St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-13
The Baekers of Whitaker and
McCurdy, the Bicyclists,
Put Up Over $4,000.
The Latter Refuses to Ride
and the Former is Awarded
the Race.
Emery in Whittaker's Wheel
Both Sides Afraid Of
Jobbery.
Barker Bests the Scotchman
and Retains His High
Sounding Title.

The Whitaker cCurdy bicycle race
at Minneapolis yesterday developed into
a rapid game. AS was stated i'll yeSter-
days GLOBE $1,000 side had been
posted with Steve Carlisle, together
with 500 bet on the side. Yesterday
morning 5000 4 side in addition was
posted with j. s. Wood, one of
the proprietOrs of the Bodega
saloon. At o'clock in the after
noon $1,000 side more went
up in the same hands, making Sl6,400 in
all wagered on the result of the i've
mile race. The time named was
O'Clock and at that hour about twenty
persons, including the riders hackers,
the referee and Il few spectators, re-
paired to the rink. which was found to
be closed. but was opened half an hour
later. After an hours delay. owing to
the interested parties failing to get
together. apparently because of a mu-
tual diStruSt of each other, the referee,
Steve Carlisle. announced that he post
poned the race until o'clock in the
evening, either man failing TO appear to
be declared the loser. His action, it
appears. was caused by the interesting
discovery on the part of Il. W. Eek that
Whittaker'S bicycle had been plugged
with emery. In the evening the GLOBE
representative found Whitaker and his
hackers on hand, but the McCurdy
crowd was conspicuous by its absence.
Shortly after O'clock McCurdy entered
the rink. The referee called:
Hurry up; we can't wait much
longer"
You will have to wait a good while
longer" answered McCurdy.
Amt you going to ride?" asked Car
Isle.
Not with you as referee. You amt
a fair man, and | won't ride unless we
get another referee" was the decided
rejOinder.
swell. I'm named as referee in the
articles of agreement. and l intend to
besreferee." said Carlisle.
He then asked Whitaker if he was
willing TO ride, and, upon receiving an
affirmative answer. said:
Il declare Whitaker the winner of
this race, as AlcCurdy refuses to ride"
A good deal of chin music followed.
McCurdy stated that he had understood
that the race was off for the night, and
that he was afraid Carlisle would make
him lose the race on foul or some pre-
text. W. A. Tanner, Whittaker's
hacker fatty cOntradicted him as to the
understanding about the time of the
race and offered to agree that the race
should not be decided upon a
foul, but it was go. At this
point Fred Billings, McCurdy's trainer,
began TO read paper to J. S. Wood
which turned out TO be a protest against
his paying over the money depOSitedwith
him as stakeholder to the Whitaker
fll-
from him and Billings followed. reading
as he went. McCurdy then announced
that he had rented the building and or
dered everybody to leave. Nobody
moved, so he locked the door and turned
OFF the electric light. After STAYING in
the darkness a while the crowd, which
numbered about fifty persons. crawIed
out through window, and went down
town. 1t is hard to predict what
turn the affair may take to-day. The
money staked OH the result is probably
the largest sum ever put up on bicy-
Gle race in the world, and thee parties
are consequently afraid of being
''jObbed." McuCrdy is backed by
Thomas T. Roe, of Chicago. the pro-
prietOr of sporting goods store. W. A.
Tanner, of Minneapolis, is Whittaker's
hacker. 1t would seem that both have
been confident that they had things
fixed for their man to win, and have put
up their money in way that has caused
no little establishment and conjecture.
Tanner last night asserted that he had
made the discovery that contract had
been drawn up whereby Whitaker was
to receive $500 if he allowed McCurdy
to win.
''Why didn't they race then?" asked
the GLOBE reporter.
Il guess they were afraid might
have seen him later than they did"
answered the colonel with q chuckle.
long end of the rope this time. At any
rate McCurdy has refused to allow the
referee named in the articles of agree
ment to act, and furthermore has re-
fused to ride, although notified of the
time and place. In addition the referee
has awarded the race to Whitaker