The San Francisco call., 1896-07-25

stand show for the professional cham
pionship of America, to be contested at
Springfield in Septemb Der. They are Bald,
Cooper, Sanger, Ziegler, Tom Butler and
Gardiner. Some think l should include
Ray Macdonald and John S. johnson in
this list but the former has not ridden
since he returned from Paris, so we have
no lire on his form, and Johnson is now
in England and may not get here in time.
In this connection, have just received
long letter from r. p. Aylward, the trainer
of Otto Ziegler Jr., the California cham
pion now on the National racing circuit.
Aylward tells of their travels, the condi-
ton of the men, ana altogether indites
such an interesting epistle, l give it here
in its entirety:
CHICAGO, July 13, 1896.
MI H. W. Spdldfng, Cycling Editor Of THE
CdL San Francisco: Your letter of the 23d
ult. reached me at Appleton, after having
chased around for several days.
In my last letter to you from San Antonio
believe the intense heat of that place was
mentioned. Well, it was hot there, but will
tell you later on where it was still hotter. Re-
garding the races 81 San Antonio-of course
every racing man is anxious TO win his first
race on the National Circuit-Ziegler made a
very game attempt in the mile open, and al
though he did not win he pushed Gardiner
very hard. The five-mile open, which Otto
won, was declared off, the referee claiming
there was team work practiced. There was no
team work done and none of the other riders
Claimed so, but the referee. who, by the way,
admitted he had never seen any racing before,
declared it off. We entered protest against
his decision and feel sure that the racing
board will allow this race.
The circuit chasers visited every place of i'm
portance In town and surrounding coun try,
aud very lively appearance did they make
The boys from the coast were dressed in the
real Mexican costume. Large sombreros and
the oid-style trimmings worn by the inhabi-
tants in years past, while our team was logged
out in new sweaters of blue with white trim
1IF1crc a md ha too
The old "Alamo," an historical building
made up of rock and adobe, with walls four
feet in thickness, was one of the most interest
ing points OF attraction. II was in this that
Davy Crockett with 170 of his soldiers met
their death at the hands of the Mexicans The
building is well preserved to-day, part of it be-
ing used for business purposes and part as
relic of the Mexican War.
Next came Laredo, city with population
of about IL 600, of which about 1900 are Eng
disappearing people. Here we felt the heat
most intense. The hotel was very poor, and
we were hu stled in, four in very small room.
Good food is scarcity, and what we did get
we paid well for. At night the boys instead of
sleeping in the rooms would take mattress and
sheet, go out on the porch and make them
selves as comfortable as possible in the open
air. AS fol myself there was no comfort for
where it was cooler the MOSQUITOES were so
numerous that one had to keep moving all the
while or be eaten up, and somehow they had
great liking for my blood. Again. during the
day, it would get so hot that we could not
move without being almost burnt up
The track, so-called-a quarter mile-was
very poor-banked about four feet The earth
making the banking on the turns was dug up
from the outer circle of the track, leaving a
very dangerous cut or ditch all around the
turns The surface was fast, however, and
that with the exceedingly warm climate &C
counts for the good time made IN the races
Otto started in one event-the mile open
but called him off, as he very poorly
placed, being at the tail end of the string, with
no possible chance OF getting up, as the riders
kept switching all over the track. He was
called out to do an exhibition quarter, and
made a very good ride, doing the distance
with flying start, in % 2-5 seconds.
Bob Ierr1n put mp very good race in the
mile open, and ran Gardiner close second
Clifford Coulter describes the heat of Laredo
In most emphatic way. We were all installed
In tents for training quarters, and the sun
beating through the canvas top seemed to in
crease 1t about tenfold. Clifford had stood his
brothers wheel outside while he was arrang-
Ing the tent inside and sprlnkling the surface
to keep down the dust. 1t was only for a fe w
minutes, but when finished with this ne went
for the wheels. and found that the grips on the
handle bars were loose aud the cement boiling
out from between the rim and tire. This is a
fact, Tor all OF us had about the same expert
ence.
At evening all hands went across the river
into Mexico, where many OF the BOYS pur-
chased trinkets of some kind. The smokers
OF the party took advantage of the opportunity
and laid in supply of good cigars They were
bought very reasonable and no duty to nav
Glad we were 10 leave Laredo and back again
TO San Antonio, where We had good bath
Then for Galveston.
Here everything was more pleasant, al
though it was Still hot. We put up at the
Beach Hotel, which fronts on the gulf and
occasionally cool breeze sprung up l need
not mention the results OF the races, as your
readers are already posted on them
We enjoyed an hour or SO in the surf at t his