The San Francisco call., 1896-05-17

prove particularly fast but the races were
close and exciting, and, from spectators
point of view, the small track was all that
could be desired.
The professional events were OF course,
the best, and in the afternoon the final
heat in the one-mile scratch, in which
Wells, the Bay City crackajack. beat Ter
rill, Coulter and Davis, was one of the best
races ever seen on a California track.
Wells also beat Walter Foster of the Olym-
pic Club in the final of the mile handicap
later in the day.
The evenings events were run under the
glare of electric lights, and a sufficient
number of them were distributed about
the grounds to light them almost as bright
as day. The wind which prevailed in the
afternoon died down towards evening, aud
the night events were, therefore, much
faster than those of the day time. The
grand stands at the park are com mmodIous
and well protected, and the audience did
not feel the wind or cold in the evening.
OF course the "only" Wilbur Knapp was
there to announce the results OF the events
through his knapaphone," and Referees
Welch and Plummer, Sta rters Fawoett and
Lennie, and other League of American
Wheelmen officials controlled the running
OF the various events.
The racing in the afternoon commenced
with mile scratch professional event for
which there were score of entrants. The
race was divided into four heats and a
final. In the first heat Foster (Olympic),
Siaver of Portland, Terrill (Bay City, and
Campbell of Spokane started. 1t was a
pretty ride from the start. The men alter
mated in making the pace, and at the be-
ginning of the last lap Campbell led. Ter
riil, who was second, fought it out with
him and beat him half wheels length at
the tape. Time, 2:33 As.
In the second heat Wells (Bay City, and
Osen Olympic Cyciers) were the only
starters, Mcfarland (San JOSEF and Ed.
wards (Olympic) being scratched. Osen
stole march on Wells on the fifth lap
and neafly beat him out, but the .'boy
wonder" had sufficient sprint left to pass
him before they crossed the tape. Time,
2:36 2-5.
There was fine field of starters in the
third heat, comprising Long tBay City,,
Davis and Jones (Olympic) and Byrne
Umperia). Long was forced to set the
pace for three laps, as none of the others
would take it. Davis came up on the
fourth, with Byrne alongside, and Jones
still held back. On the last lap Davis had
the lead, and Long took second. They
finished in that order, in the rather slow
time of 2:50 As. Byrne rode wild on the
last bank and nearly threw himself and
Jones. but the latter recovered sufficiently
to finish good third.
Clinton Coulter, the crack Fastener
McCrea of Los Angeles and Russell Cush
ing Garden City, rode the fourth heat
McCrea jumped away from the others Oh
the fifth lap and gained a lead of several
yards. 1t looked like his heat, but he
could not hold the pace, and Coulter beat
him easily at the finish. Time 2:39 As.
This brought into the final heat quar-.
ter of the fastest riders in the country
Terrill and Wells representing the Bay
City Wheelmen and Coulter and Davis the
Olympic Club Wheemen. They lined uI
in that order on the tape, and the audieno c
sas all excitement as the starters pisto
ing out and the men shot off. Davis sci
pace for two laps, and made it SO hot
AT the crowd yelled its disapproval
nen Coulter came up and made it bill
.lSter Terrill went up on the fourth
with Wells following him, and the sprint
for home began right then. The four me Il
fought it out for the remaining two laps
nd the giant Wells had all the best of 1t
He got the lead on the last hall OF the
fifth and kept il to the end, winning amid
deafenlng applause in 2:3S 4-5. The Other
Bay City man, Terrill, was gooo second