The morning times., 1896-12-20

washington is about to have carnival
OF bicycle racing, which, in many respects,
viii be the most notable event or the
kind that has ever taken place in this
country.
The now famous six day race at Madison
Square Garden, New York, bids fair TO
be equaled, il not surpassed, 10y the sim
liar race which VIII be commenced in this
city on the afternoon OF December 2S, at
Convention Hall.
An the record breakers OF the recent New
York race are entered, among them being
Teddy Hale, The great Irish racer, and
worlds champion; Rice, OF Wilkesbarre, the
American champion, who finished My "a
few miles behind Hale, and other racers
equally famous. These cracks are already
beginning to arrive in the city, accompanied
by their managers and trainers.
Manager Towers, OF the Ice Palace, went
over to New York to witness the Madison
Square contests, and while there he con
oeived the scheme nf arranging a similar
race to take place in Washington. He at
once addressed himself TO the Task and
with characteristic enterprise and energy
soon had matters tending toward a sue
cessful issue
BIG CASH PRIZES.
He found all the cracks willing to come
TO Washington, and that willingness was
further increased by the fac that the cash
prizes offered were even larger than those
given in the Madison Square races. Three
thousand, five hundred dollars in prize
money viii 20 to the first five men
finishing. the winner to receive 81 500, and
the Others sums in proportion 10 the order
In winch they finish.
Manager Towers does not intend to al
low the races TO Interfere in any way with
the skating patrons Of the palace, SO he
mas made the novel arrangement ofplacing
the racing track around the hall with
the inner edge resting on the ice, thus
allowing the skaters their usual freedom
OF the floor with only slightly restricted
area. A bridge will be built over the
track so that the skaters may have free
access TO the ice at all times.
Another announcement which will find
favor With the public is that the usual
admission fec If % cents viii remain IN
changed. When IL is known that 81 was
the price paid Mt the Madison Square ra ces,
the difference VIII be appreciated.
The same track used in the Madison
Square Garden races will be brought over
20 Washingtonins sections, the onl Y difference
being that it Will be somewhat less in
length, as there are twelve laps TO the
mile at Convention Han, while in the
Garden there were only ten.
SOME NOVEL ARRANGEMENTS.
The track will bc sixteen feet in width
and Will necessarily have decided slope
especially at the turns. Instead OF the
judges, urnekcepers, scorers, and other Of
ficials ocCupyiGg the inside Of the track as
In the New York races, arran geInents have
been made for their accommodation on the
big stage at the south end of the hall
The most important feature Of the race
will be in me reduction OF the actual
riding time 80 eight hours per day. The
strain on the riders resulting from long,
continued ricing in the Madison Square
rnce was simply fearful, and it is very
doubtful whether there viii ever again be
a race OF such Furnishing duration.
Under the eight hour limit it is GER
tain that the races viii be closer and
infinitely more exciting TO the specta-
tors. Ned Reading, the soldier who
finished third in the Madison Square con-
test, expressed the opinion To Manager
Towers that the winner OF the race must
make at least 4 thousand miles during the
forty eight hours Of riding. That would
mean q three -nliurte rate of speed dur
ing the entire race, so it can be seen that
mo tagging is anticipated, and there will
very likely be seen Some OF the greatest
riding ever done IN amy race.
The races wiz begin each afternoon at
O'Clock and continue until 10 O'Clock
In the evening, without moments inter-
mission.
Promptly at 2 O'Clock on the afternoon
OF December rs the report OF the pistol
win start the racers on their great sprint
which Will continue until 10 O'Clock on
the evening of January 2.
The entries UP to the present time are