Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-09-02
THE BICYCLE MEET.
An Interesting Event in Which First
Glass Talent COmpeted-GOod
Attendance,


occasions are a benefit to community
in more ways than one. They lend a
diversity to the commonplace sur
roundings of the passing day, call forth
an expectancy to the average citizen
and attract not a few visitors. Water
towns first attempt at managing a
series of bicycle races, while not howl
ing success financially, was very satis-
factory in other ways. The toWnspeo-
pie turned out in encouraging numbers,
but the gross attendance was not suffi-
cient to meet all the expenses, which
were necessarily quite large. Had the
track been nearer the heart Of the city
it is safe to say the venture would have
been ahead. AS it is there is small
deficit to be made up. The weather
both days was very favorable, although
the stiff breeze and dusty roads made
travelling to the grounds anything but
agreeable.
The first days races opened Friday
afternoon shortly after @ clock. Dur
ing the forenoon the business district
was lively with wheelmen and their
admirers, who arrived on the different
trains or who came in on their "bikes,"
but after the noon hour all roads lead
to the old fair grounds. Merchants and
clerks were on the grounds in force, all
the stores being closed by agreement
for the afternoon, but the male repre-
sentation was greatly outnumbered by
the fair ones, who in their light sum-
merry costumes lent an additional holi-
day aspect to the occasion. The at
tendance the first day was nearly 900,
including those who avoided entrance
by way of the gate and scaled the
fences. The track was pronounced ex-
cellent by the riders-one of the best
they had been on recently. The races
were run under the direction of Ref
cree Ben Park, of Madison, and passed
off without a hitch. Two slight acci-
dents happened, one being collision
in the local handicap between Radtke
and O'Brien and the other collision
between Becker, Weilep and Bingen-
heimer in the professional handicap,
the two latter being thrown. Perhaps
the most interest of the afternoon CEN
tered in the local race, and the riders
received friendly encouragement on all
sides. The finish between Wurtzler
and Zick was very exciting and close,
and as they crossed the tape there was
a difference of only a few inches be-
tween their wheels. In the final heat
of the professional open the contestants
were required to ride the second time,
as they failed to make the mile in the
time limit, 2:30. The following is the
summary of Fridays races:
One mile amateur open-Con Reinke Mil.
waulzee, ErsU; Anton Stolz, Milwaukee, second
J. f. Reitzner, Milwaukee, third. Time 3:O3 2-5
First prize, diamond stud, value $50; second
kodak S1G; third, gold watch chain, S5.
One mile professional open, final heat-II. NJ
johnson, OskalOosa Ia, first. Willie Sanger
Miwauke ee. second; H Kanaska, Milwaukee
third. Time 2;J0 2-25.
On account of slow time the Judges insisted
on running the race over.
One mile professional, final heat, paced by
Becker and McLain-L. NJ. Johnson, OskaIoosa
Ia, first; Il. A. Zerbel, Milwaukee, second; w
e. Kenyon Chicago, third. Time 1924 2-5.
First prize, gold coin S35; second gold coin
Sl5; third, gold coin, S19
Two mile amateur handicap-Anton Stolz
| Milwaukee, scratch, first: j F. Reitzner. Mil
waukee, scratch, second; Riley Millad, Lake
Mills, third. Time 5:22 1-5.
First prize, diamond stud value S25; second
bicycle suit, S12; third, bicycle shoes and boz
cigars.
Half mile amateur oman Con Painlza Mil
wauzee, first; Anton Stolz, Milwaukee second
Riley Millard, Lake Mills third. Time :26 4-5
First prize, smoking jacket, value, 80; sec
ond, gold watch chain. $5; third, cyclometel
and box cigars, So.
One mile local amateur handicap-A. Wurtz-
Ter, 35 yards, first; A. f. Zick, scratch, second
Ned Br1ckell, scratch, third. Time 2:44. II
the race O'Brien and Radtke collided, the lat.
ter being slightly injured.
First prize, pair M. & w. tires, value $40; Sec
ond kodak, S5; third, gold link cuff buttons So
Two mile professional handicap-John Muss
Milwaukee, IT'S yards, first; Willie Sanger Mil
Waukee, 45 yards, second; L. M. Johnson, Os-
kaloosa, Is., 35 yards, third Time 5;l4 3-5
First prize, gold coin, S35; second, gold coin
S15; third, gold coin, $40.
The attendance Saturday was about
600. Owing to the strong wind Ken
yon, of the Adlake team, Chicago, who
had expected to go against the state
record for one mile, gave up the plan,
feeling unequal to the task. The An
drae quad from Milwaukee made an
exhibition sprint of one-half mile in
1:07, and G. V. Dasey, of Madison, and
Riley Millard rode a half-mile on
tandem in 1:03. Exhibitions in trick
| riding were given by Prof. Austin, of
Florida. The local race again created
much interest, but the finish was not
as close as on the previous day, Zick
winning very handily. The finish in
the professional event was one of the
best of the meet. Following are Satur-
days summaries:
zone mile amateur 2: 40 class-H. L. Mack. IT
Atkinson, first; Joe Dolister, Burlington. sec
ond; j. M GUILTY, Sun Prairie third Time
3:34 2-5. Dolister rode under protest.
First prize, opera glasses, value $50: second
rams horn handle bar and Twentieth Century
lamp, $40; third, pneumatic saddle. 49,
One mile professional open-First heat
W. L. Becker, Chicago, first; W. F. Sanger.
Milwaukee, second; q. Kanaska, Milwaukee,