The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-26
THE VELOCIPEDE DERBY.


Race for the Championship Of America.
Velocipede riding having been adopted as one OF
our national "sports and pastmes" it was o! course
necessary that we should have champion as soon
as possible. France has its champion veocipedist,
the neetfooted Moret; Yarmouth lords 1t over the
British bcycists and Boyle, the victor in yester-
days contest is now the acknowledged champion
veOclpedist OF these United States.
That the veloeipede excitement is not "played
out, nor likely 10 be Cor some time to come, was
evidenced by the large and fashionable assemblage
at the Capioline grounds yesterday In addition to
some i've or six hundred 'outsid ers" large num-
Der Of veocipedists assembled to witness the race
The members Of the American Bicycle Club created
sensation they drove into che grounds with their
'four-in-handn turpputs. The American Bicycle
CluD, ana the Aston, lvanhoe and Brooklyn veloci-
pede clubs, all present in full force and uni
form. Punctualy at four O'Clock the contestants
for the champions saddle made their appearance
on the course and were greeted with hearty
cheers by their respective admirers. on seeing
the rivals side by side for the first time, many or
those who had made up their minds that swift was
bound TO win began to reconsider the matter. The
more Swft's friends saw OF Boyle the less they liked
him, and the more Boyle's friends saw OF Swift the
more confident they became. BY the time the men
had mounted and made q few preliminary wheels IN
order to make sure that the machines were in good
working order, order Boyle , was almost a., unanlm-
Pickering }. II. French and +. L. GIL
having been selected as judges, Messrs. +.
Pearsall and George Crouch as time-keepers, and
Messrs. Alb Brady and Il. W. WOlcot as starters, the
signal was given and the contestants rode side by
side 10 the starting point.
The word Ego" was given at 4:2S1s, and the rival
riders at once urged their "hery untamed bicycles
forward with amazing velocity. Boyle took the lead
for the first hundred yards but missing one treade
for a second or Swift dashed past him. Boyle,
however, was not long IN regaining both his footing
and the lead. Swift followed in his opponents
wake so contentedly that the knowing ones con-
Guided he was reservng his strength for the finish.
Boyle made the first round OF the course In the space
of one minute. On the second round Swift made
tremendous efforts to catch up, but his opponent
kept the lead passing the mekeeper's. flag IN 2:30.
AT the close Of the third round Boyle fully 400
yards ahead. making his first mile in 1886. After
rest OF about ten minutes the men started on the
second heat They went Off well together,
but Boyle again missed a treadle and Swift
again ana made the round IN one minute and two
seconds; but having passed to the lett instead of the
right 'fOul" was declared against him. on reach
ing the flag this time Swift dismOunted, declaring
that his machine was out of order ana he was unable
to drive 1t. Boyle, who had kept on, made his Sec
Ond mile in 415.
The 'Ioul" was discussed during the ten minutes
rest and, Swift being adjudged winner Of the second
heat In consequence, the men started for the third
On getting of this time Boyle again lost his fOOung
on one treadle and Swift had another accidental
lead. Finding himself again Overtaken and dis
tanced Swift gave up in despair. Boyle reached the
winning post IN 4:25, and was hailed as the cham
plOn vclOcipedist of America.