Evening journal., 1890-10-27
TWENTY-FIVE MILE RACE
VAN WAGNER WINS THE GREAT
WILMINGTON ROAD RACE.

an unprecedented success. William Van
Wagner, OF Newport R. l., who won
last years race, was the victor and
Washington O. Seeds of this city Was
close second.
Twenty nine wheelmen were entered
In the road race. and notwithstanding
the poor roads, twenty five started. AT
3 1Si the ten minute men were given the
word and rs the minutes passed
other riders we're sent on the way
Applause greeted Seeds, the LEGAL favor
ite aud VanWagoner the Newport rider
as they mounted their wheels. Seeds
had a minute and half start on Van
Wagner. but that made little difference
on the road
The spectators at the Hazsl Dell Park
saw no more Of The riders until they had
made twenty-three OF the twenty five
miles They heard Of them occasionally
One hour after the start w. f. West OF
the Century VIII elmen returned and re-
ported that it wa too tough for him v.
J Kelley. P. A. " I, dropped out a few
minutes later because OF broken chain.
w. II Wells, X. O. W. broke his handle
bar. Kelley reported that Van Wagner
was in the lead, with Seeds out Of sight
bus Mr. Kelley must have been wrong
S. Wallis Merrihew took a trip to the
road and reported that Van Wagner was
leading at fifteen miles, with Seeds and
Pearson nesr.
A buzz of interest went through the
grand stand when Proclaimer w. f.
Kurtz announced that the leaders would
be there in ten minutes O. G. Kurtz
was looking through a 6eld glass to the
back road and soon saw something.
"Here they come, he cried. Tnree riders
appeared on the road to the fair ground
but they went ont Of sight so soon that
the leader could not be distinguished
At three minutes after o'clock three
riders came upon the track. They were
]. B Pearson OF the vineland Wheelmen,
w. @ Seeds and William Van Wagner
They came up the stretch 10 the stand in
good order, Pearson in the lead.
Then began a race of two miles be
tween the three men. They xere evenly
matched. When Pearson spurted ali
spurted and so 1t went.
Van went ahead on the first lap, with
Seeds at his heels and Pearson close.
This WAS the order Of procession during
the second lap.
All three spurted on the third. but
beside drawing closer together made no
change in the positions Pearson thought
he was done and stopped his machine,
but soon learned his mistake He was
not in it after that, but finished third.
The last lap between the Newport rider
and Wilmington rider was q lap for
blood.
The spectators rose TO their feet as
the champions spurted grandly on the
6rst turn Van Wagner had a small
lead, but Seeds was gaining surely. At
the three quarters pole they were in the
same positions.
Seeds Ssedsl' shouted the crowd as
the favorite caught up to Van on the
home stretch Seeds was squirting and
his extra effort was pushing him ahead.
His small wheel was surely gaining and
everybody thought that Van was de.
feated
Then came change The sturdy legs
of the Newport champion were not
played out, and he spurted a strong
squirt. Then his little wheel was ahead
Seeds responded aud both men strained
every muscle as they rode for the finish.
So close hey were that they looked
like one rider.
Bending low over their wheels they
worked as hard as muscles would allow
The excitement of the spectators was a:
great as the energy of the riders. Both
men,continued their efforts but the adyan
tage Van bad obtained could not be over.
come and he finished ten inches ahead OF
Seeds. The pentup excitement broks
loose in cheers of enthusiasm.
Van Wagoner's actual time was 1 A 90
II minutes and 25 seconds more than tn,
worlds record made by him at Boston
few weeks ago on good track
Fred Elliott, F. Nj. Dampman an,
Frank Chew were the next three rider
and they held a close race, but finished il
the same order. The riders kept cominl
from 5 10 to $40 o'clock, when, NOR
than seventeen having finished, the rae
closed.
The route was slightly different from
that intended. At the start the rider
could not take the road, so they used tn
railroad track from the fair grounds &
Townsend ntreet Ga Guthrie's Ian
were two stretches where the water wa
four inches deep The causeway was no
so bad and one and a half miles from tn
New Castle bridge the she'll road wes Ii
splendid condition The back road ol
the finish was fair. VanWsgoner caugh
Seeds fifteen miles out and they kept to
gether thence forth Seeds never dis
mounted from the time he left tn
railroad track until the finish. excep
when Pearson and he were in collision.
At the bridge at New Castle Georg
Swift OF the w. W. O., was stationed
with cold water. sponges and lemons /
} large barrel which was placed a FEY
4 yards beyond the bridge, served as
/ pivot and the racers rounded the BARRE
both times they were given a sponge Q
cold water or a lemon, either Of whic
, they placed in their mouths TO produc
! moisture. When the riders first put
an appearance on the New Castle cause
, way the road was lined with people an
vehicles for mile and one half out an
the flyers were given a warm reception
! especially Van Wagner. who was com
e PEELED to bow in acknowledgment of th
cheers along the line. The shell roa
here was in good condition and eac
time the three miles were made in eigh
: minutes.
!. What Each Rider Did.
+ The following table contains full rt
j port of the race. showing the position
2 at g. IS and 25 miles and the net tim e
the finish;
4 Positions.
! Hsndi- Is 3 n