The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-09-03
ZIMMERMANN'S PRIZES.
The Great Bicycle Rider of
Whom New Jersey Is
Proud.
HIS FEATS AND EARLY LIFE.
He Has Won Pianos, Watches, Cake
Baskets, Trays, Cups and
Medals.


Arthur A. Zimmerman, Americas
champion bicyclist, whom New Jersey
claims the honor of producing, those who
have any real idea of his performances
and the results thereof in prizes up to
the present time are exceedingly few.
Five years ago, long-legged. ungainly
chap OF seventeen. he was unable to
srraddle bicycle and retain his equilib-
rum. He was living at that time with
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph McDermott. his sis
ter and brother in-law at Freehold, and,
he was born and raised at Man
asquan, whsre his father conducts the
Osborn House. a large MOTEL, no one cared
which place he claimed as his home.
But since "Ztmmie," the same chap who
was more Than once dubbed Legs in
derislon, has made an international fame
and considerable fortune in the way of
personal property by a vigorous use of
those useful limbs. he has been, like
Homer, claimed by many cities.
Manasquan claims him by right of
birth and early residence; Freehold owns
him by reason of his last eleven years
having been spent there; Asbury Park
shouts for him because he is the star OF
the wheelmen's organization there. and
even New York thinks it owns him be-
cause he carries the Golors of the Man
haitian Athletic Club.
About six years ago Joseph McDermott,
who was getting too stout for solid COM
fort, sought to reduce his flesh, increase
his muscular development and at the
same time derive considerable pleasure
by riding bicycle. He purchased Star
bicycle-one of the high kind, with the
little wheel in front-and soon mastered
it. He worked hard on the machine, and
affair Qrnnirin0 oil a hnnafifo h ioI, he
expected, found that he could get over
the ground about as lively as some of the
racers" Meanwhile young thinner
man-he was about seventeen years old
had taken an interest In the bicycle, and
McDermott, after some coaxing, got him
to mount the wheel, and by persevering
for two weeks had him SO far initiated
into the mysteries of propelling the wheel
that be could go it alone for short dis
tances. But the future champion had
many mishaps. There were headers and
side tumbles and countless falls in
mounting. and the bruised. cut and
abraded elbows, knees. hands. arms,
sides. face and head were almost con-
stantly in need of attention, and to quote
his sister, Mrs. Emily J. McDermott,
"We were always patching him up"
He finally got the best of the machine,
hover, to such an extent that he could
go on long runs with Brother-in-law Nc
Dermott, and after time began to show
considerable speed. He was very modest
about his abilities, however. and while
some of the riders in that part of jersey
smiled broadly at the suggestion that
Jimmie" would some day be racer,
there were many who significantly re-
piled that them long legs wasn't made
for nuthin'."
ZIAfMERMANN's FIRST VICTORY
One day during county fair at Free
hold Zimmerman went into his first
race. His only competitor was McDer-
mott, but the latter might as we'll have
remained at home, as the novice prac-
ticaly left him standing still on the
track. But McDerm OFT was not chagrined
at his defeat, he was highly pleased, aud
resolved right there to stop racing him
self and take ''Zimmie" in hand, put him
through course of training and bring
out whatever there was in him.
To this early training is due thinner
mann's position today. His first race
against field of wheelmen, after he de-
cided to follow the track, was ar Queens,
l.. l., in October, 1889. 1t was one-mie
novice, and he crossed the line a winner.
From that time Until the close of the
racing season ON September IS he entered
twenty six races. the distances varying
from one-quarter of mile to ten miles
on road and track. In seventeen he won
firsus, three being from scratch, and in
nine got second place, one being from
scratch.
In 1890 he started In forty-two races, at
various bicycle meets in different parts of
the country, the distances being from one
quarter to twenty-five miles, track and
road, OF these he got first in thirty-one
events. second in five, third in a twenty
five mile road race at New Rochelle, an
open mile race at Vineland. a three mile
tandem (open) at Niagara Falls, an A. A.
U. TWO mile Championship at Washing
ton. and fourth in a two mile handicap a /
Peoria. In the same year he rode half
mile trial in I'm. 1885,. and with a partner
got the worlds tandem road record of
Am. 32s. at Philadelphia.
LAST YEARS TRIUMPs.
In 1891 he made wonderful progress in
his WorE, and between February 23, at
Atlantic City, and October 16 at Cincin-
natl, started in eighty-two races and fin
ished first in ffty-two, making some re-
markably fast times and creating a quar-
ter mile worlds record of 20 4-5s., half
mile worlds record of I'm. 6 4-os., three
mile record of I'm. $685., four mile record
of 10m. BIS, five mile record OF 12m. 53S,
and mile tandem record of 2m. "a 1-5s. In
fourteen of the races he did not finish for
various reasons; in ten he finished second,
and in three he crossed the line third.
Up to the time of his recent return from
side OF the ocean are still fresh in mind
In England. Ireland ana Germany he en-
tered in tWenty-nlne races against the
crack riders of those countries, and many
times when he was not in condition. He
finished as follows:-In eighteen, first; in
three. second; in two, third; in three.
fourth. In one ne got the English com
petitio record for half mile, I'm. 3-5s. {;
fn another a starting quarter record of
80 3-5s.; a half mile Welsh record of I'm.
s 1.5s., and mile Welsh record of Pm. 20s.
His most important victories were the
fifty mile N. G. U. championship at Pad
dington, one and five-mile championships
at Leeds. With f. G. Bradbury he made
eight tandem worlds records for dis
rances varying from quarter OF mile
to flve miles.
A REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF PRIZES.
Naturally one would suppose that such
a record as this would give its happy
possessor a considerable showing Of
prizes, but until Zimmerman's collection
is inspected the extent to which prize Civ
ing for bicycle races has grown cannot be
fully realized.
Six pianos form no small part Of the lot.
Four of them, including 81, $50 Sonmer,
are at the McDermott residence In Free
hold, one is at the Zimmerman home in
Manasquan, and another on exhibition in
an Asbury Park store window In the
Manasquan barn Is a two-seated, finely
trimmed surrey worth $500, while in the
barn at Freehold are stored nearly twent y
bicycles of all makes and grades. Scat
tered all over the houses il both places,
mostly at Freehold, however. are hun