Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-04-27
The Road Race,

The Pittsburg Press road race on Satur
day, in which 81 of the leading bicl clist
of the three States entered, was a com
plete success, Notwithstanding the uniayor
able weather. The race was won by George
! Williams, of the Pittsburg Century Club in
the remarkable time of , hours and q
minutes, with C. K Gibson second, min
| utes later, and J. E. Patterson . minute;
behind. The Butter riders showed up
splendidly. finishing in place and time as
| follows:
18th, Geo. " Mardorf, 3:Ol4.
18th, Paul E. CrOnenwett, 3:Ol4.
22ad Frank HOvis, 3:06
Goth, David Ensminger, BOIL.
32nd, Earnest COnenwett, $40.
The Press offered gold medals to all who
accomplished the distance in three hours
and half, and al the Butler boy won med
ais with handsome margins.
The day opened with light rains and was
cold and cheerless, and the thousands who
were interested in the race were pleased
about nine o'clock to learn from the Press
offices that signal reports were for better
weather. The order was that the race
would be run if there were no heavy rains
in the morning and the Butler boys spent
several weary hours, alternating between
a hope that it would clear, and desire to
have the race postponed until the road
would be in better condition. The morn
ing wore through without the debarring
rain, and shortly after two o'clock the
crowds began to gather on Main street near
the Local Press office in the City Pharma-
cy. The train from Pittsburg ever the
2. d. W. was due at 2:30, but it was 10
minutes late and it was PAS when the race
started.
On tie arrival Of the train bearing the IS
wheelers from the city, line of march up
Main St. to the City Pharmacy was formed
and the riders seemed in great number.
The g. A r. Band accompanied them, but
did little playing in Butler. Al the Phar-
macy all was hustle and confusion for a
few minutes while the busy but cool
officials gave the Butler boys their mum
bers and issued few final orders regard
ing the race. A close formation four
abreast OF the riders was the next work
and several enterprizing photographer
"took" the stout hearted riders. while Ar.
Atherton quickly went to the head Of the
column, revolver in hand. Two sharp
pistol shots and forward at brisk rate the
column moved, the rider to the right OF
each line acting as pace maker until the
bridge was passed at the foot of Main ST.,
where the word Ego" was given and imme-
date the scramble for places began. The
bit of rough road between the railroad
track and the toll gate caused many to
dismount and wheel in hand, wildly chase
up. but the Butler boys knew the road and
made good time riding. Patterson led up
the hill and arrived at the top one hundred
feet in the lead, and back of him was a
pretty sight. Spinning up the hill at in-
tervals of 10 or - feet was half mile OF
pedaling wheelman, and on each back
was large yellow..badge containing a num-
Der. Some one rem arked that they great
ly resembled potatoe bugs.
Patterson, Jenkins, Bannister and Cron-
enwett were among the leaders, and all
the Butler boys rode well out Of town. AT
Bakerstown Williams was first and Gibson
second with Cronenwett good third. At
Sharpsburg they crossed the river and rode
down Penn Avenue, where they struck the
cobblestones Here the Butler boys lost
rapidly and one after another of the city
boys passed, because our boys were not
used to riding over that style Of pavement.
The boys reported that there was some
red tape work done and claimed that they
finished in better places than officially re-
ported. Ifthis is true, it does not reflect
great credit on the fairness Of the Pitts
burg wheelmen.
The winner rode Phoenix wheel, and
this seems to be favorite make. 1t is
handled by J. Z. Forsythe of West Jeffer-
son St., who likes it very well.