The morning call., 1893-02-23


passengers had to crawl out If the windows
if they wanted TO get out.
From Oakland ana Fruitvale to San Lean
dro the level San Leandro road was alive
with wheel 5 all the morning nd scores of
them were ridden by young ladies. whose
fresh cheeks seemed to say all, Get a
safety and be glad"
That irregular sx-mile procession was
picturesque enough. The ladies looked
pretty In their riding costumes and ma
Jorlty OF the men wore their club uniforms.
There scores OF fellows who ''scorched"
In dusty getaways and real trousers
and the frequsnt remark, Il haven't
been on q wheel before IN year" showed
bow general was the interest in the event
OF the day.
At 1880 San leandro had wholly sur
rendered. The visitors far outnumbered
the population of the pretty town. Wheels
were stacked up everywhere. They were
piled three AID four deep all around the
main hotel and in the BARNARD; they rested
against nearly every building. and about the
starting place there were strings nearly
block long beside the fences. There were
nearly four hundred of them altogether.
Besides their riders, crowds came on the
overloaded electric cars and all San Lean
dIO WAS out doors. Nearly a thousand peo-
pie crowded to see tile start. and it took
several mRrshals TO keep open the long lane
through them for the riders
1t was perfect California winter day.
The gentlest soft of a breeze made the
genial sunshine more delightful. The
bamy air was peTfumed aud the green
foothills a few miles eastward were the
background OF the inspiring picture pre-
sented by the broad rich plain flied with
orchards and pretty homes. Flowers
baZed In every dooryard in town and
country and the apricot orchards were
glorious IN their myrlads Of blooms OF pink
ish white.
Amid such surroundings Is found the
San Leandre triangle, which is said to be
the finest twenty-hye-mile cycling race
course In America. Another advantage Of
II is that the whole community rather likes
to have it put 10 this use and is indulgent
to the wheelmen. Every farmer will cheer.
fully turn out to give racing rider full
right of way
who started aud the handicap in minutes
allowed each one.
Il. 3. Ward, A. B. and A. C., II; A. Grit
fths. b; c. W, u; w. H. Nc Donald. Acme,
Il; c. \. Laneton. B. {. W. 10; Al Der.
TTyessa, ;. j. K. C., 9; b. w. Bernhard, S.
Z. +. Nilsson, a. b. and A. C.. 4; J. Samp-
son. Acme. 7; 7. c. Dodge, b. c. W, 6; j.
A. Howard, Acme, 3; A. Cramer. c. c. c.,
4; George Faulkner. Acme. 81; w. w.
Neednam; g, c. C., 8; {: L. Davis. G. c. c.,
W, scratch; Grant Bell. Acme, scratch;
W J. Edwards, g. c. c., scratch.
The triangle Is formed by three Interseeting
roads and one angle is In the center of The
town. The course was officially measured
TO exaetness a few days ago and was found
TO be tTifle less than eight and a third
miles, hence little less than three laps
make the twenty-five miles. A starting
point at the edge of the town was marked
and the finishing point placed a block or two
across lots in The other road from town.
All arrangements had been perfectly made
even to stationing flagmen at electric rail
way crossings TO hold cars If rider was
near.
The clubs represented among the officers
Of the day and the contestants were San
Francisco Bicycle Club, Bay City Wheelmen,
California Cycling Club, Acme Club of Oak
land, Alameda bicycle and Athletic Club
A ameda County Wheelmen, Capital City
Wbeelmen. Garden City Cyclers and the
San Jose Road Club. Quite a number of
wheelmen from Sacramento and San Jose
were in attendance.
Before the race began the belief was gen.
orally expressed that the American record
would be broken, for all the conditions OF
day ard course were favorable TO speed
and the fast men who had made records be-
fore had been training for the event
great many looked for Edwards to accom-
plish this bit OF work. and at any rate
nearly everybody expected one Of the
scratch men-Foster, Bell and Edwards-to
win the hGnoTs.
II was 10 40 A. NJ. instead of 80 when
Ward and Griffiths shot over the string and
twelve minutes later Wells, Alexander.
Foster, Bell and Edwards started off to-
gether amid much cheering, Wells and
Alexander waving their handicap adyan-
tage Of minute and half
Then the crowd started across TO the
finishing place to see the riders come by on
hnf FIR n ard
or four to meet disaster on the course The
turn at the first angle of the triangle was
quick and short. for the angle was an acute
one. Ward kept up his speed in trying TO
turn and the bottom of his wheel flew out.
A half-hour or so later he came slowly rid
ing back with badly peeled leg Nilsson
and Howard had similar experience five
minutes later. Cramer and Wells did the
same Thing on the third lap. Needham fell
IN the third lap, but finished.
Grf1iihs finished his first lap OF 8h miles
IN 70 minutes and 80 seconds. having gained
minutes on Mcdonald. Who was MIN