St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-20
They Got Knapp in the Rear
and Prevented His Ri ding
by Them,
While Reading Rode at a Ter
rifle Pace and Got the Nee
essary Lead.
The Charge Made That the
Race Was Fixed by Man.
agement and Riders.

CHICAGO, May 19.-Intensely bitter
feeling has been stirred up in sporting
circles by what is declared to be the un-
fair tactics by which the big prize was
snatched from Denver by Omaha last
night in the six-day bicycle tournament.
AS there will apparently be no end Of
comment and may be reversal of the
result, the minutest details of the affair
are being sought. The Tribune tells Of
the '.unpr0fessionar" spectacle as fol-
lows: The riders were well punched
and everything proceeding smoothlyi
when at p. m. an accident occurredj
Reading, of Omaha, suddenly fell
head first on the track. Princei
also of Omaha, was just be-
hind, and had no time to
escape. In moment he, too, was sent
sprawllng. Before either could mount.
and get away, Knapp, the Denver IN an
had the good fortune to get one lap in
the lead. The advantage legitimately,
obtained was being maintained in GAL
liant style. At 8 o'clock, when the band
was playing "Hail Columbia" and
5000 people were waving hats and hand
kerchiefs in the air, came the extraordi-
nary incident referred to. The Omaha
man, Reading, all at once had begun a
tremendous squirt. Knapp was imme..
diately behind Prince and Morgan.
When he discovered that his much
priced lap was being taken away from
him he made heroic effort to in-
crease his speed. The Omaha man,
Prince, and the Englishman, Mor~
gan. however. just in front, twarted
every effort. Knapp was in pocket. !:
When he attempted burst of speed
Prince would promptly cut him off by.
forcing him to the wall. Invain Knapp
expOstulated and appealed to the judges
as he swept by the stand. Prince only.
smiled. Knapp swore and shook his fist,
but withoutavail. The spectacle of two
men leisurely holding an excited third
in check while third, at every turn OF
the wheel, was snatching victory from
conceded defeat, was to the crowd like
red flag to mad bill. On every side
Prince met with storm of Kisses.
"RObber!" Shrieked the crowd.
"Shame! shamer'
"Thief! thiefr'
'sThat may do in in Omaha, but 10
don't go here" yelled a chorus of cries.
When Reading finally came around
neck and neck with Prince and Morgan,
and in advance of Knapp, now hope,
lessly behind, the kissing became ter
rife. Knapp was plainly favorite.
You're sneak!" yelled the crowd
to Prince. ''Had it fixed, didn't you?''
sneered hundred voices. derlsively.
The feeling was only intensified when
Prince, riding close to Reading, patted
him on the back in brotherly fashion.
''ln on the divie, are you?' inquired
the crowd.
''How much do you get for it?'' But
the uproar had no effect and interest in
the six-day race ceased. Reading was
plainly the winner.
Further light is thrown on the gu eer
affair by the Times report. which con-
tains the following:
"Why don't rule Pri nee Off" queried
Referee John O. Blake. because this
is not the time to do it. II Prince is
fOuling Knapp, he can have redress at
the proper time, but don't think there
will be any use in asking for it. This
race was not only fixed by the riders,
but by the management as WE'LL"
The Times terms the outcome ssdis-
graceful" and adds that the riders who
gave the exhibition were at the end
rOundly hissed by the thousands OF
ChicagOanS present.