The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-23
FIRST DAY OF THE MEET.
| BRILLIANT OPENING OF THE
WHERLMEN'S RACES.

zimm erman's First Run in a South
ern Rece-Bai-d of Charleston Makes
a Quarter Mile Record-The Events
! To-day.
Four thousand people witnessed the in
auguration Of the Savannah wheelman's
track yesterday afternoon. 1t was the first
meet in Georgia under the League of Amer
lean WheeImen rules and was beyond
question the finest racing meet ever held In
the south.
The weather was cool and bracing and
everything was propittous except the wind
| which was too strong for fast time.
| The Savannah Wheelmen escortiuZ the
visiting wheelmen, numbering altogether
nearly 200. rendezvoused at the De Soto at 2
O'Clock and made the run to the park over
| the Thunderbolt smell road. The crowds
began going at 2 O'Clock, an
hour before the races. The Electric
railway had twentyssix cars on IT'S
line running to.the park gates. and even that
number was inadequate to carry the people.
AT THE PARK.
Many went out in carriages and the east
side of the park overlooking the track was
filled with them. The grand stand was
crowded and the 'bleaching boards" held
as many more. The view over the park was
pretty one. The white track with It's banked
curves, the green sward Of the ball ground,
the hundreds of ladies wearing the Savan-
nah Wheelmen's colors, and the scanty at
tired but gayly bedecked riders, the music
and the novelty of the event contribut
| to its interest
Comparatively few OF the spectators had
ever seen wheelmen's race. or knew, ex-
cept in general way, what it is.
AMERICAS CRACK RIDERS.
The interest. except IN the novelty of the
meet, conferred in Zimmerman, the world 3
champion, aud Isaac Baird, whose record
has won him place in the racing world.
The celebrities Of the track, Whitaker,
Wheeler, Prince and half dozen others,
were in the judges stand.
AT the start Of the races the grand stand
| and benches were packed with people.
Zimmerman was greeted with a cheer
as he rode out from the
riders quarters for the exhibition
quarter mile race with Wheeler. Both
riders are out Of training Zimmerman's
time was 81 10 seconds ard Wheelers IS
| seconds. The race was purely an exhibi-
ton, but answered its purpose to show Off
the worlds champion.
The first race, 1-mile novice, was won by
J. L. Johnson of Charleston in
3:1215, with W. W. Gross of Savannah
second, in 3:l4. The 1-mile open was won
by Isaac Baird in 2:46 Is, with Steve
Welsh second, in 1854. The quarter-mile
boys race was won by Amson Myerson in
521 seconds, with Willie Lindsay second in
81 seconds. The Savannah Wheelmen's
race was won by R. V. Connerat in 2:5lL,
with F. W. Williams 2:5215.
The 2-mile handioapi which Wheeler
started from the scratch and }. L. johnson
at 275 yards was won by johnson in 5:271%.
Wheeler came in second In 6:42
The one-hat mile open was won by Isaac
Baird ins :45$4 Steve Welsh second, /: 46.
The one mile 2:35 class was won by John
son in 1901; c. L. Williams, second, in 3:03;
NJ. E. Wilson third, in $500
In the quarter-mile open l. Baird won In
35$4, with F. W. Williams second, in 3SL.
10 the 1-mile handicap Williams won
i'll 1854, with Gross, 2:37 and w. a. Far
mer, 2;4O4.
The 2-mile $50 class was won by John
Baird in 5:472l; R. V. Connerat, $685..
and F. w. Williams, 5:55.
A DIMINUTIvE RIDER.
A feature of the races was the quarter
mile OF Master Basch. diminutive rider on
1O-inch wheel, in :25 which Announcer
Whitaker fecetiously credited five seconds
better than Jack Princes record The only
accident OF the day was a collision
In the novice race and the
wrecking Of a couple of wheels.
Senator Morgan acted as referee; J. Jay
Ross, K. ID. baltimore aud G. A. Persons
as judges; s. E. Theus, Fred Myers and
W. ]. Lindsay. tirnekeepers; G. w. Saussy
as starter. r. II. Polk as clerk of course,
Charles Kohler and w. NJ. Denhardt as
umpires, L. II. White as scorer and Marion
c. White as Handicapped.
The riders In all the races were cheered
again and again. The interest was greater
than was anticipated, and foreshadows the
interest in future races.
To-DAY's PROGRAMME.
The programme of to-day's events is
equally as interesting as that of yesterdays
The races will start at 3 O'Clock. The en-
tries are as follows:
First race, half mile open-First prize.
diamond stud; second price, pair fine opera
glasses. Entries: NJ. Ed. Wilson, W j.
Baird. h. R. Steensen, H. G. Wheeler.
Steve Welsh, I. Baird, c. A. Persons, F.W.
Williams.
Second race, fancy riding-First prize,
dressing case; second prize, Derby hat.
Entry: c. L. Williams.
Fourth race, -milehandicap-Fir First prize,
gold medal; second prize, silver card re-
ceiver; third prize, sweater. Entries: M.
Ed. Wilson, W. j. Baird, Il. r. Steensen,
H. G. Wheeler, j. l.. Johnston, |. Baird
G. A. Persons, +. w. Williams, W. W.
Gross
Fifth race, egg race-Entries, W. W.
Fretwell, G. c. Boyle, c. L. Williams.
Sixth race, one-mile handicap-First
prize, fine clock second prize. fancy table
Entries: Charles L. Williams, T. P. Whaley,
w. }. Baird, H. r. Steensen, c. C. Boyle,
II. G. Wheeler, Steve Welsh, J. B. Con-
molly, J. L. Johnston, l. Baird, G. A. Per.
sons, F. W. Williams. w. W. Gross
Seventh race, half mile, boys under 10
years Of age and riding not over 24-inch
wheels-Entries: Amson Myerson, It. r.
Avery, w. Lindsay, R Pritchard, Evan
Busch.
Eighth race, one mile, 2:25 class-.First
prize, gold medal; second prize, fine scarf
pin; third prize, pair opera glasses Entries:
w. J. Beard, H. r. Sseenssn, II, C.
Wheeler, /. Baird, g. A. Pearsons.
Ninth race, half mile, Savannah wheel
mems quarterly race-Club prize, gold
medal. Entries: w. W. Fretwell, j. B.
Connolly. w. C. OByrne, c. S. Park, R. |
V. Connerat, F. K. Williams.
Tenth race, quarter mile, open-First
prize, diamond scarf pin second prize derby |
hat. Entries: Nj. Ed. Wilson, 7. p. Whalev. |
W. J. Beard, H. r. Steensen, H. c. " ueeler'
Steve Welsh,J. l.. Johnston, l. Baird, G. A. |
Persons
At the end of the programme Isaac and
John Baird will face each other TO break |
the quarter, half and one mile record,
The interest In cycling can hardly fail to .
boom after the impetus it willireceive from |
the meet. One of the things |
H.