The record-union., 1894-10-25
HARDING's GREAT FEAT.
Lowers the American Century Bicycl
Record Twenty-Three Ninutes

Lowers the American Century Bicycle
Record Twenty-Three Minutes.
ST.. LOUIS, Oct. 24.-Albert c. Harding,
class A rider belonging to the st. Louis
Cycling Club, is the holder Of the Ameri-
can century record, which, owing to his
marvellous efforts to-day, now stands at
4:3l:56 So. or tWenty-three minutes bet
ter than the best previous record, held by
Frank Radway of London, Ont.
Harding's victory IS decisive and tri-
umphant. AT no time was he in trouble,
His dogged persistence was rewarded
with the success 1t so well deserved. Un-
deferred by the tiasCo OF last Saturday.
when he was stopped by rain at the
fortieth mile, be went at the record to-
day with renewed determination. After
fifty miles mad been covered, it was evil
dent that the American record would 90.
and the excitement was intense among
the large number of bicycle enthusiasts
gathered at the fair grounds track Many
of his friends insisted on his going for
the worlds record Of 4:l9, held by the
Englishman, Michael, but his handlers
refused to allow it, claiming that he had
a sure thing on the American record, and
that it would be unwise to drive him too
hard. Still, very many competent Judges
gave it as their opinion that Harding
would have had but little trouble in do
ing better than 4:l0. The work of the
pacemakers was very good.
At all points OF the run Harding held
we'll within his schedule, always keep
ing at least five minutes ahead. When
he had ridden sixty miles he had a lead
OF ten minutes. and it was at this time
the crowd shouted to him to go for the
worlds record, but he let up very con-
siderably, and finished exactly 5:033 in
side his time allowance.
The start was made at 1880 A. NJ. paced
by q. a. Maxwell and Rumsey. A me-
dunn pace was set, the first five miles
being covered i'll 1858 4-5. Coburn and
Roth, the next PAGERS, made things much
livelier, and the ten miles were made in
27:l0. Thirty miles were rolled OF in
l:l9:4l 4-5, and forty miles in I:46:27.
From this time up to the sixty-mile
stone, the pace was very fast, Harding
riding a good ten minutes inside his
schedule. The pace was then sIackened
considerably, and the eightieth mile was
made in 3:39:2l 2-5. The miles were not
averaging close to a three minute mark.
because the rider had no reason to try
harder, as that gait was moro than fast
enough 20 bring him home well ahead
of the record.
The last mile was wheeled in 2:5I 3-5.
and in 1896 80 Harding shot across the
line victor in great contest and holder
or the bicycle record for 100 miles His
fastest mile was the nineteenth, which
was run in $50 20, and his sIowest the
thirty fourth, which took 3:15 to accom-
plish.
q. y. Maxwell, who started in the first
race OF the day, u three-mile open. class
A, broke the competition record for that
distance. He made the three miles in
1;05 3-5, taking nearly ten seconds off
Johnson's time.
JOHNSON MAKES a NEW RECORD.
BUFFALO, Oct. 24-If Tom Eek and
select party of bicyclists on the iona
wanda boulevard to-day are 10 be be-
lieved, John S. johnson, the racing
man, went a mile straight away, paced
by quadruplet, in the marvellous time
of l:33 So. Eek has been here for sew
eral days with the Stearns team. He
brought johnson here TO try for the mile
straight away on this pavement, which is
as smooth as parior floor The course
is Straight, and has been carefully meas
ured, but there is a steep fall for an
eighth of a mile at the finish. The
quadruplet was ridden by Callahan,
Seavey, OConnor and Rhodes. The
time by quarters was: q 20, % 2-5, 25
and Il.
Electric times were used and it is
claimed there can be no mistake, and
that Johnson actually went the fastest
time ever ridden by a human being. He
will go out and try for another record
tomorrow.