Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-23
Gn0STLY BICYCLlST.
Ne eNTEaS 4 FIvE-MILe RACE At THE
FINISH WITH The WINNER


II used TO ride in races. and only last
year spun around the track at my home
In the East, but was cured OF the sport
In rather remarkable manner" said
visiting bicyclist at the racesof the Gar
den City 'cyclers in this city to Q reporter.
"Ths story is strange one" ne con-
tinued, "and have never told II to any
one vet that think really believed 1t, but
10 firmly am convinced OF the reality OF
On incident that was frighttul In some OF
its details that for fear of o repetition
have not had the courage to ride ina race
since.
"The races were run on half.mile horse
racing track that had beer. rolled and
otherwise partially prepared Tor the puf.
pose. had never been especiaiiy fast, but
lust before the event had bought new
ppeumatic.tire racer, one of the first seen
in that part of the country. The machine
was beauty, full nickled, and with the
object of making display more than any,
thing else. entered for the fiye-mile race
with O fifteen minute limit the conditions
being the same as those of the last race In
San Jose that Wilbur Edwards WOO.
IN THE LEAD.
"There were seven starters in the race
we were making rather slow time. and from
some remarks that overheard from the
Judges stand when VIC passed on COM
pleting the eighth lap / was certain that it
would be no race as the winner would not
make the distance within the time re-
CURED. BY this time / was we'll winded.
and was sure that would not come out
first, but did not feel in the least disap-
pointed, as l had not expected to VIII the
race when started.
I'm the beginning of the ninth lap,
however, as | was tolerably well 10 the
lead, thought would squirt little. 80
forged ahead and was allowed to make the
pace for O while, each of the riders
having done this in turn before me. l
had been in the lead seemingly only Sc
cond when, to my surprise, | saw just
ahead of me strange looking 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 thelead aud
felt so much ashamed of myself to think
that was Flooding behind on new style
racing pneumatic while he was making
the pace at swinging gait on solid tire
that 4 lust Cug my toe-nails into the
track, so to speak. and did my utmost in
an attempt to pass him. Ii did no good,
however. could not decrease the dis
lance. although spurred on as was, my
speed, as l afterwards learned, became
something terrific.
FLEW LIKE TIE WIND.
when passed the grand and Judges
stands at the end of the ninth lap for the
finish there was tremendous cheering. L
could not understand what it was all
about, as did not consider that my efforts
ON pneumatic flyer to catch man on q
solid tire with spring frame were worthy
of much applause. did not nave time to
look around and see what the rest of the
riders were doing.
"On / few like the wind, every muscle
strained to the utmost in my endeayors to
catch the stranger, who kept swinging
along about ten feet in the lead. l felt
that he must tire out at last. so did not
relax, but rather increased the immense
strain to which / was putting every fibre
of nv being. When we neared the grand
stand could hear thunders of applause
rolling up to greet US, and when was
within fifty yards of the scratch l made
last desperate effort TO pass the stranger.
In the strain that was upon me shut
my eyes and padded like lightning. When
j was certain that had crossed the tape
looked up Just IN time to sea a terrible
spectacle. The wheel of the rider ahead
struck something. He was thrown for
ward and struck on hrs 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 could stand the strain no longer. /
tainted and fell from a wheel.
RACING sPooK.
"The next thing knew I was stretched
out on blanket in the rubbing down room
with a crowd around me. As soon as the
boys saw that / had recovered conscious
ness all of them began to talk to me at
once. They congratulated me on my won-
derful victory, all declaring they had never
seen ANYTHING like il before. They all
wished to know. however, why had ex-
erted myself so much when l was so far in
the lead. l had left ali the rest of the
riders far behind, and yet swept forward
and saved that race, coming IN just inside
of the fitteen-minute limit.
when spoke of rider that l was
trying to catch all were dumb with amaze
ment. They had seen no such wheelman
and the judges had given me the race.
When | described the man | saw and
his wheel he was recognized as being
identical in appearance with man VINO
was killed under similar circumstances
several years before in fve-mlle race
on the same track. IL ia scarcely necessary
to state that / almost tainted again when
/ learned that had been urged forward
by spook. / have never had the courage
to get in the race again for fear that there
would be q repetition of my former terri
BILE experience. had before heard OF
ghostly riders on horseback, but it was my
first. and hope 1t will be my last, expe-
rience with spook on bicycle"