The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-23
THE BICYCLE WON IT.
Groor Dofcntod McClcllund ut tho
North End Rink Last Night.
THE CYCLER TOOK Il bid FALL,
But Pluckily Mounted Another Ma.
chine, aud In Less Than a Milo oyCr-
h"nlcd his Skating Opponent.
Greer was Nearly n lap Ahead at
tho FInish-Tho Bowling Games
Last EveninG-L. a. ". Meeting.

Last evening composite gathering Of
about eight hundred persons saw the
race between Will Greer, tho profession.
nj champion cycler OF West Virginia,
and L. G. McClelIand, champion long
distance runner OF tho world, tho latter
doing tho five miles on roller skatos. In
this connection lis Il probably moro or
less surprising fact that tho interest in
roller skaling-that supposed relic OF II
long ago ago-is by no means dead. Tho
event OF tho evening, tho iive-milo race
between MCClelland and Greer did not
start until nearly 10 o'clock and for sew
cral houra before that tho smooth sliat-
ing surface OF the rink was thickly COW
cred with dcvotCes OF skating on rollers.
IEG crowd was made up OF all classes,
ages, sizes and conditions and the hum
OF tho roliCrs was heard necessarily I'M
I'll tho race was called. McssrJ. Lutz
Bros, tho propriotors oil tho rink, have
determined to keep it opnn for skating,
and II last evenings crowd Is IN index,
the patronage will be heavy.
Tho crowd was called of tho floor
about $3.50 o'clock. and McClclland pro.
ccedGd TO distribute chalk over tho
track for the purpose OF preventing
slipping. During one OF the lulls, when
tho American Cornct band was not
playing, and when Mac was doing the
sprinklinC act in his vicinity, specta-
tor addressed this remark to him:
Como eleven" a general laugh fol-
lowed this sally.
The following track officials were
chosen and acted: Referee, Nato Fiel;
judges. Oscar Smith and W. J. Lynch;
starter, Edward Gruber; timers, viii
II. Cassell and Abbot Bassett. 1t was
shortly before 10 o'clock when tho
cycler and skater appeared on tho track
and INDUCED in little practice sprint
ing.
1t was $3.50 when Starter Gruber
fired the pistol that started the race.
Both men seemed unwilling to mako
the pace, though Greer was forced to
do il when he rounded the corners on
the banks" which were set at IN angle
OF about ninety degrees. At the end OF
tho first twenty-five laps, one mile there
wasnot n distance OF ten feet between the
two. Tho milo was made in $3.50, very
slow, considering the fact that Greer
had two days ago done the same dis
lance in three minutes. The second
mile was rolled oil in tho best time OF
the contest, 1888, and still the men
chung to each other like brothers. The
third milo required $40 to do it, Greer
leading at its conclusion and making
the pace.
At the beginning OF the fourth mile
Greer began 10 squirt and gradually
drew away from Mac, who was unable
to respond TO Greer's bursts OF speed,
which were generally made on the
banks ut each end of the track. On the
seventeenth lap, just as nc was dc.
scending from the bank, Greer lost con-
troll OF his wheel and took bad tumble,
twisting his handle bars. lie was
quickly furnished with another wheel,
nicllle plated one, and "lit out" after
Mac, who by this time was threa-quar-
tiers OF lap ahead. Then commenced
n contest between the whcclman
and skater that was interesting
and exciting. Mac was ondeavoring
TO maintain his big lead, whilo Greer
commenced squirt that was magnIii-
cent to look upon. For lap or two he
did not seem 10 regain confidence, and
no gain was observed. Encouraged BY
his frienGs: however, he began to pedal
faster and faster and was soon gaining
on Mac fast and furious. On the banks
he got great speed on, and at thee nine
ticth lap had ovcrhauled the skater.
Not content with remaining on oven
terms he kept up his gait and finished
tho fifth mile in 3:4O. fully two-thirds
oil Il lap ahead OF McClclland.
Tho enthusiasm while Greer was
squirting In his attempt to catch Mac
was quite pronounced, and he was the
recipient OF quite an ovation at the con-
clusion OF the contest. The total time
for the race was is minutes and II sec.
onds.