Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-10

Plucky pamrman Takes n Header
when i'm the Lead.

when i'm the Lead.
Frank M. Dampman and B. Frank
Mcdaniel of the Warren Athletic Club have
returned from their Boston trip full OF
praise for the hospitable manner In which
they were entertained by the Boston
Athletic Club and chagrined at the manner
OF their defeat. 1t was provoking as Damp
man took header when he had the race
practically won. He lay stunned and
almost senseless In the road for minute
or more and despite the fact that he was
bruised, torn and bleeding, and his wheel
smashed, he grssped q safety from by
etandar and continued to ride until he
could borrow another ordinary wheel when
he finished third, So seconds behind the
winner. Such pluck is seldom equaled and
can not be excelled. Mcdaniel lost his way
once and came In sixth. He did not expect
to win and was willing from the start to
sacrifice his chances to aid Dampman.
Dampman was the favorite among the
spectators, and In writing TO friend about
the race he says: Anthony lit out fast
from the start and he and l gradually
drew awny for four miles, when he invited
me to pace. / pleaded inability and, in
fact, could not have done as we'll rs he was
doing, although l could hold him. BE
seemed awfuliy scared when told him my
name. lot him leave me 50 yards and the
scheme worked. He thought he was beat
Ing me and settled down to his best, trying
TO get away. Benson came up behind at
or 10 miles and l let him pace me and was
going easy. but Anthony was leaving us,
and at 12l miles, the turn, he was at least a
minute auead. There were several long
hills to ascend on the way, back and 1 had
noticed that 1 could beat him on
them. l turned quickly and made
mace for Benson little faster.
lit out dos n q bad hill and over a rail
road track and thon IN grade. Benson
was not In sight. | knew what was
doing. l plodded 1t down hard for o mile,
gaining all the time, but not hard enough
to kill myself. When within 50 yards OF
him (Anthony, the leader,) spurted and
closed right up. He was riding gamely but
looked very tired. ! lay behind for mile
until was sure that l was o. X. Then
went ahead for a mile making 1t little
better and felt as sure of the race as could
be-. never felt better prepared for pun
ishiug finish or fast spurt in my life. At
Chestnut Hill reservoir, 81 miles from the
end, decided to try to run away for two
miles to a point on top OF hill. One and
a-half miles OF this was up grade, where
was best. Failing in that l
would have played tired out ani
have waited for the last quarter mile.
slowed up and then went of on the ny ut
entrance way. After bit looked back
and saw him (Anthony) shooting away
down another road to my LETT, aud knew
| that must be of my course. judge that
l had 100 feet lead on him then. 1t was
down hill, but l baek-pedaied. jumped oil,
turned, got on again, but i lost my head In
the excitement OF the moment. l shot up
squirt. He had 200 yards load. and was
doing his prettiest. could have caught
him In mile easily, but was catching
him at once. shot down the steep grade
like lightning. The road seemed Just as
smooth as sheet to me. l struck wash
out, my feet few of the pedals. ran little
| on one wheel and then "blGnk." l was
dazed for a bit. could notspeak or get my
breath. l thought every bone In my body
was broken. My arm was bleeding, my
shirt was torn, my back was hurt, and l felt
as II were ruptured. l lay on my back
and gasped. Benson came by and asked
what was the matter. He seemed pleased
for the chance for second place, and wen:
on like streak. A man on swift safety
came to me; also a couple OF carriages
They helped me up. shook myself and
decided to finish II l could. l picked w
my wheel when the balls from the bicycle
began to roll over the ground. grabbed
the safety and rode 1t. made about q
mile on 1t and then met O man on Victor
whose saddle looked low and traded. II
at me and / finished tlrstrate making uT
half the lead Benson had on me. Crippled
and handicapped as l was, l made thu
fastest time for the last three miles ant
then was not letting myself out.
The medals were presented to US before {
crowd, and when 1t came TO my turn thel
gave ms regular ovation. l invited An
thony down to our road race and told hin
that this race, OF course. WAS not eatisfac
tory to either OF US and we would Their
see who was the better man, but he did no
care to come. He said that 1t did not sui
him. / got up and made little speech Ii
return for my ovation. and invited them al
down to our road race"
Dampmau says he walks Ikea 70-years
old man and ts all broken up. He coulC
not have shown more grit and pluck, ant
the Wilmington wheelmen feel proud o
his performance. The above graphic dc
sorlption is such an admirable account o
the race and tells 80 admirably how race
IRE won and lost by headwork, that W
give MIR. Dampman's letter almost In full.
|