The morning call., 1893-06-19
FASTER THAN EVER
Bicycle Records Smashed
at Central Park.
THEY WERE UNOFFICIAL.
On That New Tangled Track, Bell
Cut 40 Seconds From His
Five-Mile Time.
THEY WERE UNOFFICIAL.

The announcement that Grant Bell. the
champion five-mile rider of the coast, would
essay to lower his record of IA min. IS sec.
at the Central Park bicycle grounds yester-
day forenoon attracted between three and
four hundred people to that place.
IL was 10 A. NJ. when Bell mounted his
wheel. and as the wind was blowing pretty
stiff at the time his most sanguine support
ers doubted his ability to reduce the record
he had made last year. His pace makers
were W. F. Foster, II. F. Terrill. W. A.
Terrill, t. A. Griffith and II. Ebenritter.
H. b. Sperry was appointed referee.
The timers were e. Mohreg, A. Marshall.
T. II. Doane, n. U. Carpenter and j. D.
Elwell
Foster rode the first and fourth mile
with Bell II. T. Terrl rode the second
mile. A. Bell accompanied Bell on the
fourth mile and Griffith and Ebenritter
paced the final mile.
There was great excitemont when bell
passed the timers on the last lap, and as
there were several watches held by those
who watched the trial of speed from the
grand stand, the shouts that rent the air
as the Acme champion dashed by the
stand on his last lap could have been
easily heard block away.
''Bill will break the worlds record; Pll
bet my pedals on itp' shouted an Oakland
enthusiast, who, in his excitement to see
the finish of the race, leaned too far for
ward on the grand stand and took an i'm
promptu header into crowd of wheelmen
who were watching the race from the
track below.
The wheelmen whose necks and shoul-
ders protected the Oakland tumbler from
what might have been heavy fall upon a
hard surface were so thoroughly worked
up with excitement that they forgot to
look around to see what struck them. and
before they had collected their senses and
instituted inquiries the enthusiast from
the land of the OAKS had taken to his heels
and disappeared among the crowd from
which he took tumble.
When the timers compared watches
after the race 1t was announced that Bell
hao lowered the coast record considerably
and that he had covered the distance in
Is minutes SO 3-5 seconds.
A look of surprise was manifest on
every face when the official announcer had
placed his split-second timepiece in his
vest-pocket. One old gentleman who was
stiffness of the occasion by shouting:
Three cheers for Bell He is the dandy
of the track; he can beat the wind"
All present joined in loud and hearty
cheer for the Oakland whirlWind, who, by
the way, appeared almost as fresh at the
journey.
This grand performance did not, how
ever, terminate the afternoons sport.
W. F. Foster. the CHAMPION mier of the
coast was anxious TO try his mettle. and
Informed the president of the Bay Citys
that II the same timekeepers who had
clocked for Bell would consent to hold
watches on him he would ride against his
own record. which is min. 2S Is Sec
When Foster jumped into the saddle the
wind was blowing a miniature gale, and
his friends suggested that he POSTPONE the
attempt to some future day. The coast
champion mile-Iacer was determined, how
ever, Ito face the blow" and with the as
sistance Of Terrill and Griffith he started on
his Journey of five laps. he got off to a
poor start, but once under full steam he
sent his racer along at astonishing speed.
Notwithstanding that strong wind re-
tarded his progress to some extent when
rounding the turn at the southeast end of
the ground.
According to the fast pace he was cut
ting out, the wheelmen. who were watch
ing the trial, expected to see him give way
on the last lap, but in this they were dis
appointed as Foster increased instead of
decreased his speed and shot over the mark
in five seconds faster time than he had
previously accomplished.
Another surprise for the onlookers re-.
suited when the announcer shouted:
IOa
G. WIS track now?"
The little chamriOn was the least sur
prised of any, and unassumingly informed
the timers that he would require their
services again IN the near future as he felt
satisfied that be- could cut several seconds
off the time made on the new track. pro-
Vlded wind ana weather were favorable
1t must be remembered, however, that
although Bell and Foster lowered their
best times yesterday the league will not
accept of the performances, as they were
not made under its rules. In the first
place records made on Sunday will not be
honored and in the second place the timers
must be represen tatiyes of more than one
club or body of men. However, there
were several watches held on the riders by
spectators, some Of which marked faster
time than those in the hands OF the official
checkers.
Work on the dressing rooms and stands
will commence to-day The center of the
track has been scraped and rolled and
grass planted. When the details are com
pleted. which will lie in a few weeks, the
Bay City Wheelmen will have one of the
most perfect training quarters in America.
During the July race meeting excursion
trains will be run from Stockton, Sacra-
mento, Marysville, Gilroy, Santa Cruz and
Cloverdale to accommodate the large num-
bers of wheelmen and their friends VINO
will be present on this great racing oc-
caSion.
The regular meeting of the Alameda
Bicycle and Athletic Club will be on Tues
day evening and on Sunday, the oath inst,
d club handicap race for one mile will be
given.