Record Breaking, But Not For Rac- ing Kite Shaped Tracks Are no Faster Than Circular Ones. The Springfield Republican has been look- ing up the racing men now quartered in that city and training on the famous half-mile in Hampden Park. Here is what it has to say of Messrs. Eek and Johnson: "You may see the pair almost every after- noon in Hampden Park, the gray-mustached veteran contrasting much in appearance with the light-haired young fellow lie is training. Johnson is the sturdy, rather short young man, in a plum-colored sweater and ajjair of immense black cambric trousers with yellow stripes, through which his sturdy legs pro- trude like toothpicks through the craters of volcanos. Like most of the faster riders, he goes his own pace regardless of the crowd, varying his solitude occasionally with run- ning along with the others and passing a word or two of chaff. He is not going very fast now, taking his first training of the year and resetting his muscles from the exercise of skating, for Johnson is no warm weather athlete. In winter time he changes his etherial cambric trousers for more substantial stuff, and his performances on the ice last winter were no less surprising in their way than his performances on the wheel. "But the question now is, What will John- son do on a wheel this season? Mr. Eck will tell you many reasons why he will shine like a star in the firmament. Already he has done a half-mile in 1.04 on a quarter-mile track, and that after only two weeks of train- ing, lleally Johnson is in no condition for speed on a bicycle yet. He did the last of bis skating only as far back as March 1. Since then he has had a month's rest at the Hot Springs of Arkansas and a tew weeks' training, not sufficient to reset the muscles from the work of skating to that of treading the bicycle. Yet anyone can see as he watches the young man speed around the track on his occasional spurts that he is go- ing pretty faet. "He will have a chance to show what he can do soon. At Worcester he will undoubt- edly run across Harry Tyler, who will prob- ably be the best man to meet him, now that Zimmerman is abroad and Windle not yet ready to show his minute form on the race track. Later Johnson will go to Minneapo- lis to rest until the Chicago races, Aug. 5 to 12. Then he will come down the bicycle cir- cuit, appearing at our meet in September. It is not intended that ho shall attempt any re- cord breaking until late in the fall, unless he happens to hit one accidentally in a race. Johnson is ridintr under the colors of the Minneapolis Track Association this year, and is astride of the Stearns wheel, having given up the elliptical sprocket. Mr. Eck says that the elliptical sprocket is a good wheel for steady riding, and so for record breaking, but is not good for racing, as it is almost im- possible to make a spurt with it. "Mr. Eck smiles serenely when he speaks of the Racing Board's patting Johnson's rec- ords of last full in a class by themselves as made on a kite-shaped track. The speed was not increased a bit by the track, he says, the bicycle going as fast on an oval us a kite-shaped track. As to the riders being protected from the wind by a running horse, Mr. Eck says the arrangement does not break the wind as effectually as a triplet. The much-talked-of canvas behind the horse was not more than a foot wide by two fret long. Johnson banqueted too frequently after his record-breaking and so did not do as good work as he might have in the fall, but Mr. Eck expects greater things this year." CYCLING AND CUHFEWING. Juvenile Scorchers Over the Border Have Difficulty in Knjoying Evening Riding. NIAGARA FALLS, May 22. An ancient custom has been revived in the cities and towns in Canada. This is the ringing of the curfew. In olden times the curfew was rung at nightfall, at which time all tires were covered, lights extinguished and the people retired to rest. The custom was instituted in the reign of William the Conqueror. The act passed at the last session of Par- liament in Canada is not, however, quite so strict as the one of olden times. It provides that at 9 o'clock the curfew shall be rung, and if any persons under 17 years of age are found on the streets they shall be locked up by the watchman or police, and unless a satis- factory explanation can be given the parents shall be made to suffer cither by confinement in jail or tine, or the sending away of the children to some public institution, where they will be taken care of until the authori- ties see fit to let them out. A number of young wheelmen who, in their own estima- tion were fully grown men, have been brought before the authorities, and upon failure to prove that they were more, the seventeen were discharged with the warning that the next ofli'iise of after-dark riding or walking they would be punished to the full extent of the law. NOT IN IT. If TJierc is to he a Wheel Trust America's Foremost Maker is Out of It. BOSTON, May 20. Colonel Pope, on being interviewed in reference to the rumored bicycle trust said that at present his company has no intention of becoming a party to any such alliance. With its resources of produc- tion and its corps of 1500 agents it feels capa- ble of resisting any pressure brought against it should other bicycle corporations combine. The projected trust is the outgrowth of a policy on the part of other manufacturers to buy up goods of a diverse value, and the Pope Company would not countenance any com- pact which did not exclude all but strictly high-grade products. From its very first in- ception the Pope Manufacturing Company have held their goods at list prices, and have at various times endeavored to bring about a pooling of Interests among themselves and other leading producers, but always without success. Failing in this they have gone on independently, and feel able to continue to do so despite the aid or opposition of all the other manufacturers. No overtures have been made to them rela- tive to joining a trust, aud they are some- what skeptical in regard to any real founda- tion far the report. After the Reckless Riders. NEWARK, N. J., May 23. The subject of fast and reckless riding of bicyclists is agita- ting the police of Newark, N. J., where several serious accidents have recently taken place. The Police Commissioners, after thoroughly discussing the matter last night, decided to lay the complaint of a well-known doctor before the Mayor and the Common Council, in order that an ordinance can be framed to regulate the speed of traveling, and providing for lights and bells. Policemen are to be specially detailed along asphalt paved streets, and reckless riders will be promptly taken into custody. This course, in the opinion of President Ma- ker, will render an ordinance unnecessary. UNLUCKY THIRTEEN. THAT NUMBER HOODOOED THE SPE- CIAL LINSCOTT. One Dozen and One Racers Went For Record-What They Got Was Difler- ent-They Made Good Time and a Good Race. BOSTON, May 20. "Contrary to genera] ex. pectation no record was broken in the special 25 ir.ile Linscott road race of yesterday after- noon," says the Boston Herald. But the race was a battle royal from start to finish. Kach man of the thirteen rode the best machine, and each was trained to stay, yet six of the starters came home with broken wheels and thoroughly disgusted with their treatment at the hands of fate. Seldom, if ever, has a field of faster riders slarted from scratch in a road event. Every man was credited with having done the 25 miles in lees than Hi. 17rn. 11s., the American record.. Consequently much was expected from them. But. under the conditions of yesterday, record breaking was out of question. A heavy wind was blowing, and dust Hew all over the course, to the great discomfort of the riders. The wind itself was considered sufficient to make the time three or four minutes slower, and yet thu slowest time made was Ih. 19m. 9s. The fastest was Ih. 18m. 45s. Taking everything into consideration the times are considered to be the equal of the fast records of Monday last. Gary and McDuflee were looked on as most likely to win, as they had club mates in the race to help them out in pacemaking. But neither won the event. The first man at the finish was A. W. Porter, the only man in the event from Wahham. He displayed creat hcadwork, winning by one of his phe- nomenal sprints. All the Maiden Club men in the race met with accidents. Gary and J. P. Clarke, two of the strongest men from the Press Club, were also disabled. This, however, does not detract one whit from Porter's victory. He rode a good race and won. That fully as much interest was centred in this event as in the race of Monday wsis demonstrated by the vast crowd that gath- ered along the route. When the thirteen starters came out to the mar*k they were given a grand reception. With the word "Go," thirteen backs bent as one, thirteen forms dashed forward and a great cheer arose. The greatest race of the vear was fairly on. The riders were G. L. Gary, J. P. Clark, E. J. Clark, J. Clark W. G. French, E. II. Snow of the Press Cycling Club; P. J. McDuffee, K. G. Merrill, R. Mug- ridge, of the Maiden Bicycle Club; A. W. Porter, Waltham Cycle Club; G. M. Qiiinn, Clielsea; F. II. Pratt, Linden, and A. F. Wisner. The cours.e was the same as that ridden Monday. French jumped into the lead at once. Por- ter, Gary and McDutfee all fell to the rear to watch each other. It was evident that they proposed to do very little, if any, of the paci ng. Two miles out Merrill's wheel broke, but he continued riding for some time longer. Another mile and French and Clark had carried the lieid 100 yards ahead of the three rear men. While about to alternate with French in settling the pace, ,1. P. Clark punc- lured his tire. However, he took the lead and staid thereuntil he came across John Corcoran, of the Maiden Club, and with him changed wheels. Clark was soon back among the leaders; in Arlington he was second to French. Porter and McDutl'ee wore still in the rear, while Gary had secured fifth place. A few miles further along McDuft'eo ran into E. J. Clark and both withdrew. This was at the greenhouse near the turning point, when the men were well bunched. A little further along someone said to Mugridge, "Look at your forks. 1 ' He did so and found that they Hung to the steering head by only a thread. So he gave up, making the fourth man to withdraw. In front French was still "doing the dbn- key work," and justthirty-uine minutes alter the start lie led them all around the turning point in Waltham. Porter was still saving himself, with Snow and Gary. With these three exceptions they turned in a bunch. No sooner was the turn mnde than J. P. Clark gave up. He had changed wheels three times, and was then riding one that did not tit him. Eight good men in the race and French still doing the pacemaking, Gary, Porter and Snow watching and waiting lor the final sprint. James Clark closed up with French, and Pratt fell to third place, Quinn to fourth. Wisner fifth, Snow sixth, Gary seventh and Porter eighth. For the next four miles these positions were not changed materially. One, however, James Clark gave French a respite and set the pace. But thisdid not last long, and French again went to the front and no change was made until three miles from home. Then Gary was first, French hung to second position, Clark fell back and Quinn closed with French, but could not pass him. Pratt fol- lowed Qninn, while Wisner and Porter re- mained in the rear. It was while passing Pink Bank that Gary- punctured his tire, yet he set pace until turn- ing into Eastern avenue, when he collided with Peter Berlo, who stood watching the race. In less time that it takes to tell it he was mounted on Berlo's wheel and after the cro\\~u. No sooner did the men turn into the home stretch than Porter sprinted from the rear and got on even terms with French. Down by the finish the cry went up, "Here they come! Here they come!" The mass of spectators fell out on both sides ot the street, making a clear lane for the riders. Looking througn this lane one could SOP half a dozen flyers coming on. Cries of "Gary leads," "French leads." went up, but never a word of Porter. In the front rode two men, wheel and wheel. They were Porter and French. Close behind them cameQuinn. With heads bent down the men crossed the line, Porter with his front whe^l not six inches ahead of that of French, with Quinn at his rear. It was a grand final effort, and deserved the ap- plause which it received. Of the others Snow led Clark and Prntt o%er, and Gary finished 4s. later than Pratt. Wisner met with a bad accident turning into the stretch, and severely cut his legs and arms. Yet he finished in a few minutes. That no loafing tactics was followed is shown by the appended times: j_A. W. Porter ........... .......................... 1.18.45 ;>_W. G. Freucll...................................... 1 IS « Z-S 3 Q. M. Quinn....................................... l.lS.JIi 4 E. H. Snow.......................................... 1.58611 5 James Clark....................................... 1.10.01 0 F. II. Pratt.......................................... 1.UI052-S 7 Guy L. Gary....................................... 1.11U9 8 A. F. WUner....................................... Not limed. As no record was broken, the $100 diamond was not given to Porter. He gets the special time medal, of course. Souvenir medals are to be presented to the first 88 men to finish in the race of Monday. The clever English landlord of a road.'idepcnts. much frequented by wheelmen, etnjtci iii:n'» nbtela of bis cycling jruests wU(rto'rJ gathers ia and chains for the modest By tuis me.ins the ruler \ s.ife from stealing, wh ; ' a tidy sum lor tV"*^
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THE LIFECYCLING DEPARTMENT.
VOLUME 21. PHILADELPHIA, PA., MAY 27, 1893. NUMBER 9.
JDST A WORD!i FEW WORDS ON WHEELS, WHEEL ING AND WHEELMEN BY ONE OF YOD.
Cycling Situation ol the Day-Insnre Yonr Wheels-Smart Cohoes Wheel men A Hard Road to the Fair- He Talks ol the Weather.
If one only knows where to look for it there is plenty of cycling literature to be found in the laud.
When passing a news stand the other day my eyes fell on a weekly story paper which caters to those youths who think that bowie knives", fracases and duels and hair breadth escapes are evcry-day incidents in the lives of a large part of our population. On the front page of this paper appeared the legend:
BICYCLE BEN, THE KNIGHT OF THE WHEEL,
OR, THE COINERS OK COLD CREST. _
"Plenty of life in that," thought I, and I paid five cents for the privilege of taking home the paper. It teas lively. Bicycle Ben has more adventures in five minutes than the ordinary cycler has in all the course of his natural existence. He in an athlete, and a handsome one, too, for if he were not how could the author reasonably expect to make the lieroine, who is beautiful and wealthy, Ml in love with the hero, who has nothing but his good looks and wonderful luck to re commend him to any susceptible maiden?
The first instalment of "Bicycle Ben" ends in a blaze of glory. Just before the subtle sentence, "To be continued in our next," are these lines:
"Across the chasm lay th* slender trunk of a limbless tree that had fallen from tide to side and lain there for a Ion; time. It was 10 slen der that no foot traveler had ever dared attempt crossing it, but the rash end daring bicyclist was going to trust himself nml wheel upon it.
"With such a course decided on, there was no time for thought or turning bauk.
"Out upon the slender trunk of the fallen tree darted the during knigbt of the wheel, dashing, it scorned, to certain death!
The picture on the front page graphically depicts Ben in the act of wheclingacross"the slender trunk of the fallen tree." To appre ciate what a really difficult task Ben hud on hand it is necessary to know that he was obliged to wheel across a tree trunk that was about as large as the pneumatic tire on his wheel. But perhaps the artist made a slight miscalculation.
The author of "Bicycle Ben" is wasting his talents. Heghould be circulation-swearer on the New York World.
CONCEHNIKG BICYCLE INSURANCE.I hear that a new bicycle insurance com
pany has been formed in the West. The bicycle insurance business must necessarily be more or less guess work, for the simple reason that bicycling, as a national pastime, is not old enough to enable statisticians to figure out a reasonable basis upon, which to make charge for insurance.
It was this way once with the plate glass Insurance business. It is not so many years go that heavy French plnte glass was entirely unknown as nn article of value for window display purposes. And it was not for some years after it was thoroughly intro duced before insurance companies knew what was a reasonable premium to charge for in surance.
During the past five years cycling has grown to such an amazing extent that there has also grown aneed for a reliable insurance company which would insure a wheelman against loss when his machine is stolen.
If the Western company has solved the problem of rates, its stockholders should make money, for no sensible cycler would go uninsured in these days when wheels are so marketable and so easily stolen.
THEX'RK SMART, THEY AHB.The Cohoes Whc*lmen are smart.Women nre invaluable affairs where tickets
re to be told. This has been demonstrated from the time the first church fair was held, nd the first stra'wberay festival took place. Women have suclTa sweet way of telling you that there's "no time like the present" when you mumble something about "in a few days," r "call again," and they know so well the weak points of us poor men, that I verily be- llave they could sell a man tickets to his own electrocution, should that modern mode of killing ever become a gala event like guilli- toning is in France.
Yes, the Cohoes Wheelmen are smart, with t> Yankee smartness that gives big promise of- .good-sized treasury at the end of the year. Their sisters and their cousins ami their tints have been selling tickets for their race meet, and that means that many a young roan of Cohoes who never in his life expected to see a cycle race or this particular one, at JIT rate will buy tickets, take his best girl with him and try to get his money's worth. Or there is a slight chance that thereafter he will steer clear of women who have tickets
TYHKELIXG TO THE FAIR. If one is to believe the daily papers there
is a whole regiment of wheelmen bearing down on the World's Fair. Rumor hath it that from all parts of the country cyclers are starting on their wheels for Chicago. Rumor does not say whether these people are adopt ing it as a mode of travel because it is inex pensive and they have plenty of time, or be cause they think it is great sport to wheel over all kinds of roads for hundreds of miles in weather that is suggestive of straw hats nd negligee shirts.
I have no doubt that Hundreds of cyclers have cajoled themselves into the belief that they were going to wheel all the way to the Fair. But in nine cases out of" ten a little sober thought has convinced them of the im practicability of such a project.
There is not one cycler in a thousand who bas the time, even were he possessed of the inclination, to wheel to the World's Fair. It means days of hard travel over dusty roads nd in all kinds of weather. It means that inch vahuble time that could be spent to dvanUge in looking at the thousands of things that attract visitors to Chicago willbe wasted in getting there.
"Wheeling to the World's Fair." It has a pleasing sound, but not sufficiently seductive is it to induce the average cycler to give up the conveniences of the modern railway car riage for the sake of being romantic.
AND AGAIN THK WEATHER.The weather is a topic that is dear to the
mewspaper correspondent's heart. Even such T«ter;vns as Joseph Howard, Jr., and Foster Coates and Julian Ralph are not above dis coursing on the loveliness ordisagreeableness t the weather. In fact, when news is scarce nd imagination has gone u-huutiug, it is the correspondent's salvation to the extent of a paragraph or two.
I can,~therefore, with impunity say that we k»ve had a lot of weather lately. In fact, there has been altogether too much of it. From drenching rains to scorching heat is
Cite a jump and yet that is just what we ye had to experience for the past few days. I am refering only to the daytime; the
venings have been delightful. Never before k«ve 1 seen so many cyclers between the tours of six and nine o'clock. The up-town treeU of New York, our beautiful Riverside J)rive and lovely Central Park have been thronged with riders, many of whom have
given up day riding on account of the heat to join those who have only the evening at their disposal.
This is a great rldins year, and the end is not yet. ROLAND HENXESSY.
NEWS FR03I AFAR.
Appropriate Opening of a New Season Hill-Climbing Proposed and Club Races Defended.SYDNEY, April 16. Editor SPORTISG LIFE:
The opening run of the cycling season look place on Saturday, when some hundreds of wheelmen, belonging to the various clubs affiliated to the Union, mustered in the Do main; then proceeding through the main streets of the city, en route to their destina tion, Botney, which has been the rendezvous of wheelmen for year's past when opening their season. Quite a number had their ma chines beautifully decorated with floral de signs, the result being a very pretty eftect. After arrival at Bbtneya short programme was gone through and some good racing wit nessed. Tea was then announced and ample justice done to good things provided, after which the usual amount of nice things were said ot each other, and the return home ended a very enjoyable outing.
The first sports meeting of the Albnry Bi cycle Club took place on the local show grounds, April 3, when, owing unfortunately to the cold, showery weather, the attendance was not so large as had been anticipated. However, some good racing was put through with.
From Melbourne comes the information that at the meeting held there to award the prizes of the recent inter-club races, Mr. Muirhead spoke of the advisability of hold ing an Australian hill climbing contest, and in order to promotesuchacompetition offered to donate a trophy. Such a contest is of fre quent occurrence "at home," and it is a long time since it has been tried here. The hill at Heidelberg would suit admirably, and it is to be hoped that the inter-club committee will consider the idea.
There seems to be a good deal of specula tion as to whether the inter-club contests will be continued this season; and as the winter is fast approaching, it is to be hoped that the committee will immediately set to work and endeavor to start the contests early, so as to finish up before the racing season commences. The success of the scheme is very apparent, and road riding has received an impetus which has benefitted the sport to a great extent, as well as being beneficial to the trade. It would be a pity if the contests were allowed to drop, and it behooves all those who are truly interested to further them as much as possible. Various altera tions in the conditions, however, should be made, and the system of only allowing road ster machines to be used is an important one. The question of using racing machines is hardly consistent with the idea for which the contests were instituted, viz., to promote road riding, and to assist in the furtherance of ton ring, which is the real enjoyment in cycling and tue foundation of the sport.
J. A. CHUCK.
GRAND AND RAPID RIDERS.
Men Who Battled Through Snow and Ice Now Give Place to Those Who Will Race Through Dust and Heat.GRAND RAPIDS May 20. Editor SPORT
ING LlKB: The eyeliug season has opened here, and in order to "keep up to date" I will send you a few notes once in, a while if you have room for them.
The Grand Ilapids Bicycle Club is a very healthy organization, having increased its membership to about 150. New club rooms were secured early in the winter and weekly entertainments of all kinds served to keep up the interest during tho months when the "steel horses" were stalled for the winter. Two or three of them were not stalled at all though,since Messrs. Hyman and White only missed three or four days each during the entire winter, and it was the hardest winter we have had here in a longtime.
The regular schedule of club runs has opened, and has been very successful so far. The first run of any account took place last Sunday, when F. N. Hyinan, J. H. Taylor, A. B. Richmond and M. J. White made a century run. The start was made at G.50 A. if. and the finish at 6.-15 P. M. Time over all, eleven hours and fifty-five minutes. The actual riding time was eight hours and twenty-two minutes. The roads were poor on account of recent rains, and for this reason five short runs were taken instead of one long one. The bars have been applied for. There are only halfado^eii members of the Century Road Club in this city.
On the thirteenth we had an "unlucky thirteen" party at a Rummer resort three miles north of the city. The event was in honor of Mr. J. H. Taylor and Miss Daisy Thompson, who both claim May 13 as their natal day. A light banquet was served and dancing was enjoyed till a late hour.
There are several "rooters" for the cash prize league here, but the majority of the wheelmen still favor the "amateur" racing of the L. A. W. I should think that if.there was pure amateurism anywhere it would be where no one rides a mile faster than 2.35, and that is here. Yet I know of one or two instances here of L. A. W. members "realiz ing" on pri/es. I suppose they are the kind who prefer impure amateurism to pure pro fessionalism.
The third annual twenty-mile road race of the Grand Rapids Bicycle Club will take place May 30. It promises to be more suc cessful than ever this year, as applications for entry blanks are coming in from crack riders all over the State. There will be a dozen prizes, so that there will be lots of chances of win. The course has always been a straight-away one, but owing to the carry- iug away of a bridge over the river during the spring floods it will be run this year en tirely on the west side to Plaiufield and re turn, twenty-two miles. M. J. W.
HERE'S THE MENU.
If You See a Soft Spot in It Where You Think You Can Capture a Pot, Begin to Train.CHICAGO, May 22. The International Race
Committee met to-day at the Great Northern Hotel, and announced the following pro gramme for the meet, Aug. 5 to 12, to be held here:
First day. One mile novice, half-mile Illinois Division championship, two mile 5.50 class, half-mile handicap, two mile Illinois Division championship, one-third mile open, five mile handicap, one mile open.
Second day. Two-thirds mile handicap, one mile Illinois Division championship, one mile three-minute class, two mile team race, quarter-mile open, five mile Illinois cham pionship, one mile haudicap, two mile lap race.
Third day. One mile novice, one mile handicap, quarter-mile national champion ship, one mile 2.40 class, five mile national championship, one-third mile scratch, one mile ordinary national championship, two- mile handicap.
Fourth day. Half-mile national cham- pionship'one mile scratch, open; two mile national championship, quarter-mile, open; two mile tandem national championship, two mile handicap; one niile'andem national championship, half-mile, 1.20 class.
Fifth .day. One mile uovice, half-mile handicap, one mile, 2.SO class; six mile inter national championship, hulf-mlU?, open; three mile haudicap, one-third mile, open; two mile team international championship.
Sixth day. Sixty-mile international cham pion, one uiile handicap, quarter-mile open, one mile international championship, two- thirds of a mile, open; one mil* iu vital ion, one mile consolation.
CHEEKY CYCLERS.WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO INJURE
CYCLING IN GOTHAM.
Some Examples ol the Wheelman Who First Rides Oyer a Pedestrian and Then Blackguards Him For Getting Rnn Down.
NEW YORK, May 23. Wheelmen here are getting to be a nuisance. They not only swarm upon every street covered with asphalt, making it unsafe for a pedestrian to cross such streets but when accidents do occur, instead of admitting that they are in the wrong and apologizing to those they have injured, your New York wheelman assumes the Monte Cristo the-world-is-mine sort of a position and proceeds to abuse those he has injured by his carelessness and recklessness. Here area couple of sample cases taken from the columns of the daily press, and which fairly illustrate the height to which this devil-may-care class of wheelnie"ii here has reached.
George Wcrner, a young rider of New Ro- chelle, was fined $10 in the Yorkville Police Court Sunday by Justice McMahon on a charge of disorderly conduct. At 10.30 o'clock, on Saturday night, Werner was rid ing a bicycle up Lexington avenue. He had neither bell nor light on his wheel and rode at a rapid pace. At the Twenty-eighth street crossing Warner ran into Sergeant James Fagin, of the Thirty-fifth street squad, send ing him sprawling upon the pavement. Werner was unseated and thrown down by the shock.
On regaining his feet he roundly abused Fagin, who was quite badly bruised by the fall, for "obstructing the highway." He was somewhat surprised when the Sergeant, who was not in uniform, placed him under arrest and turned him over to Policeman Cahill. Werner paid the tine imposed by Justice McMahon and set out again for New Ro- chelle. . _fc
Now here is a fair sampleof your lampless, bellcssand brainless bicycler who is fast bring ing the entire fraternity of the wheel into disgrace here. Dozens and dozens of just such similar accidents happen each day and even ing, but the perpetrators of them escape be fore the victim recovers sufficiently from the shock of the collision to have the causer of it arrested. A few more Seargcant Fagin cases might help matters considerably, since \yhile it is hopeless to expect to teach such riders any sense, it may be possible to make the game at a $10 limit too rich for their racing blood.
On Monday evening another case hap pened, this time the victim being a young woman and the rider an East Side cyclist en joying the name of lilnke. The young woman saw the rapidly-approaching wheelman and stepped aside to give him plenty of room in which lo pass, but he nevertheless ran into her. The shock was so sudden that it threw her violently against the pavement and se verely bruised her. Instead of apologiz ing for his own clumsiness, Blake roundly abused his victim.
Police Captain Devery and Sergeant Mc- Coy, of the Eleventh Precinct, saw the aflair and started to cross the street in order to ar rest the culprit. They were in civilian dress, but Blake no sooner saw them coming to wards him than he mounted his wheel and hastened away.
Captain Devery is a stout man, but he is also tall, and McCoy is still stouter and taller. The two gave chase. Though they ran mightily they were no match for the wheelmen, and it began to look as if jrfsticc would be foiled, when, luckily, a passing cub barred Blake's progress at the corner of Broome street. Before he could again get off he was in the clutches of the law. He was taken to the Eldridge street station house and locked up on a charge of assault.
This is only one of many similar incidents which are constantly occurring, not only on the East Side, but in various parts of the city. As far as Captain Devery is concerned, it is the straw which broke the camel's back. Lately Broome, Eldridge, Ludlow and other streets have been paved with asphalt, and they have become the favorite thoroughfares of the bicycle men of the neighborhood. The latter were inoffensive enough at first, but now they have become so bold and ride so recklessly that for a pedestrian to cross the roadway at hours when they are practicing is like dodging across a race track.
As is well known, almost the only -play grounds on the East Side are the streets, and they arc nearly always tilled with children. Wagons are sufficiently noisy to give warn ing of their approach, but not so with the safety bicycles. These swoop down like the wind, tumbling children over to the right and left. Then they dart away as swiftly as they came. Many complaints have been made to the police b; injured in this way.made to the police by persons who have been
Captain Devery is convinced that a police man OD foot is no match for a bicycle rider, and it has occurred to him that if the Police Board equips a cavalry squad forthe annexed district why could not a few bint-coals be mounted on bicycles to look out for wheel men.
"Why," exclaimed the captain in an inter view with a World reporter, "I didn't have any idea how fast those bicycles can go. I always flattered myself that I could sprint a bit, but I'm not in it with a wheel. There's one thing sure, the only way those fellows can be nabbed is by chasing them on a wheel. I'm going to instruct every one of my men to arrest I mean, to try to arrest every wheel man who rides recklessly."
Young Mr. Blake remained all night in Essex Market, aud next morning, his man ners having been improved by his confine ment, he abjectly apologized to the young woman and promised to be in future more of a man and a gentleman, ami was allowed to go without being fined, as the New Kochellc specimen was.
These are but two samples taken from the daily papers within two days of each other and in no wise betokens the magnitude and extent of the utter regardless way wheelmen use the better paved streets of this city. Al ready the muttering*, which betoken the coming storm, are heard, and if wheelmen do not look to it there will come a downpour of popular dislike to cycling that before it can be stayed will make the city cycling of such riders as Blake and Werner a thing impos-
.It is all good enough to point out the fact
that the Liberty bill has been passed and all that sort.of thing, but when wheelmen begin to run down people here like policemen and deputy commissioners of public works, as they have done, it wou't take long for such men to place Tammany against cycling, and then the latter will have as much chance to keep the boasted Liberty bill from being re pealed and replaced by a prohibitory measure which would relegate bicycles to the com pany of small-pox patients and other dangers to the public health aud happiness, as a man would of inflating a punctured tire with a rye-straw. Wheelmen do not seem to recog nize this danger, and yet it is a great deal nearer to them than they would like to have it. Did they appreciate what will certainly come to pass if they do not put a stop to the way they now disregard the safety of every other user of the public streets we might per haps be treated to less scorching and reckless riding.
MAC MAKES IT.HE RIDES THE TWENTY-FIYE MILES
WELL INSIDE OF RECORD TIME.
How the Man From Maiden Lelt Pace makers and Record Behind His Flying Wheel Over the Linscott Course.
BOSTON, May 23. "Eddie McDuffee broke the American 25-mile road record yesterday, and came within a few seconds of equaling the world's record.
"McDuffee made his ride over the Linscott course. This course has been chained by a competent surveyor, but, in order that no discussion might arise as to the distance, Mc- Dufl'ce started some few feet back of the scratch.
"It was 3.08 when McDu'ffee got the word. His first pacemaker was John Corcorau. Mac cut out such a hot pace, however, that he soon passed not only Corcoran, but also his next two pacemakers, Barnard and Lent. Twelve minutes after the start he came down the hill at the five mile murk riding like a fiend, and without a pacemaker. E. G. Merrill picked him up here, and the two started for Medford at a clio which seemed more than ordinary mortal could stand. At Mcdford Guy Geary jumped in and carried Eddie over the hills to West Medford. Here Dodge did the donkey work, Bianchi falling in a few miles farther along, and Peter Me- Duffee catching him at the greenhouse just before reaching the turn. Peter carried Eddie around the turn in just 39 minutes.
"Coming home Eddie increased his pace and passed most of the pacemakers. Gary met him when half-way home, and just be fore reacfhing the 20 mile mark Quinn caught on. Just Ih. 1m. 50s. after the stait these two climbed Elm street hill at an easy pace. Once on the top it was a down-grade to the finishing mark, and MeDuftec did his pretti est, finishing in the record-breaking time of Ih, 13m. 55 2-os. The four watches held upon this performance sgrced in everything but a few seconds, and on these the slowest time was credited to McDuffee.
"As he finished he was cheered by the crowd of 500 or so who had gathered to sec bis struggle against time. The gentlemen who officiated were:
"Referee, C. D. Waitt; judges, J. M. Lins cott, Fred Forbnsh, D. J. Coburn; timers, G. W. Domtee, Major W. S. Atwell, Warren Dow, J. C. Kerrison; starter, J. C. Kerrison.
"Last evening the Maiden Bicycle Club held a jollification and Eddie McDuffee was the 'only man in town.'
"McDuffee is a born athlete and is built up' from hi* feet to his head, his body being fiirely proportioned. Ifc stands 5 feet 8 inches in height and weighs 15<J pounds, and is but 22 years old- His powers of endurance are remarkable. Beside being a good rider, Mc- Duft'ee can box, run and jump, and he neither smokes nor drinks. He made his debut as a racing man Memorial Day, 1891, since which time he has defeated some of the recognized cracks. The early part of last year tic rode tinder the colors of the Press Cycling Club; then for the Manhattan,and finally he donned the star and circle of Maiden. His best com petitive record is 2m. 24s., but, if he chose to 'go on the circuit,' he could, with prepara tion, ride with Windlc and Zimmerman. He is one of the very best road riders in the country, and had it not been for an accident he would have done great work in the Lin scott race." Boston Ilerald.
PLUCKY.
A Century Against Odds Court Ad- journcil In the Riders' Honor.
SAVANNAH, May 20. The century run fever is on here. At 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning five of the local wheelmen started out to make the first century in this section of the country, with what results is best shown by the following account of the aflair taken from the columns of the Press:
"One hour's riding brought the party face to face with a blinding rain storm, which did not abate until Hinesville was reached. It was not long before the water stood four inches deep on the hard dirt roadaudpeddalling was most difficult.
"A number of times the parly was com pelled to wade through water nearly waist deep, but, with grim countenances, on they went.
" 'There goes my tire,' said Goodridge, as he scored the first accident in the guise of a puncture. For nearly an hour all were de layed making the repair and oiling up. Soon after starting again Osborne broke the guard off his pedal, and Fretwell snapped his saddle and bent his crank.
"The party had been worked hard when Hinesville was reached, and were mud and water from head to foot, and a queer-looking lot of objects, as was evidenced from the fact that court, which was in session, adjourned to inspect the riders. As soon as it was pos sible to convince the crowd that the cyclists were not demons the party moved on for their destination.
"After riding about an hour and having an old aunty notify her children that a lot of 'typewriters was going past,' they reached Walthourville, having made the trip from Savannah in just till. 25m.
"Osborne and Fretwell concluded to take a train home, as their wheels were damaged. Two or three hours were spent in the town, and, after eating a fine dinner, very kindly prepared by Mr. E. P. Miller, the remaining three started home and made the trip without accident or note, arriving at 8.30 p. M. and making the good time of (ill. 10m.
"The route taken was as follows: Ogce- chee canal to Ogeechec, to Canoochee river, to Bright's still, south to Walthourville via Hinesville. The whole distance was 109 miles; actual riding time 11 hours and 55 minutes. The Century Club will be organ ized at once by Messrs. Wenzel, O'Byrne,and Physical Director Goodridge. A number of other Savannah riders intend to take the same trip. The boys say they had a groat time, notwithstanding ttie mauy difficulties encountered." ______
AN .OPEN ING BUD.
The First Blossom of the Racing Bloom Which Will Open Every where on Tuesday.NEW YORK, May 21. The Riverside
Wheelmen sustained their claim to being the champion road club of this cjty by de feating the Harlem Wheelmen yesterday in a fifteen mile team race.
The race was held at Eoselle, N. J., on a two and a naif mile stretch of macadum road. Both clubs were represented by their speedi est men, and consequently a close and ex citing contest was expected, but it was easily proven that the Harlem riders were not in the same class with their opponents.
The following men composed the teams:Riverside Wheelmen F. W. Titus. F. W.
Kosher, J. W. Judge, A. E. Stilger, C. Granger and II. S. Thompson.
Harlem Wheelmen E. H. Frost.H. Byran, D. J.Thompson,C. Fullc, W. D. Wehren- berg and J. 11. Fulle.
The race was started at 5 o'clock and was a procession. Youug Titus, of the Riverside Club, ltd at the first five miles, crossing the tape in 15m. 45s. He was followed by Messrs. Granger, Thompson, Moiher and Judge, At
ten miles Titus had increased his lead con siderably covering the distance in 32ra. 13s. Messrs. Mosher and Thompson had improved their positions during the second five miles, finishing second and third respectively.
Titus practically loafed in at the finish, having distanced all his competitors. His time was 46m. 15s. The other men finished in the following order: F. W. Mosher, R. W., 2d; H. S. Thompson, R. W., 3d; C. Granger, R. W.,4th.
—————.—« ——————
T. W. AND "YONNY."
Elliptical Sprockets Are Good For Record Breaking, But Not For Rac ing Kite Shaped Tracks Are no Faster Than Circular Ones.The Springfield Republican has been look
ing up the racing men now quartered in that city and training on the famous half-mile in Hampden Park. Here is what it has to say of Messrs. Eek and Johnson:
"You may see the pair almost every after noon in Hampden Park, the gray-mustached veteran contrasting much in appearance with the light-haired young fellow lie is training. Johnson is the sturdy, rather short young man, in a plum-colored sweater and ajjair of immense black cambric trousers with yellow stripes, through which his sturdy legs pro trude like toothpicks through the craters of volcanos. Like most of the faster riders, he goes his own pace regardless of the crowd, varying his solitude occasionally with run ning along with the others and passing a word or two of chaff. He is not going very fast now, taking his first training of the year and resetting his muscles from the exercise of skating, for Johnson is no warm weather athlete. In winter time he changes his etherial cambric trousers for more substantial stuff, and his performances on the ice last winter were no less surprising in their way than his performances on the wheel.
"But the question now is, What will John son do on a wheel this season? Mr. Eck will tell you many reasons why he will shine like a star in the firmament. Already he has done a half-mile in 1.04 on a quarter-mile track, and that after only two weeks of train ing, lleally Johnson is in no condition for speed on a bicycle yet. He did the last of bis skating only as far back as March 1. Since then he has had a month's rest at the Hot Springs of Arkansas and a tew weeks' training, not sufficient to reset the muscles from the work of skating to that of treading the bicycle. Yet anyone can see as he watches the young man speed around the track on his occasional spurts that he is go ing pretty faet.
"He will have a chance to show what he can do soon. At Worcester he will undoubt edly run across Harry Tyler, who will prob ably be the best man to meet him, now that Zimmerman is abroad and Windle not yet ready to show his minute form on the race track. Later Johnson will go to Minneapo lis to rest until the Chicago races, Aug. 5 to 12. Then he will come down the bicycle cir cuit, appearing at our meet in September. It is not intended that ho shall attempt any re cord breaking until late in the fall, unless he happens to hit one accidentally in a race. Johnson is ridintr under the colors of the Minneapolis Track Association this year, and is astride of the Stearns wheel, having given up the elliptical sprocket. Mr. Eck says that the elliptical sprocket is a good wheel for steady riding, and so for record breaking, but is not good for racing, as it is almost im possible to make a spurt with it.
"Mr. Eck smiles serenely when he speaks of the Racing Board's patting Johnson's rec ords of last full in a class by themselves as made on a kite-shaped track. The speed was not increased a bit by the track, he says, the bicycle going as fast on an oval us a kite-shaped track. As to the riders being protected from the wind by a running horse, Mr. Eck says the arrangement does not break the wind as effectually as a triplet. The much-talked-of canvas behind the horse was not more than a foot wide by two fret long. Johnson banqueted too frequently after his record-breaking and so did not do as good work as he might have in the fall, but Mr. Eck expects greater things this year."
CYCLING AND CUHFEWING.
Juvenile Scorchers Over the Border Have Difficulty in Knjoying Evening Riding.NIAGARA FALLS, May 22. An ancient
custom has been revived in the cities and towns in Canada. This is the ringing of the curfew. In olden times the curfew was rung at nightfall, at which time all tires were covered, lights extinguished and the people retired to rest. The custom was instituted in the reign of William the Conqueror.
The act passed at the last session of Par liament in Canada is not, however, quite so strict as the one of olden times. It provides that at 9 o'clock the curfew shall be rung, and if any persons under 17 years of age are found on the streets they shall be locked up by the watchman or police, and unless a satis factory explanation can be given the parents shall be made to suffer cither by confinement in jail or tine, or the sending away of the children to some public institution, where they will be taken care of until the authori ties see fit to let them out. A number of young wheelmen who, in their own estima tion were fully grown men, have been brought before the authorities, and upon failure to prove that they were more, the seventeen were discharged with the warning that the next ofli'iise of after-dark riding or walking they would be punished to the full extent of the law.
NOT IN IT.
If TJierc is to he a Wheel Trust America's Foremost Maker is Out of It.BOSTON, May 20. Colonel Pope, on being
interviewed in reference to the rumored bicycle trust said that at present his company has no intention of becoming a party to any such alliance. With its resources of produc tion and its corps of 1500 agents it feels capa ble of resisting any pressure brought against it should other bicycle corporations combine.
The projected trust is the outgrowth of a policy on the part of other manufacturers to buy up goods of a diverse value, and the Pope Company would not countenance any com pact which did not exclude all but strictly high-grade products. From its very first in ception the Pope Manufacturing Company have held their goods at list prices, and have at various times endeavored to bring about a pooling of Interests among themselves and other leading producers, but always without success. Failing in this they have gone on independently, and feel able to continue to do so despite the aid or opposition of all the other manufacturers.
No overtures have been made to them rela tive to joining a trust, aud they are some- what skeptical in regard to any real founda tion far the report.
After the Reckless Riders.NEWARK, N. J., May 23. The subject of
fast and reckless riding of bicyclists is agita ting the police of Newark, N. J., where several serious accidents have recently taken place. The Police Commissioners, after thoroughly discussing the matter last night, decided to lay the complaint of a well-known doctor before the Mayor and the Common Council, in order that an ordinance can be framed to regulate the speed of traveling, and providing for lights and bells.
Policemen are to be specially detailed along asphalt paved streets, and reckless riders will be promptly taken into custody. This course, in the opinion of President Ma ker, will render an ordinance unnecessary.
UNLUCKY THIRTEEN.THAT NUMBER HOODOOED THE SPE
CIAL LINSCOTT.
One Dozen and One Racers Went For Record-What They Got Was Difler- ent-They Made Good Time and a Good Race.
BOSTON, May 20. "Contrary to genera] ex. pectation no record was broken in the special 25 ir.ile Linscott road race of yesterday after noon," says the Boston Herald.
But the race was a battle royal from start to finish. Kach man of the thirteen rode the best machine, and each was trained to stay, yet six of the starters came home with broken wheels and thoroughly disgusted with their treatment at the hands of fate.
Seldom, if ever, has a field of faster riders slarted from scratch in a road event. Every man was credited with having done the 25 miles in lees than Hi. 17rn. 11s., the American record.. Consequently much was expected from them.
But. under the conditions of yesterday, record breaking was out of question. A heavy wind was blowing, and dust Hew all over the course, to the great discomfort of the riders.
The wind itself was considered sufficient to make the time three or four minutes slower, and yet thu slowest time made was Ih. 19m. 9s. The fastest was Ih. 18m. 45s. Taking everything into consideration the times are considered to be the equal of the fast records of Monday last.
Gary and McDuflee were looked on as most likely to win, as they had club mates in the race to help them out in pacemaking. But neither won the event. The first man at the finish was A. W. Porter, the only man in the event from Wahham. He displayed creat hcadwork, winning by one of his phe nomenal sprints.
All the Maiden Club men in the race met with accidents. Gary and J. P. Clarke, two of the strongest men from the Press Club, were also disabled. This, however, does not detract one whit from Porter's victory. He rode a good race and won.
That fully as much interest was centred in this event as in the race of Monday wsis demonstrated by the vast crowd that gath ered along the route. When the thirteen starters came out to the mar*k they were given a grand reception.
With the word "Go," thirteen backs bent as one, thirteen forms dashed forward and a great cheer arose. The greatest race of the vear was fairly on. The riders were G. L. Gary, J. P. Clark, E. J. Clark, J. Clark W. G. French, E. II. Snow of the Press Cycling Club; P. J. McDuffee, K. G. Merrill, R. Mug- ridge, of the Maiden Bicycle Club; A. W. Porter, Waltham Cycle Club; G. M. Qiiinn, Clielsea; F. II. Pratt, Linden, and A. F. Wisner. The cours.e was the same as that ridden Monday.
French jumped into the lead at once. Por ter, Gary and McDutfee all fell to the rear to watch each other. It was evident that they proposed to do very little, if any, of the paci ng.
Two miles out Merrill's wheel broke, but he continued riding for some time longer. Another mile and French and Clark had carried the lieid 100 yards ahead of the three rear men. While about to alternate with French in settling the pace, ,1. P. Clark punc- lured his tire. However, he took the lead and staid thereuntil he came across John Corcoran, of the Maiden Club, and with him changed wheels. Clark was soon back among the leaders; in Arlington he was second to French. Porter and McDutl'ee wore still in the rear, while Gary had secured fifth place.
A few miles further along McDuft'eo ran into E. J. Clark and both withdrew. This was at the greenhouse near the turning point, when the men were well bunched. A little further along someone said to Mugridge, "Look at your forks. 1 ' He did so and found that they Hung to the steering head by only a thread. So he gave up, making the fourth man to withdraw.
In front French was still "doing the dbn- key work," and justthirty-uine minutes alter the start lie led them all around the turning point in Waltham. Porter was still saving himself, with Snow and Gary. With these three exceptions they turned in a bunch.
No sooner was the turn mnde than J. P. Clark gave up. He had changed wheels three times, and was then riding one that did not tit him.
Eight good men in the race and French still doing the pacemaking, Gary, Porter and Snow watching and waiting lor the final sprint. James Clark closed up with French, and Pratt fell to third place, Quinn to fourth. Wisner fifth, Snow sixth, Gary seventh and Porter eighth.
For the next four miles these positions were not changed materially. One, however, James Clark gave French a respite and set the pace. But thisdid not last long, and French again went to the front and no change was made until three miles from home. Then Gary was first, French hung to second position, Clark fell back and Quinn closed with French, but could not pass him. Pratt fol lowed Qninn, while Wisner and Porter re mained in the rear.
It was while passing Pink Bank that Gary- punctured his tire, yet he set pace until turn ing into Eastern avenue, when he collided with Peter Berlo, who stood watching the race. In less time that it takes to tell it he was mounted on Berlo's wheel and after the cro\\~u. No sooner did the men turn into the home stretch than Porter sprinted from the rear and got on even terms with French.
Down by the finish the cry went up, "Here they come! Here they come!" The mass of spectators fell out on both sides ot the street, making a clear lane for the riders. Looking througn this lane one could SOP half a dozen flyers coming on. Cries of "Gary leads," "French leads." went up, but never a word of Porter. In the front rode two men, wheel and wheel. They were Porter and French. Close behind them cameQuinn. With heads bent down the men crossed the line, Porter with his front whe^l not six inches ahead of that of French, with Quinn at his rear. It was a grand final effort, and deserved the ap plause which it received.
Of the others Snow led Clark and Prntt o%er, and Gary finished 4s. later than Pratt. Wisner met with a bad accident turning into the stretch, and severely cut his legs and arms. Yet he finished in a few minutes.
That no loafing tactics was followed is shown by the appended times: j_A. W. Porter ........... .......................... 1.18.45;>_W. G. Freucll...................................... 1 IS « Z-S3 Q. M. Quinn....................................... l.lS.JIi4 E. H. Snow.......................................... 1.586115 James Clark....................................... 1.10.010 F. II. Pratt.......................................... 1.UI052-S7 Guy L. Gary....................................... 1.11U98 A. F. WUner....................................... Not limed.
As no record was broken, the $100 diamond was not given to Porter. He gets the special time medal, of course.
Souvenir medals are to be presented to the first 88 men to finish in the race of Monday.
The clever English landlord of a road.'idepcnts. much frequented by wheelmen, etnjtci iii:n'» nbtela of bis cycling jruests wU(rto'rJ gathers ia and chains for the modest By tuis me.ins the ruler \ s.ife from stealing, wh ; ' a tidy sum lor tV"*^
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