The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-03
A aHOsrLY RICYCLIsT.
A Wheelman's Story OF an Effort to
Cvertake Phantom.

u Wn6elman'6 story or an EnOrb TO
Cvertake Phantom.
From the Gin cinnGti Enquirer.
II used to ride in races, and only last
year l spun around the track at my home
in the east, but was cured of the sport In a
rather remarkable manner" said visiting
hicyclist at the San Jose Call races.
There were seven starters in the race
and we had ten laps to make. l thought we
were making rather slow time, and from
some remarks that | overheard from the
judges stand when we passed on completing
the eighth lap was certain that it would
be no race, as the winner would not make
the distance within the time required. By
this time | was we'll wlnded, and was sure
than | would not come out first but did
not feel in the least disappointed, as / had
not expected to win the race when | started.
'Iu the beginning Of the ninth lap, how
ever, as | was tolerablv well in the lead |
thought | would squirt little, so | forged
ahead and was allowed to make the pace for
awhile, each of the riders having done this
in turn before me- / had been In the lead
seemingly only a second when to my sur
prise | saw Just ahead of me strange look
ing rider on an Old-styled solid tire wheel
/ had not seen him pass and did not know
that any such man had entered the race in
the first place.
''The stranger was well in the lead, and l
that | was plodding behind on a new style
racing pneumatic while he was making the
pace at swinging gait on solid tire that
| Just dug my toe nails into the track, so to
speak, and did my utmost in an attempt to
pass him. 1t did no good. however. l
could not decrease the distance, although
spurred on as was, my speed, as l after
ward learned, became something terrific.
When l passed the grand and judges
stands at the end Of the ninth lap
for the finish there was tremendous cheer
ing. could not understand what it was
all about, as l did not consider that my
efforts on a pneumo tic flyer to catch a man
on a solid tire with spring frame were
worthy Of much applause. l did not have
time to look around and see what the rest
of the riders were doing.
''On flew like the wind, every muscle
strained to the utmost in my endeavors to
catch the stranger, who kept swinging along
about ten feet ID the lead. felt that he
must tire out at last SO l did not relax,
bat rather increased tie immense strain to
which l was putting every fiber of my
being. When We neared the grand stand
could hear thunders of applause rolling up
to greet US, and when l was within fifty
yards of the scratch made last desperate
effort to pass the stranger.
"Iu the strain that was upon me | shut
my eyes and padded like lightning. When
l was certain that had crossed the tape
looked up just in time to see terrible spec
tacle. The wheel of the rider struck some
| thing. He was thrown forward and struck
| on his head | was sure his neck was broken
| and blood gushed forth from his nose,
mouth and ears. The sight was horrible
and in my exhausted state l could stand the
| strain no longer l tainted aud fell from
my wheel
1.-The next thing knew l was stretched
out on a blanket in the rubbing-down room,
with crowd around me. AS soon as the
| boys saw that had recovered consciousness
| ali of them began to talk to me at once.
| They congratulated me on my wonderful
| victory, all declaring they bad never seen
| anything like it before. They all wished to
know, however, why had exerted myself
! SO much when was so far in the lead.
| had left all the rest Of the riders for behind,
| and vet | swept forward and saved that
race, coming in just inside of the l5-minute
| limit.
when spoke of rider that was try
| ing to catch all were dumb with amazement.
| They had seen no such wheelman, and the
| judges had given me the race. When l
| described the man | saw aud his wheel he
was recognized as being identical in appear
ance with a man VINO was killed under
| similar circumstances several years before
| in 5-mie race on the same track IL is
scarcely necessary to state that / almost
| tainted again when | learned that had
| been urged forward by q spook. have
never had the courage TO get in a race again
| for fear that there would be repetition OF
| my former terrible experience. ! had be-
| fore heard of ghostly riders on horseback,
but it was my first and hope it viii be my
last experience with 9 spook on bicycle"