The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-02
wENzEL WON THE RACE.
The Many Times Postponed Bicycle
Event Finally Comes OF.

Event Finally Comes on.
II. A. Weuzel beat J. F. Williams in a
bicycle race OF "a miles on the Thunder
bolt road from Cemetery hill TO the Isle Of
Hopeturn Off yesterday Afternoon. Wenzel
rode 49, pound Ormonde wheel and Will
Jams q 45-pound Rambler: The time was
$40.
The event was the most exciting and in
terestiDg Of the season to bioyclists and was
witnessed by a crowd Of enthusiastic lovers
OF the sport. The race was not a question
Of the personal merit Of the racers, but Of
the wheels they used. The whole question
was between the Ormonde and the Ram
bier The banter for the race was made and
accepted several months ago, but owing to
various causes it did not come Off until
yesterday.
The race was brought about in this way:
An admirer Of the Ormonde machine over
heard several bicyclists disparaging the
wheel one Sunday at White Bluff, shortly
after the May week races. They reflected
upon the racing powers and stay
ing qualities of the wheel. The gen
tleman made wager of $500 to
$25, that with two picked riders the Or
monde, geared TO 50, would distance the
Rambler, geared to "a The wager was &C
cepted and arrangements were made for
the race. 1t was postponed for several
times, but being insisted upon by the par
ties interested finally came Off. Lindsay q
Morgan, agents for the OrmOnde, sent TO
England and had a special machine made
for the race. TIE Ormonde wheel weighed
3215 pounds, and was geared to Sc
inches The Rambler was an ordinary
road machine weighing 45 pounds and was
geared to GA inches. h. A. Wenzel was Sc
looted to ride the Ormonde and J. Frank
Williams the Rambler. As both men we're
known as champion amateur riders the rare
excited great interest among their friends,
who claimed the advantage of merit for
their favorfte. A few small wagers were
made on the outside.
1t was evident, Of course, to all bicyclists
that Williams was badly handicapped by
the weight of his wheel. the eight inches adj
ditional gearing allowed him being only a
questionable advantage. Hence the odds
of s to in the wager. The race was started
at 4:30 O'Clock yesterday afternoon and was
from Cemetery hill to the forks of the Isle
OF Hope road, distance Of nearly 1%
miles.
Both men ran we'll together at the start
and continued close to each other until
within the last quarter of mile when Will
Jams dropped back about five Yards He
appeared winded and seemed to feel he had
lost the race and Wenzel made squirt and
won.
There was considerable excitement over
the results of the race, the hackers of the
Rambler regarding the action OF the Or
monde hackers In sending to England for
special racing machine as unfair The
merits of the two riders elso came into
the discussion. AS "a result, the follow
ing challenge was handed into the
MORNING News Office last night;
SAVANNAH, GA. Oct. I, 1892
hereby challenge II. A. Wenzel to a bicycle
contest over the same course that was ridden
to-day, for trophy of not less than $50 in
value. Il is distinctly understood that no wheel
Is barred, and that any gear may be used and
that the race is to take place Oct. %. 1892 Any
further correspondence can be addressed to
Mr.. W. W. Gross, president of the H. T. Bicy-
Gle Club, 142 Congress street.
FRANK W. WILLIAMS.
This will make another lively race and
will give the blcyclists something to talk