Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-23
THE GREAT RACE.
THE BICYCLE RELAY RUN FROM CHICAGO
TO NEW YORK
Finished Early This Nornlng-Terrible Roads
Encountered Almost all the Way-The
Time Made Was Bad.

New YORK, May 2S.-After hard
struggle with horrible roads and blind
ing rain the last relay of the great
bicycle journey from Chicago to New
| York was assisted from his wheel more
dead than alive at 1:06 this morning.
| He had ridden through from larry
town, had left his companion on the
road with broken wheel while he bat
tied with the darkness, rain and mud
until he placed the carefully guarded
dispatch in the hands of the proper
person.
No ono who saw this. last relay as he
staggered into the arms of dozen re-
porters waiting to receive him could
imagine his forming one in line of pa
rade of glittering wheels and brilliant
| uniforms. Jaded and weary he had
mechanically pushed his metal steed
down the boulevard and through the
city.
The run down from Albany was made
with little loss of time by the riders but
it was impossible TO make up any of the
nine hours lost before reaching Albany.
The message left Poughkeepsse at 4:25
p. M; Peekskill, 1904; Sing Sing S;44;
and Tarrytown, 9:41.
On the last relay coming into larry
town, Harry Eyeland, who was carry
ing the dispatch, tainted on his wheel.
His companion, George c. Smith,
seized it and pushed forward, leaving
Eveland to recover as he best could.
AT Tarrytown VIM. Campbell took
the message, and accompanied by a.
B. Rich and H. M. Quick pushed on
down to New York. A hundred riders
had shared in the undertaking Of carry
ing the paper from 'Gen. Miles in Chi
cago to the hands of the military aide,
who waited at No. 81 Park Row.
From Lumsden the first rider who
bore it away from the steps Of the Hull
man building TO Quick, who came rush
ing down over the slippery Broadway
pavement last night a long succession
of ''crack" riders had struggled along
through darkness and dampness cover
ed with mud drenched to the skin, but
forgetful of everything except the firm
determination to pedal, pedal, pedal,
until their part OF the journey was ac-
complished.
One Of the things which the under
taking was to illustrate was the general
depravity Of American roads, and this
it most certainly accomplished when
similar European feats are considered.
One man, G.. p. Mills, last year rode a
bicycle S75 miles in little over four
DAYS, about the time it has taken 100
men TO accomplish this 1000 mile ride.
If the stories of the riders are to be
believed the fences along the country
roads were loaded down with excited
countrymen, who were found waiting
even at midnight, each with lantern
in one hand and an umbrella in the
other to see the mud splashed couriers
go by.
At Conneaut, Ohio, the only case Of
interference occurred. Some rufllan
stuck a knife into the pneumatic tires
of both the riders wheels, and letting
the wind out of them. Other machines
were secured, however, after a short de-
lay.
The schedule arranged called for an
average speed of ten miles an hour.
For the first few stages the men kept
well up to the schedule and some time
dUttu Vi lbs AGu biAC wi iS4N - '' ~
Indiana and Ohio began to clog their
wheels and they fell behind.
At PerrySburg, $50 miles out, they
were hours and y minutes behind. AT
Conneaut, 425 miles from Chicago, they
were ouly hours and minutes behind.
At Buffalo, all lost time had been made
up except one hour.
But across New York State Saturday
the rains descended and the floods came
and beat upon the poor fellows wallow-
ing on their weary way until they lost
S hours more and came into Albany at
$50 q. m. yesterday, 9 hours and min
utes late.
Notwithstanding the lateness OF the
hour a large crowd was waiting on Park
Row where the race was finished.
Quick was the hero of the hour He
received many congratulations on his
good ride from Tarrytown-25 miles
through the worst kind of roads and a
Mailing rain storm.