The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-26
The Evening Races.


The bicycle races this evening were entire
ly successful and afforded enjoyment to
crowd of 1900 or 1000 persons, as the liberal
applause given the riders testified. The
electric lights were not as brilliant as could
have been desired, but the full moon in
great measure made up for the deficiency.
The track, while not very bad for trotting
purposes, was much too heavy for bicycling
and the time made over it is very creditable
to the riders. 1t looked at one time as if the
evening would not be very successful. No
body could be found to take charge of the
affair, and the drivers of trotting horses were
eagerly demanding chance for their horses
They yielded gracefully, however, to the
bicyclists when it was explained to them
that horse trotting would cut up the track so
that it would be practically impossible for
the bicyclists to race, and the right man hay-
ing been found the races were started. Mr.
F. A. Elwell of Portland acted as referee,
and was assisted in that capacity by E. G.
MITCHELL F. w. Warner and w. r. Pitcher
of the Portland Wheel Club.
The first race was a five mile contest for
the championship of the United States. The
elegant silver cup which was recently shown
in Portland was offered to the winner. This
cup is valued at $500, and second cup offer
ed as the other prize is valued at $50. There
were four starters in this race, L. M. VAIN
wright of Noblesville, Indiana E. P. j. Nor
ton of Boston; D. Edgar Hunter of Boston
and George E. Cain of Lynn. AT the start
Norton went rapidly ahead, and held his
lead for mile. He was then passed by
both Wainwright and Hunter, and dropped
to third place. Cain did not stay in long,
and Norton dropped out after making four
miles Between Wainwright and Hunter
the race was exciting to the close. VAIN
wright was in advance until the race was
half finished when Hunter took the first
place. but Wainwright made a plucky sec
ond to the close. No time was taken in this
race.
The next race was mile contest, best two
in three, for the championship of the State
| of Maine. The prizes were a silver cup
worth $125 ito the first and cup worth $50
to the second. Four wheelmen started in
this race. They were G. B. Morrill, and w.
| K. Sparrow of Portland, Robert Moore and
7. 9. Dingley of Auburn. Dingley dropped
| out in the first heat and the race became an
exciting contest between Morrill, and Moore.
| FIRST Heat-Morrill took the lead at the
| quarter and held it during the mile until the
| home stretch was reached. AS the con-
| testants neared the wire Moore made a
| plueky squirt and won by about a foot.
| =. second Hedt-Moore kept the second posi-
tion in this heat until the home stretch was
| reached when he made brave effort and
TOOK 1I the first place, crossing the line in just
Third Hedt-This time Morrill, had the
best place at the pole but pursued the same
course as in the previous heat, riding just
behlnd Moore. Sparrow did some fast riding
on the first half mile and crossed the wire in
advance of the other riders. He dropped
out at the half, however, leaving the field to
Morrlll and Moore. On the back stretch of
the second half Moore opened up quite a
gap between himself and Morrill,, and it
looked for few moments as though the
Hortland boy would lose the race, but when
the last turn was reached Morrills reserve
strength showed itself and the gap was
quickly closed and Moore fell behind Nor
rill taking the heat and race in 3.34f.
The third race was three mile dash for
amateurs, silver cup worth $175 being Of
1ered to the winner and cash prize of $25,
gong to the second man. L. NJ. Wainwright
OF Boston, Geo. E. Cain Of Lynn and f. P.
Trowbridge of Lewiston were the starters.