Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-27

| DALI his average TO date Is 49,
| The billiard tournament is an assured sue
cess and nightly finds a large number Of
| knights Of the cue contesting for the prize
HE WON MANY MEDALS.
Something About Higham, the Champion
| Cyclist.
just nine years ago Harry w. Higham,
| the ex-English champion bicycle racer, who
had then won more prizes than almost any
other wheelman who had figured on the track
| predicted that in less than ten years from
that time the record would be lowered to
2.4O. The limit has not yet expired and the
record has come down even lower than he pre-
| dicted. johnson now holds the record at
1858. When the ex-champion was riding in
this city most Of the races were held in the old
Athletic Park grounds, corner OF 9th and s
streets northwest. In those days the riding
was done indoors to considerable extent. or else
| on tracks in small Enclosures. There were not
so many short events as are run now, but the
thousand mile week contests we're In order.
linen there was considerable interest manifested
In the exhibitions and thousands of persons we're
always ready to turn out and witness the con-
tests.
Among the contestants in those DAYS were
such men as Champion Prince, Tom Harrison,
William Woodside. the Irish champion. W. l.
Morgan, better known as Senator" Morgan,
William Young of Boston, George Handy, John
Brooks of Blossbury and others. Ben Hanna,
who was private secretary to the Secretary Of
the Interior at that time, was also on the track
and he did some good riding.
senator" Morgan is among those still in the
land OF the living, and he still enjoys a cycle
ride as well as enjoys the writing of cycle news
for cycle paper.
AN Ex-CHAMPIoN.
Harry Higham is now resident Of this city
and he takes an active interest in cycling
Being in the category of professionals he is not
eligible to membership in the L. A. W.,
although he Is always welcomed to their gather
ings.
Jack Prince was the American champion. and
Higham. holding more than one foreign cham
plonshlp, they were matched for a series Of
three races, five, ten and twenty miles respect
lively. The first race was in this city, and was
won by Prince, who passed over the tape
about foot ahead of the English champion.
The twenty-mile race took place at Rochester
and was won by Higham, but he lost the third
race. reaching the tape about one yard behind
Prince.
Following the interesting races held in this
city Higham and five other cyclists started
west on an extended tour, and the champion
won the twenty-mle worlds championship at
Springfield, getting $500 in cash, a gold medal
| and watch. At San Francisco he captured the
Pacific coast championship, and took prizes at
| other places.
MR.. HIGHAMs EXPERIENCES.
He is said to be the only wheelman who ever
rode more than / 800 miles in two successive
weeks.
Speaking of racing in this city," said Mr.
Higham, there is not SO much interest mani
Tested as there is at other places that is for
the reason that other cities have more fast
races than there are here"
The first race in which ever rode" said
the champion, "was in England in 1872 and
came in second in field Of six, Moore Of Paris
coming in first. Previous to that had won
more than $50 prizes as an amateur. The next
race In which | entered was 70-pounds handi-
cap at Sheffield, which l won. making the first
successful race in which participated as a pro-
fessional. Following this l won several races
and In the same year l beat Lockley Of DERBY
Tor the championship Of Nottingham and Derby
over turf course in the presence of 5000 per-
sons. Since then have won four six-day con-
tests, one at birmingham. one at Wolverhamp-
ton, one at Aberdeen and one at Glasgow; also
winning the championship of England and
Scotland. In this race | rode twelve hours a
day anG covered l,040 miles in u hours The
first 100 miles l made in less than six hours and
the race was on a concrete track"
Concerning concrete tracks Mr.. Highsm saws
they are not fit to race on. He had a fall on
the Edluburg track and was so badly hurt that
he could hardly finish the race.
One of the champions greatest feats was
when he made 23O miles in the Agricultural
Hall In London during six days. contest. THIS
task he performed in one-half minute less than
seventeen hours, and after he had been riding
Tor three DAYS. He came in third in the con-
test. making l, l40 miles, riding eighteen hours
a day.
For fourteen years Mr.. Hieham held the
hn 1rnIn m in pf
signed 1t in 1888, when he came to this country.
Among the contests in which he figured were
the following:
,l lSl9 Agricultural Hall. London. England. Rode
na mief without Time lS hours 50
2 days 'l2 hours day) race for championship Of
:, 1850. Wolyerhampton England. Won. o days Is
Scotland fST Won xs q Epsand
day. for Champion belt of ',co,and.
1as BY CT wG5
The Philadelphia Meeting.
The L. A. W. constitutional convention of
1898 is a thing of the past. The convention
was held in Philadelphia last week, as hereto
fore published in The STAR. and all the officers
were reelected. Then the convention dis.
posed of other important business. The color
disposed Of and will probably not again be re-
vived for some years. The decision leaves
the matter practically where it was before The
eligibility clause as amended reads as follows:
"An amateur wheelman of good character,
eighteen years Of age or over, shall, with the
Endorsement OF two league members or the con-
sent of the chief consul of his division, be
eligible to membership in this league upon pay
ment OF the initiation fee and dues, rs pro-
yided in this constitution and bylaws and the
bylaws of his division"
As to the motion to eliminate negroes the
vote stood 1903 for and 10l against, but it was
not adopted for the reason that the consti.
tuition requires a two-thirds vote.
Probably the most important business trans
acted was that which related to racing
The league delivered a serious blow to the
riders who shall be suspended when 1t took the
power OF reinstatement from the racing board.
Hereafter man under suspension will have to
wait until the next meeting Of the league, aud
this may result in keeping racers OF the track
for several months after they are suspended.
The following amendment to the racing rules
was adopted: