The San Francisco call., 1896-08-28
SPEEDING ACROSS
THE CONTINENT,
Relay Riders Crossing the
Great American Des-
ert.
KEEN INTEREST SHOWN
Hard Riding in the Night to
Meet the Schedule
Time.
WILD RUMORs OF DISASTER.
The Ascent of the Rocky Mountains
Will Begin Tomorrow Morn.
ing.
WILD RUMORs OF DISASTER.

The gallant riders In the transconti-
mental relay of the San Francisco Ex-
aminer and the New York Journal are
wheeling to-day on the desert between
the great mountain chains Everywhere
on the route the advent of the relay riders
excites enthusiasm. Interest in the event
is not confined to wheelmen, but is mani
tested by all classes of the population.
From time to time dispatches based on
wild rumors of casualty to riders reach
the Examiner Office in this City, but when
the wires bring accurate tidings it is found
in every case that trifling mishaps have
been magnifed into disaster.
When within eighteen miles of Love-
lock, New, between and O'Clock yester.
day morning, both the riders on the relay
broke down and a man had to go out
eighteen miles on wheel and bring in the
packet.
At $50 A. NJ. yesterday Rye Patch was
reached.
The riders arrived at Winnemucca at
1915 A. NJ, and at Golconda at 11:40 A. NJ.
The station at Stonehouse, Nevada, was
passed at Al P. NJ. yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon at 1886 the riders
got to Battle Mountain thoroughly ex-
hausted. Lemaire's substitute had given
out, and that rider came in alone.
At 6:35 last evening the relay rider tele-
graphed his arrival at Beowawe, Nevada.
There has not been marked departure
from the schedule. Yesterday morning
at o'clock the riders were due at Mill
City, New, but they did not arrive until
7:42 A. M.-three hours and forty-two
minutes late. Some of the lost time was
made up during the day. The schedule
called for arrival at Beowarve at 4:05 P. NJ.
6:35, only 2I hours late, showing quite a
makeup in the daylight across the desert.
Linstrom and Gowan riding between
Hot Springs and White Springs were both
unfortunate. The former took a header,
his wheel striking railroad tie alongside
the track. Later on Gowan ran into cul-
vert and broke his wheel. The indications
are that the Nevada wheelmen are riding
recklessly in an effort to hold onto the
schedule through their territory.
The relay riders will be in Eastern Ne
vada all day to-day.
The schedule says that they shall be at
Ogden at 2 A. NJ. Saturday, when the
real work of ascending the Rocky Noun
tains is about to begin. The ride to Sher-
man, should the Union Pacific route be
followed, will be uphill all the way from
Ogden. Hard work IN adhering to the
schedule may be expected. II need not
surprise any one if the relay-rider touch
ing the crest of the Rockies should be six
or eight hours late.
Down the mountains to Cheyenne the
riders may go as if the fellow with the
forked tail were after them. From Chey-
enne to Omaha there is down grade, but
so gradually that it is not perceptible. 1t
seems to the eve perfectly level, but there
is enough fall for the water to flow through
the Platte to the Missouri.
Across Iowa there is some up grade in
reaching the ridge which divides the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri watersheds.
Between Cheyenne and Omaha skillful
riders should make a great record for
speed. Omaha will probably be reached
in advance of the time appointed by the
schedule.
It is not yet decided whether the great
mountains will be CT ossed on the Union
Pacific line, or farther south.