The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-05

O'NEILL h WINNER
He Is the Best Scorcher of
the Business MEMS
Cycle Club.
A GREAT ROAD RACE
List of Entries for St. Mary's In
slitute and the Interscholastic
Games Tomorrow.
! GREAT ROAD RACE

The first road race ever held in Jersey
City was decided yesterday over the
Boulevard, starting at Duncan avenue
and finishing at the Two Pines Hotel,
Bergen Point, a distance of seven miles.
The race was to determine the scorching
ability of the members of the Business
Mems Cycle Club. This organization is
composed of the most representative and
best-known men in Jersey City, an there
We're those among the contestants who
have held prominent places in the city
government for years. There were also
men who represented thousands of dol
lars in Jersey City real estate matters,
and there probably was never a race with
starters of such prominence as those who
sped away at the signal received from
George ID. Bushfield, who filled the posi-
ton of starter. On all parts of the course
people crowded to witness the race and
many hundreds saw some part of it along
the seven miles stretch of road covered.
Many wheelmen and others were at the
starting point, and those on bikes followed
in the wake of the racers over the entire
distance. 1t was a race of all weights and
ages, and a number of the contestants
tipped the scale at over 200 pounds. All
of the business men wore costumes of
light material, and having trained we'll,
were in it for a scOrch with anyone. The
contest was a hot one, and could not
have been more interesting or. better con-
tested had it been a race of champions
instead of novices who were making their
maiden effort to reach a prominent place
among the crack road rders of the coun-
try. No feature in connection with other
great cycle events was lacking yesterday,
and there was Just as much ENTHUSIASM
ana just as much cheering as might have
DaEn hRprd along thH nnlITGAl off Tho hi0
M1lhurn race. This was more noticeable
near the finish where the crowd was the
greeted with shouts of approval for their
perseverance in covering the distance.
The race was completed without accident
and after It was all over none showed
any signs of their effort, except in appe-
tlteS, which were of wonderful proper
ton when the dinner was announced.
me ut e4mpetitlon was fer a pretty medal
by Proprietor Beale, of the Two Pines,
and was the most costly trophy ever of
Tered for an event on the wheel in this
an even start, and F. Il. O'Neill forged
ahead at the firsa half mile, and was fifty
yard ahead on the second. Glose after
Fred Lyons. The pace was increased
at the fifth mile. and BY this time the
others pretty well strung out. O'Neill
was searching for all he was worth, and
simpson and Garrison were keeping him
at it. There was no let up, and when
Garrison, by a great effort, drew even
with ONeiH, the latter refused to let
him get away from him and hung on for
all there was in him. Garrison's long ex-
perience began to tell at this time, and
he gained steadily on the Others who
were making their wheels revolve with
great rapidity. and with the finish line in
sight Garrison made the last hill and
swept down it and over the finish line
with the speed of a race horse just as
O'Neill. who was leading, and Simpson
working hard to get his wheel in front,
reached the line only ten seconds apart.
John Heck was fourth and the others
arrived soon after, and the last to get in
was NJ. Snedeker, who received the leather
medal. In figuring the handicaps which
had been sealed until the finish, Paddy
ONeill, who had two minutes, won by ten
seconds from r. Simpson, who was second
and ]. Heck, who had three minutes, was
third, and Garrison, who finished first,
but had only one minute, was fourth.
After the result was announced the hun
cry racers swallowed their dinner and
Joined in congratulations for the victor.
Speeches were made by Judge J. Herbert
Potts, Alderman Vermsilye, who pre-
sided; City Marshal Graham. Finance
Commissioner John Pearson, William Y.
Garrison, P. H. O'Neill, the winner; J.
Snedeker. and 1.-THE News representa-
tive. The finish and the handicaps al
lotted the contestants follow