The Portland daily press., 1890-09-02
SPEEDING ON THE SILENT STEED.
Portland Boys Carried Off the Honors
at Yesterdays Races.
Browns Bad Header and His Plucky
Ride to the Tape.
The Morning Parade and the Ban
quet In the Evening.

city yesterday, was probably the best and
largest in the history of the Division.
The early morning trains brought in the
visiting cyclers, who were met at the Union
Station by reception committee from the
Portland Wheel Club and escorted to the
club house on High street.
At 1890 the procession was formed. and
the line wheeled over substantially the
route published in the PRESS. Various
counts place the numbers in line from $50 to
40. They came from all parts Of Maine and
included quite delegation from the Lynn
Wheel Club.
At 11.45 the boys gathered at the United
States Hotel for dinner. Ninety sat around
the tables and enjoyed an excellent meal,
both the edlbles and the service being Of the
best.
The Races.
Never was there such a successful series CT
bicycle races held In this vicinity as those
which occurred at Presumpscot Park yester-
day afternoon. With scarcely an exception,
every race was hotly contested. The finish
of each event occasioned scene of great ex-
ctement, for it often happened that not until
the very last could the winner be told
A crowd of about thousand people came
in loaded horse cars, carriages, by bicycles
of innumerable makes. and many afoot. The
excitement of the events recalled to some Of
the spectators the shouting and cheering Of
days gone by at horse trots, when the Park
was used for fairs. Now all the buildings
are fast going to ruin. The grand stand was
IT, ab eknfa Nf fhakf . had 20 ha, nj
carded dangerous, the Wheel Club not caring
to run the risk of an accident Many people
ran the risk and had good seats thereby but
few of that crowd would have been contented
had they known the condition of the under
pinning. The Wheel Club had an enclosure
staked off opposite the judges stand and set
tees for the accommodation of 400 we're placed
there. Those who went in carriages also had
a good view of the course. Three policemen
kept the track clear and did their duty we'll.
The races were an entire success; all de-
tails had been carefully arranged. They
were started promptly also. and were kept
following each other rapidly, which Is dus
to the vigorous efforts Of clerk Of Course j.
Ii. Hannaford and his assistant, Charles f.
Aver. The most exciting race of the day
was the one mile ordinary open, though the
one mile state championship on safeties fell
little short of it in interest. Members of the
Portland club wildly shouted with delight
as their flyers crossed the tape first in both
events. Five first prizes were won by Port
land men, all members Of the Wheel Club.
1t was great day for the Forest City and we
may we'll be proud Of the speed and skill
shown by our favorite riders. They exhlb-
tied not only astonishing speed, but showed
they had active and clear heads, also nearly
always holding themselves in reserve for a
final grand spurt.
OF course no records were broken, though
excellent time was made in all the events.
The track was in fair condition-quite good
in places, and rather sandy on the last turn.
1t was in better shape than the course at
Fairfield few weeks ago. The day was
perfect. The wind blew against the riders
with considerable force on the home stretch,
or the time would probably have been few
seconds faster.
The races started with the first heat Of the
half-mile novice safety. There were six en-
tries and five men appeared. Noyes of Wa
terville. on a Columbia, had the pole. At
the pistol shot they were off together. Whit
ney of Portland took the pole before the
first quarter, closely pressed by Dyer Of
Portland and NoSes. The three kept punched
until down the home stretch, when Noyes
made strong squirt, pushing Whitney hard,
and finally crossed the tape about two or
three feet in advance. The time was one
minute "a seconds. First prize, Noyes; sec
ond prize, bicycle shoes, Whitney; third
prize. cycle horn. Dyer of Portland; Scully
and Eastman finished in the order named.
Next came the one-half mile novice ordina-
ry, first heat. Four contestants appeared and
started in good shape. Liscomb of Portland
led for the first quarter, closely followed by
Brown of Portland. who passed him just af-
ter the quarter and then gained long lead,
which he kept increasing to the finish. 1t
was a fine squirt, but not half Of what Brown
later showed himself capable. Llscomb
came in second, Tobey third, and South
worth last, all Portland riders.
There were two entries for the one mile
tandem race, but only Robson and mate Of
Salem appeared. Referee Elwell allowed
them time limit of minutes, 80 seconds.
They rode around the track at quick rate
and in splendid form, finishing with grand
squirt. 1t was fine exhibition of racing
where there was no competitor. Their
time was S.O73.
The one mile State championship on ordin-
aries was for blood. and tOughly contested.
Hallock had the pole at the start and kept II
through the race. Almost TO the first quar-
ter Brown pushed along with ease in last po-
sitioD, when he began to show his colors and
quickly pushed up behind Hallock, and then
began the struggle. And it was a struggle
too. 1t seemed as though Brown was slow.
ly creeping up on Hallock after the third
quarter, and as they rounded the curve
for the home stretch they were neck
and neck. Brown was surely gaining
Great was the excitement. But look, (and
what shudder passed passed through the
crowd, Brown had fallen, taken terrific
header, and he rolled over and over with his
wheel. His trainer, LawtOn, was at his side
quickly, and in less time than it takes to tell
it had him placed on the fractions Wheel
and Brown pulled in second amid cheers
Hallock of course, came in first on his Col
umbia Light Roadster. Browns toe slipped
out of the clip, and in trying to regain the
pedal he fell. He stood an excellent chanee
of winning. 1t required great pluck ana
nerve to ride to the finish after such fall.
Tobey and Southworth came in third and
fourth. Time 315. First prize, Hallock,
gold medal; second, Brown, cigar case; third
Tobey, Daisy bell.
The bows race was one sided from the
start. O'Hara of Portland. coming in first
with a long lead. 1t was half mile event
and the young man did we'll to finish in 2 O6.
The Others crossed the tape in this order
Peterson, Lamb and Mute. First prize, sill
yer medal; second, silver medal
The one mile state championship on safe
ties had been anticipated as one of the hot
test races, and so it proved. That it would
come to this city, Portland boys strongly
hoped, but they did so with little doubt
They didn't realize what racer has devel-
oped in West. But now they do. Ah! He
is a good one. At the start Leavitt Of Bid
deford, took the lead, and held it almost to
the quarter. when Lawrence of Saco, pulled
In ahead, but the two factors in the race
were still in the background. At the half
came the beginning of change, and the
contest began to narrow down to
West and Patten, where it was from the
first believed to be. Pattsn of Skowhegau
has previously beaten West, and IL was
known that both men would race for ali they