Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-12

The road race from Wilmington to
Claymont, Friday evening, was not much
OF success, in point of time, as there
was a stiff wind against the men,
which made navigation difficult. How
ever, the race came off according to the
plan and, while the time was nothing
extra there was considerable sport for
the participants and amusement for the
spectators
Long before the time for starting a
large crowd gathered at Washington
Bridge, where the race was to com
mence. Some of the men who were
entered were tardy in arriving and the
start was little slow. 1t had been slip
ulated that there was to be no pacing
and as far as is known there was none
except that it is rumored Capt. Kirk
the scratch man hung on to an OK team
for several miles. But as he was the last
OF the lot to start, and needed all the
encouragement he could get, the charge
was not pushed by the other contest
ants.
A few minutes after o'clock the
first man, Walter Drake, who was al
lowed a handicap of 10 minutes was
given the word Ego" and he went for
all he was worth. Then two minutes
laterJ. D. Brown plowed the dust after
him. The other contestants filed out
according to their respective handi-
caps, and the last fellow to leave was
the genial captain. He was evidently
out for scorch, and scorch he did.
He was in racing costume and made a
great grand stand play from start to
finish. He was undaunted and when
the OK team, by which he was being
paced, gave out he hung out on his own
hook and overhauled every man but
two and finishing the seven miles in
% minutes and % seconds. The other
races also finished in good time the
order in which they reached the goal
being as follows: Charles Pierce, han
dicap, minutes, time 28. 80: H. L.
Pierce, handicap 5 minutes 80 SO; Will
liam Kirk scratch 25. %; Walter Drake,
10 minutes, AZ. 03; H. Drake, 5minutes,
81. 80; j. ID. Brown, 10 minutes, AZ. 10 /;
Sherburne Rice, 5 minutes, 40.
When the leaders hove in sight of
those who were anxiously awaiting the
finish all was excitement at Claymont.
The enthusiastic captain seemed to
have the greater number of admirers,
particularly with the fair sex, and
when he came in with the leaders he
was fairly idolized by them. The
other men were not much behind the
captain, however, and cheer after cheer
went up as the sturdy Wilmington boys
reached the goal. After the distribu-
tion of prizes-for each man was en-
titled to prize-all repaired to the
house of a friend, where the tired
wheelmen ate a hearty supper.
President Bullock of the Wilmington
Bicycle Club was out on the road, and
he made an accurate report of what
transpired. He had no charges to make,
and only incidentally mentioned the
fact Of the captain being paced by the
OK team. He says Billy was now
ing the other contestants down like
wheat.
The race Friday has set the mem,
hers of the club to thinking. 1t is
just such contests as this that stimu-
lates road riding, and for some time
periodical races among club members
have been INDUCED in at Chester. A
prize is offered for the man making the
best average at the end of the year,
and the trophy stimulates all the rae
ing members to exert themselves.
1t has been suggested that the local
club adopt the same plan, and have a
road race for members at least once
month. II good prize should be offer
ed under the same conditions as the
Chester trophy there would be num-
Der here who would be only too glad to
take part, and by doing so they could
better their road riding abilities The
members are enthusiastic over the idea,
and it may assume definite shape.