Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-12
BIKE RIDERS STILL AT IT
Fifth Day Of the Long Journey Sees the
Positions Unchanged,
fLUCW IRISH BOY HOLDS THE LEAD
Six-Dny Bicycie Race Continues ia
Attract the Interest of the
Wheel Crnnis OF
Gotham.

NEW YORK. Dec. 11,-Teddy Hale still
leads the siX-day race, but is not 50 far
ahead but he may yet be passed. One change
was made in the positions of the riders to-
day. Forster passed Rice, who had been
second in the race for three days. Forster
gained steadily on Rice, but finally fell back
and had to see his exertions go for naught.
Rice is also very tired and shows unmistake-
able signs of collapse Reading fourth in
the race 10 riding steadily and is holding
out much better than was thought possible
two days ago. He is secure in his present
place and has excellent prospects of improv-
ing his standing. Forsters exertions today
have exhausted him greatly and 1t is not
certain that he will be able to keep up the
terrific gait at which the leaders are push
ing. Should either of the three leaders let
up Reading is certain to get that place.
When Hale, the Irish rider, completed his
Tooth hour he had exactly 1,40O miles to his
credit That was about o'clock this morn
ing. His closest rivals, Rice and Forster,
were four hours later in making the same
number of miles
All the riders except Hale were out at
9 o'clock The 1rlsnman was then 140 miles
ahead of the record and the other first
eight were also beyond 1t. Forster rode
very erratically during the morning. At .
O'Clock he ran into Schock and both tumbled
but remounted quickly and resumed the
race Three hours later Forster collided
with Rice, and Maddox, who was a few feet
behind, sprawled over both of them Fors-
ter was then warned to ride more carefully
and his trainer gave him some stmulants,
but he was still wobbly, and rode at a very
slow gait for several hours.
Most of the riders were on the track dur
ipc tha Lott thn nwY,in Dipp
dismounted shortly before IL o'clock. He
was looking poorly Taylor was less cheerful
as the morning wore on and even Hale had
recourse to a sponge. Mcleod seemed in
better spirits after he had passed Click.
Schock was riding smoothly and Forster was
again in second place at IL o'clock, having
passed Rice while the latter was resting.
Rice was so weak about l p IN. that he
fell off his wheel, but he pluckily remounted
and rode around fast again. Hale turned in
for a rest and then reeling off eighteen miles
tween II and o'clock. He passed the l. 500
mile mark shortly before retiring. At 1
o'clock more than half the contestants in
the race had oyer 1,1SO miles to their credit.
ATTENDANCE ON THE INCREASE.
Fully 5000 people, the largest afternoon
crowd of the week, were in the garden at
$3.50 O'clock Peter Grundy, the announcer,
mounted the Fourth Avenue bridge at 3
O'Clock and made 1t known that Hale was
then leading the record by 1876 miles and
three laps. Thereupon the crowd cheered
wildly. Schock ought to get the first prize
for gameness. At o'clock he had been in
the saddle continuously for thirty-two
hours and altogether he has not rested
more than four ,and a half hours. 1t is
scarcely to be doubted that had the cham
pion's stomach not gone wrong he would
have been Hales principal rival.
The recordrbreaking scores of the riders
and the interest naturally attaching to the
last hours of ths race served to bring out
an unusually large crowd early tonight. At
one minute past s 1t was announced that
Hale had made l,60Oh miles. Prolonged
cheers greeted the announcement, and a
large basket of flowers was handed to the
Irishman, which he carried around for
few laps. The former record for six days
made by Schock was only 1000 miles. All
the riders spurted for several minutes after
this, amid yociferous cheering from the
audience.
AT SIS Moore and Mcleod had collision
as they were turning a curve at the eastern
end of the track. Both were thrown Off and
Moore seemed to be hurt by the fall, but
in little while he was able to mount his
wheel again. At $3.50 Ashnger and Maddox
started a lively spurt. In five minutes Hale,
with a sponge in his mouth, was making lap
for lap with them. Rice, too followed suit,
and the crowd gave expression to its delight
in cheer after cheer At S:52 Forster stopped
for rest. He appeared very much eX-
hausted.
The event of the early evening was the
half-mile invitation race for professionals
These who entered in the final heat were
Con Baker of Columbus, Albert Weinig OF
Buffalo, Jay Eaton of Elizabeth and G. Car
penter Of Railway. The result showed Con
Baker a winner and handily, by one minute
and eight seconds.