Evening star., 1896-12-28
SIX DAYS RACE
Start Of the Compositions in ths BIZ
cyple Contest.
SCENES TODAY Af CONVENTION HALL
Eleven Men. VIII Contest for the
Prizes and Money.
TEST OF NDURANcE

The big six-day race at the Ice Palace
commenced this afternoon at o'clock un-
der very auspicious circumstances. There
was large crowd of spectators present,
| and the liveliest kind Of interest was mani
Tested In the outcome. The riders were
welcomed cordially as they began on their
| long ride Of endurance. Each man feels
confident of winning. and the uncertainty is
| great For eight hours each day the men
will pedal at breakneck speed around the
wooden track, and the tremendous strain
will be kept up for six days. There will be
some riders who will undoubtedly be un-
able to Withstand the terrific strain, but at
the start the men are all feeling in the
pink of condition.
The English riders are confident they
will be eble to beat out the Americans, and
the latter feel equally confident they will
outmatch In every respect the riders from
across the ocean.
The scenes at the Ice Palace an hour be-
1cre the start Of the great race were ex-
citlng ana busy. Up to the time of starting
the mechanics were employed in putting
on the finishing touches to the great bowl
shaped track. The sound of the hammer
and the saw and the voices of the officials
nileo the air. Everybody was busy doing
some class of work.
Ihe foul line was painted In black around
the track. about two feet from the pole.
looking in all the world like border
around the wall Of a room. The general
public was not admitted to the hall until
half an hour before the start. There was
large crowd waiting, and as soon as the
gong rang there was rush to get choice
reserved seats.
Riders in COlOrs.
Fhe riders made a fine showing in their
colored suits. representing all of the colors
n fho aSrho
the track, they presented the appearance
OF moving Kaleidoscope.
The banking at the turns was so steep
as to give one the impression of flies walk
ing on the wall. Each rider had his num-
Der pinned on his back and side and the
corps of officials on the high stage in the
rear were Kept busy marking up the score
Q! the laps. There were six scorers and
timers. The audience increased steadily.
Teddy Hale Did Not Start.
Contrary to expectation, Teddy Hale, the
champion six-day go-as-you-please rider,
did not participate. He came to the city
yesterday. and his condition was none of
the best. His big ride at Madison Square
Garden practically killed him. He did not
think he had any show of winning, and
would not race. Ned Reading the soldier
poy rider who got third place at Madison
square Garden. did not start. He was all
came out of Bellevue Hospital during the
week, feeling anything but good. James
Johnsol another entrant, who made appli-
cation by telephone, did not start.
from the remarks of the racing men
there never was race in which the COM
petition was SO great. Unlike previous
events, the men in the race are all experts
and their riding bore this statement out.
Ihe men In the race are the finest riders
for long distance in the world and unlike
other events, the time limit is the great
bugbear
The pistol for the start was fired at .
O'Clock sharp by Eddie Ball. the champion
middle-distance racer OF this country The
riders anxious for the fray, were off like a
flash. Prior to the start they were given
the usual instructions in regard to riding
The racers with their numbers and colors,
are as follows: No. /. Charles W. Ashinger,
American. black and white: No. 2, Albert
3. Frank Waller. Germany, Q. c. Club,
white; No. 4. Charles Chapple, England,
chocolate and blue: No. 5, Fred Forster,
Germany, red. black and white; No. 6, AL
No Z, Harry H. Maddox, American orange
and black: No. 8. Frank Albert, American,
red. white and blue; No. 8, Dudley Marks,
England. blue: No. 10. George S. Ball,
American. blue and white; No. IL, John A.
Lawson, Sweden. red and white.
The officials for the race were published
in The Star Saturday. The temperature of
the Ice Palace was comfortable enough at
~
the worst and dressed in long suits Hale,
had he started would have represented
ireland and worn green riding suit.
Reading would have worn orange colors
and Johnson purple. the last two represent
ing this country. Hale will participate In
the exhibitions after 10 o'clock in the even
ing. when the big race ends for the day.
The Start.
1t was exactly 2:23 when the men started
out on their journey. Though an attempt
bad been made to start them earlier it
failed, owing to the question of arranging
the men. The start was finally made about
the center of the west stretch of the track
There were three men abreast, attending
four rows deep. There was no mishap and
the first attempt went off successfully
Asbinger, who rad the pole, started of
In the lead at a break-neck speed which
he maintained for nearly eight laps, Frank
Waller overtaking him. He in turn lost
the lesd to Hunter. who completed the first
mile in minutes and Oseconds Maddox
came second, Ashinger, third. and Shoch,
for rth. George F. Ball, the local rider, did
rot appear to be In good trim, and was
mile
Chapple, Marks and Maddox take turns
In the lead, and the second mile was first
msde by Maddox IN fraction over pa
minutes. Maddox also succeeded in win
ming the third mile, his time being about
23O. ' "'o"'
The manner In which the riders fairly
flew around the track gave the impression
to MANY of the spectators that II wouId he
impossible for them to keep up the terrific
speed John A. Lawson, the "terrihie
swede," won the admiration of all by his
riding. Shock also came in for a share of
the applause. and every time a new man
took the lead the audience checred.
Maddox made the first ten miles in OIL
minutes.
The standing of the men at 3 O'Clock WAS
as follows:' Hunter, II miles: MADDOX -
miles; Albert, IL miles; Marks i! miles.
Ball 12 miles: Lawson. 12 miles: Ashineer
l2 miles; Shocks .,d2 tniles; Waller, u miles:
Chappel IL miles, aid Foster, II miles.
Ehe Track.
Upon entering the large hall the track
Immediately atttacH the attention Of the
spectator. 1t is adbul}lt around the edge of
the large ice. sYEfacs. and gives, the whole
thing the appearances of large dish. when
looked at fromtthe balcony The skating
surface is go ~ lo5 feet. and the track is
built entirely arpund this in no wise inter
fering with the neiewsof the spectators. An
elliptical skating surface is left for those
who care to enjRy themselves In this man
ner. the dimenstonstof which are over 1SO
feet long by over I0nfeet across The pole
or inside edge Of theitrack, Is separated by
q few inches of boards from the ice sur
face and around the anffra Ip.f,7o a.. :.