St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-08
WHEEL TOURNAMENT.
johnson Takes Nearly Everything
Little Interest in the Event.


The track sports were entirely given
up to cycling events, and there were
twelve ON the card, prolonging the
amenities until late hour. The indif-
ference manifested on the part of the
visitors at the grounds. indicates that
the Twin City people are not afflicted
with craze for cycling as sport. They
are practical folk, as a rule, and look
upon the wheel as a practical coDven-
fence. No enthusiasm was aroused, al
though some of the finishes were spir-
tied and interesting, Owing to the
length of the programme, things were
kept in perpetual motion throughout
the afternoon.
The first race was mile event for be-
ginners on safety machines. w. p.
MCGOWAN drew out. and then followed
a long delay over ii. r. SteenSon, of
Minneapolis. and John L. Boyson. of
Saltwater. They had entered, and the
claim was set up that they were not eli
gible for the reason that both mad won
races. The judges finally barred them.
and the others got off shortly before
o'clock.
Merrick set the pace from the scratch.
and Savage rode up close to his wheel
around the first turn. This was the
order down the back stretch, when it
became an indifferent procession. 1t
soon became apparent that Morton was
not in it. AT the last turn, just as the
home stretch was entered, Savage bent
pluckily 10 his work and quickly closed
the gap and had slight advantage as
they showed around the turn, and Nor
ton had fallen back discouraged ana
broken hearted. Savage kept up a
tg L. hn hoA
the race won handilY, and he rode
easily TO the wire in 9:59 4-5. Morton
was bad third. The first prize was a
gold medal, the second also a medal,
and the third a box of cigars.
The Second Race,
a mile, for novices on ordinary wheels,
was put on at once. Townsend set the
pace to the back stretch, when Steen-
son passed to the front and held the pole
with ease on his Star to the wire in the
slow time of 3:13 %. Townsend was
second. Reid third. and the others were
lost i'll sthe shuttle, finally reaching the
goal, BaySon fourth. Dyre fifth and Ed
wards long way last. SteenSon, it was
asserted, had won race before, and
was not given the race. 1t was awarded
to Townsend. First prize, gold medal:
second prize, pair bicycle shoes; third
prize, pair cuff buttons.
The third event was a mile race for
for the state championship OH the
safety. and there were seven starters.
Johnson, of Minneapolis, appeared to
be the favorite. although good many
felt that Collie Bell, of that city, had
shade the best. a good start was Sc
cured, and Biggs pushed to the front
and captured the pole, and he set a
rafting pace down around the turn and
into the stretch, with the others badly
strung out. The track was slow and
only fairly good on the very inside. This
fact compelled the performers to trail
in an uninteresting sway. Van Week
pumped down hard the back stretch and
crowded Biggs to his best execu-
ton, with johnson riding appar-
and the others trailing him.
At the turn out Of the stretch Johnson
began TO move up. He made a ire
mendous effort and really won the race
before entering the home stretch, al
though the others struggled hard to
overhaul him in his desperate ride. Bell
was close behind him all this while, and
now and again he Tapped Johnson's
wheel. BoySon was outclassed and he
fell back displrited. The ride to the
wire was procession, Johnson finish
ing two yards ahead OF Bell, who beat
Bird by nearly the same distance. The
others were in the rear. J; S; Johnson,
Minneapolis, won; Collie Bell. Mime
third; d. w. Van Week, st. Paul,
fourth; George t. Biggs. st. Paul,
fifth; NJ. a. Smith, st. Paul, sixth;
John l.. Boyson. Minneapolis, last.
Time, 2:48 As. First prize, $25 gold
medal; second prize, Larkin cyclonom-
eter; third prize, silver cup.
The Fourth Race
called out eight aspirants for the prizes.
1t was a tWo-mile race, seVen-minute
class on ordinary machines. Day began
pacemaking for the party at the start.
SteenSon and Peterson Jagged badly at
the back stretch, when the pace became
a little warm. Townsend came ND with
the van at the turn and waged a success
full battle with Day. He managed to
show the way past the grand stand.
while Day rode second, r. III. Townsend
third. and the others strung out. This
was the order until the half-mile post
was reached. Day then made squirt
distance, in 6:15. W. s. Day, Mime
apois, first; G. C. Townsend, St.
Paul, second; o. NJ. Hokinson,
st. Paul, third; R. H. Townsend, St.
Paul. fourth; A. w. Harrison, Mime
apOlis. fifth; III. P. Hatch, St. Paul,
sixth; Charles G. Peterson, st. Paul.
seventh, and II. r. Steenson. st. Paul,
out. Time, 6:15.
Then came on mile race on ordinary
wheels for the state championship. but
it was not an exciting battle by any
means. Johnson was due for another
victory. and he had no trouble in add
ing the laurel to his crown. Graham
made it slightly interesting, but john
son wasssnot crowded as the slow time,
sos 2-5, proves. j. S. johnson won,
A. A. Graham saccnl, d. w. Van Week
third, and II. r. Steenson lost. First
prize, S25 gold medal; second prize, sill
yer handle umbrella; pair bicycle hose.
The Sixth Race
was mile safety event, open. 1t was
a good race, and it was spIced by a close
finish. The time. it is true, was slow.
but this is accounted for in the fact that
the candidates had all been in previous
races, and the track was very heavy
with dust. Collie Bell made desperate
effort to outrun his old rival, johnson.
buthe failed to reach by several feet.