Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-24
THE BICYCLE ROAD RACE
". TAN EAGONER WON THE COM
TEST IN 1.3s.5a.
THOUSANDS WITNESS THE GO
FAST TIME FOE a VERY HRAVR
OOURSE.
Entertaining the Wheelmen-pa-
rnhe and Dinner On saturday
Evenins-A Spin TO Media YestcE-
day-Fhe Race a Great Event.

The greatest 20 mile road race ever
contested in this country, all conditions
being taken into consideration, was that
held by the Wilmington Wheel Club on
Saturday. Tine whesling world has been
Rgitsted for the past two months over
this event and the enthusiasm aroused
will materially aid the proper encourage
ment OF amateur sport in this vicinity.
The causaway on which the race was
started was literally packed with dense
mass Of people variously estimated at
from 5000 to 5000, with tho chances
favoring the former figures. From the
bridge 70 Garescho Lane the people just
formed one small alleyway through which
the competitors had TO ride. An almost
continuous stream of vehicles lined the
road at advantageous points and swelled
the number OF sight-seers by another
1000. The ladies were there III force
and manifested as mach enthusiasm
as their male escorts. II was a
good-natured crowd which was out for q
holiday, and to their credit 1t must be
said that they tried to give the competi-
tors fair show. a noticeable sprink-
ling of prominent business men mani
tested their interest by their presence.
Among the spectators were hundreds Of
Some were accompanied by their families
and others by their sweethsarts. The
small boy was there in large numbers,
and his criticisms on passing wheelmen
or teams, kept the crowd in gooG
humor until the race hegan. The wheel
men from near and far were cut In toroa,
and such gathering of cycles Whining
ton hiss never seen be!ors. There most
have been 800 wheels spinning up ana
down the caussvey. In all that I'M
mense crowd with the constant passing
to and fro OF wheelnen and vehicles,
there was not single serious accident
and but few minor ones.
TIE RACE.
Shortly after o'clock Il. +. Bariram,
the limit handicap man, came up to the
mark and got in position. At exactly
3.l2 O'Clock N Il, Bertotet.e, the sterter,
shoutei "go," and the riders little legs
pedelsd ont the road at rapid gate until
ne disappeared around the turn not far
from the starting point. Six minutes
afterward Lohsnd was started in SINH
lar manner. Ono ar3 oue'half minutes
erter Lohand, I. L. Jeffeyis cut out for
his long ride. Thus all tho hautiicap
men were sent of, Seeds baing the last
point % minutes before the scratch men.
| Fifteen scratch men started, being ar
rsnged four abreast.
There vera 23 starters in all out of 26
entries, as follows T.. j. Eall, Jr., John
Bersiuger, /. 8. Bowaish, Kings Dcunty
Wheelmen, Brooklyn; G. @. |eaekird,
F. b. Eisenhrandt, Centaur Bicycle Cluo,
| Baltimore; w. II. Ash, Baltimore Cycle
Club; j. j. Bradley, o. A. Dimcn, South
End Wheelman. Philadelphia; william
| Van Wagner, Newport Wheelmen, New-
port, 4. l.; j. 2. Pearson, VIneland, n j.; (;
! A. A. Zimmerman. New Jereey Athletic
Clab, Freehold, n, j.; S. ". MerRihew,
/ b. Frank Mcdaniel, +. N. DAmpman,
II. E. Bartranl, Z. q. Jeferis, 2 ID. Lat-
land, f. b. Elliott, William Steward, q.
IL. Gregg, j. Il. Draper. W. o. Seeds, O.
a. Elliott, Wilmington Wheel Oipb.
Those who did not start were W. w.
Texlg of Philadelphis, W. s. Campbell Of
Niagara Falls, and n. II, Wardell of the
Kings County Wheelmen.
When the scratoh men whisked of at a
lively gait buzz Of excitement swept up
the line. The men rode out the cause
way well punched, with Dampman
slightly in the lead. By the time they
reached the top OF the little hill where
the State rosd branches of from the New
Castle road they were strung along in o
line single file. It w8B here that Van
Wagner, on his Eagle machine, new
wheel which looks like Star wheel, ex-
cept that it has cranEs instead OF levers,
let out and get tremendous pace. He
soon opened gap between himself aud
the next man, and was mover headed dur
ing the race. One by one Van Wagner
overlook the handicap men, although he
had only caught Bartram in the first hslr,
showing thst the handicapping was ex.
c5ptionally good.
Van Wagner arrived at the starting
point after finishing the first half OF his
journey in 46 minutes and 45 seconds
one minute and 90 seconds ahead oi
Dampman and Murphy, his most dan
eerous competitors. The fact of the re
maFkable riding done by the mon can bt
appreciated when it is stated that the
road, although it was in fair condition, ii
sandy, has many loose stones and in NJ
part of it except ! ! rliles at the start is il
hard or smooth. Yet, the winner, made th'
distance in only eeven minutes and o.
seconds more than tine record for q 20 mill
road race which was accomplished on thu
Milburn couFss in New Jersey highway
u
/ The knowing ones from the beginning
knew that the race between the scratcl
, men lay with Hall, pampman, Val
Wagner, Bensinger or Merrihew. Damp
man was the prime iaVorite with tn
crowd and also with the Wilmington
wheelmen. Van Wagner was confiden
; and openly bossted several days pre-
viously that he could win. Bensinge
madA the fastest time at the Milbnrl
race on Memorial Day and Hall wa
known as flyer. Zimmerman, anothe
: flst one, broke the front bar OF hi
wheel about two miles from the start an,
has to quit. Mcdaniel was unfortunst
from the beginning and two headers AM
| crsmped leg served to stop him afte
, he had finished half the distance. Tn
Wilmington riders generally showed a
we'll in the race. SheSRrd and Seeds
, two new racers, rode strongly for th
: first half and Steward led the procession
/ four miles from the finish, when he sud
denly collapsed and did not finish bette
than ninth. Van Wagner reached th
flashing point amid huzzah Of cheer
and shouts and was carried of his whet
, bodily by the enthusiastic crowd. Jus
. 23 seconds after him DRmpman cam
4 dashing through the mass of humanit
: and finished like thoroughbred. lie ha
gained one minute and 80 seconds o
Van Wsgoner during the second hall
Dsmpman had beaten Hail on the Bpui
home and crossed the finish line at suc
= Z speed that he could not stop his wheel
q time to avoid dang4rcus-looking coll
d sion with team, but fortunately beyon
knocking the wind out of him neither /