Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-05
THE ROAD RACE.

ulOoG HOOu huC1 LAO NAOUA NASkN%NN'
THE ROAD RACE
One Of the Most Interesting Events Upon
The Days Programme.
The principal event Of the afternoon
was the wheelmen's road race, which
attracted big crowd, and proved one
OF the most interesting events OF the
day. The road selected was said TO be
fifteen miles by cyclometer measure
! ment. The start was made at the corner
of Fifteenth and Eoff streets, thence to
the eightmile post on the National
road, and return to the two-mlle post
near the Thompson homestead. There
were thirty entries, but on account OF
dissatisfaction with the handicaps and
for other reasons only nineteen men
participated.
Shortly after one o'clock the wheel
men began to assemble at the Linsly
Institute, where each received his mum
Der and prepared himself for the con-
test. Three or four hundred people
stood on the sidewalks along Fifteenth
street between Eoff and Jacob.
At times the boys crowded into the
street and interfered with the
wheelmen. Before the race n. Mahlke
rode up the street on his wheel for the
purpose of trying to keep the crowd
confined 10 the sidewalks. While rid
ing fast, he struck one or two boys, and
his wheel was thrown over. When he
righted himself he found that one pedal
was so disabled that he could not use
the machine. His brother, Ii. Mahlke,
gave him his machine, and riding It,,
he came in victorious In the contest.
THE START.
1t was exactly 1877 o'clock whom time
keeper Jacob Loos, gave the word ''go"
to the first contestants. They were
two young boys, Allie Smith and h..
Schrader, each with an eight minute
| handicap. The two boys had not pro-
ceeded a block, until one took a
"header." The seven, six, five, four,
three, two and one minute handicap
contestants were started on their jour
| ney. The only scratch men TO start
we're Jason Stamp and Fl. RIheldaffer.
Several of the men fell from their ma
chimes before they got out OF view or
the crowd at Eoff street.
1t was las o'clock when the scratch
men got away, and there was rush
down EOff street to the w. 81 Z, G.. mo-
! tors. Three trains were required to
carry the passengers to the finishing
point, and the different resorts out the
road. All were crowded, and men hung
TO every point that it was possible to
gain a foothold. The trains were de-
Iayed In starting owing to the jam OF
people, aud the finishing point was
reached but few minutes before the
first man "scorched" over the mark.
The McAuley- Peters Company erected
tent on the National road, which was
used by the judges and timekeeper.
There were about three hundred people
scattered about the pike, on the rail-
road track and hillsides, and a number
Of bicycles and teams.
THE RACE
was very exciting one from start to
finish. Several accidents took place,
probably owing to the nervousness OF the
riders,
While going down "chicken neck"
hill, Neff LANG had the misfortune to
take bad header" He was thrown
with considerable force against the
rocks Of the road, and was pretty badly
used up. An ugly cash was cut in his
| knee, and one arm and hand badly cut
and bruised. His injuries were OF such
a serious nature that he could mol
mount his wheel to continue the race.
He was taken to Pleasant Valley, where
his wounds were bandaged, and he was
| brought home in carriage. LainR
was making excellent progress In the
race, and was steadily gaining on the
! leaders. He was a favorte with many
persons, who declare that he would
| have won the race but for the accident
w. Greer also took header while 60
| ing down Fifteenth street, and ives bad
ly used up. He cut a long cash in hi:
| knee and lascerated the flesh on his
arm, but in spite Of his injuries finished
the race and came over the mark fifth
| He had only three-minute handicap
and would have made better showing
| but for the accident. Several other
riders were thrown from their wheels
and sustained more or less painful in
| juries.
The first man to cross the mark or
| the return trip was NJ. Mahlke. de
reached the goal at 2:3S:42, making his
time for the 10 miles, Sc minutes and q
seconds. He was exhausted from the
trip. His appearance was the signal foI
loud cheering from the crowd. f.
Schrader followed just 80 seconds later
Then came Hackins, Biggs, Greer, and
| Holman, each few seconds apart, and
closely pushing the winner. The time
prize was captured by Mahlke. Stamp
was a close second, covering the dis
lance in 81 minutes, 90 seconds.
Following is a list OF the contestants
in the order in which they finished: