The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13
A Hundred Miles Covered by
Wheelmen in Less Than
Five Hours.
MANY MISHAPS ON THE WAY
Great Excitement at the Finish, Which
Was Stubbornly Contested
by the Scorcher.

IL was hot finish that carried Wells to
victory and won the trophy of the 10omile
relay bicycle race for the Bay City Club
yesterday. The final struggle was a mag
ni6cent one. All of the last relay men
were noted for the fast pace they were able
TO set; some held records that the cracks
of the world had gone up against and lost !;
several had themselves established marks
that have never been outclassed.
Therefore, it was With much interest and
an abiding faith in the speed and endur-
snce of their favorite sprinter that the
great crowd of wheelmen and wheelwomen
waited and watched for the finish and
speculated and gossiped as to the out
come. Central avenue, Alameda, which
was the scene of the closing effort OF the
contest, was lined with people. The wheel
men fenced the avenue on either side with
their machines, and thus kept the multi
tude in subjugation and left the stretch
clear for the coursers.
The start had been made at 10 o'clock in
the morning from Market and Tenth
streets, San Francisco. and running down
the peninsula, the wheelmen returned on
the opposite side of the bay. The distance
covered was 100 miles or ten RELAYS of 10
miles each.
The day was beautiful. A warm sun
poured down its rays from Venetian SKY,
while a refreshing breeze swept up from
the sea. The scene at the finish line was
full OF color and effect. The bicycle girl
was there. She wore boomers, of course,
rich and varied of color, and sometimes
she sat on the fence-ran with the youth,
but at all times she was graceful and de-
cIdedly pleasing addition TO the scene
All wore the colors of their respective
clubs. The Alameda girl was out, too. She
wore her summer gown OF white muslin
and watched Charley Fairs horseIess
wagon pass back and forth over the
smooth boulevard with great interest and
delight.
But the finish! 1t was most exciting. 1t
was a race for life. All the energy and
force of the scorchers seemed reserved for
the last great effort. As the stretch was
entered, 200 yards from the tape, Ziegler
and Squires were almost abreast, with Fos-
ter close up. Foster spurted TO pass be-
tween the leaders, with plenty of room in
his favor, when Squires wabbled and
fouled the Olympian. Both went down in
a heap, and Ziegler darted to the front.
with Wells close up. Down the stretch
ing every nerve.
The spectators were eager. breathless,
excited. 1t was a critical moment. Every
body yelled Ziegler, whose name had been
heralded on hundred victorious racing
fields, but fortune was against him. Wells,
who seemed to have considerable reserve
force up his sleeve. closed in on the San
Jose champion when within twenty yards
OF the line and kept the terrible pressure
upto the end. Inch by inch he forged to the
front, and though Ziegler did his utmost
he failed to regain the lost ground. Wells
finished by a scant wheel to the good, and
the multitude sent up cheer that broke
the quiet of the Alameda Sabbath.
Mcfarland OF San Jose was close third
and others came struggling in at intervals.
The time made by the Bay City Club fol
the 100 miles was hours 56 minutes 1:
seconds, which is 80 minutes better than
the fastest time made last year. P. NJ
Lefevre OF the Acme made the fastest time
of any individual rider, covering the third
relay in 24:39, which is the fastest time
ever mace in a relay race.
Wells carried letter of greeting from
Mayor Sutro of San Francisco to Hon.
John Foderer. president OF the Board o.
Trustees of San Jose. At each relay this
letter was delivered to the rider starting
out afresh. This was done in accordance
with the regulations under which the race
was run.
This is the second time the Bay City
Club has won the cup presented by
Thomas II. B. Varney for the annual 100.
mile relay race, open to all members of
the California Associated Cycling Clubs.
There are twentythree clubs on the mem
bership roll of this organization. Ten en-
tered the race yesterday.
Much money changed hands on the re-
suit. The betting between the Bay City
and Olympic clubs was particularly heavy,
it having been encouraged by long ex.
listing rivalry. The clubmen backed their
respective teams to the last dollar, and as
result, the Bay City bows had money
with which to buy refreshments last night
while the Olympics were correspondence
depressed and thirsty