Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-03-07
THE CYCLE HERO.

mile nalu1Cup cycle road race ana .
sham battle of one Of the two regiments
which the city supported. Plumbettville
is not the true name for the place, for
if it were too many might place the
characters in this tale, the subject of
which is Cf recent occurrence. Plumbett-
vile had prospered much Of late years
Financial depression had touched it
probably more lightly than any other
city III the country. The census showed
an increase of population, and the town
laughed with its prosperity. Cycling
had more than kept pace with the gen
Cral advance. A fortunate smooth pave
ments crusade i'll the city was followed
i'll the county by good roads mania.
With good streets and good roads there
came many beautiful suburban resorts
to which Wheelmen We're always well
come. Then there was fine park with
many driyeWays and IL lake surrounded
by mile of cycle track as fine as any
thing outside of q regular affair. On
these reads all bicycles We're as free as
any other vehicle, with the result that
the sport grew apace
The cycle race was the uppermost top
ic of conversation in Plumbettville.
There had been cycle races before, but
never ono that promised so we'll in point
of attendance and enthusiasm. The
events that had gone before but whetted
the desire to know more of the local
ners.
There was one thing that bothered
the meet promoters, and that was that
Colonel Cottontop had set the time for
his troops to rendezvous at exactly the
hour that the race was to start. He was
demonstrated with, but being an old
timer and set in his ways he refused to
change his order. He would be shot be-
fore he would change the arrangement
Of his command for all the bicyclers in
Christ tendon.
The unfortunate part Of it was that
the sham battle would rage over por-
ton Of the territory used i'll the cycle
race. This section was the most popular
of Plumbottville's suburbs and with
reason. Two roads paralIeled each other
for several miles with Il distance of not
over 200 yards between them. One was
an old pike that lead to the west and
the other q Gnely niucadamized driving
road lined with suburban homes and re-
sorts. 1t lead out through the park and
was the chosen ropte Of all on bicycles
or horses. BY means of the two roads
and those iutersecting, an excellent par
allelogHam could be obtained for the cy-
Gle race, and here it would be held. If
the regiment assembled at the same
time as the calling Of the race, it was
argued by some that the race would be
run of long before the soldiers could
reach the grounds. This would also
was shrcwdly added-2ive zest to tho
cycle race, as the fight of the soldiers
might be seen at nearly the same time
So it came about that neither the cyclcrs
nor the soldiers changed the time for
their great event.
The training was done on the lake
dive, and mighty earnest training it
was, too, even if the latest plans We're
known somewhat mistily, Here, by
break Of day, came the fliers, all dressed
in street clothing. At the base of a stone
tower they took these off, disclosing
their racing togs beneath. Here they
scorched and jockeyod for an hour.
Then they again got into their other
clo, hing and went to their days work
on business Again i'll the eventide they
went through The same routine, so that
it is evident that they We're of the white
amateur stripe
One of the Young men in the party
h,l 4 10
was Il student on his long summers
holiday. IL addition to this, he had a
doting father who had pat him on a
part Of the great circuit, as the old gen
tloman thon2ht him a sure winner
While he never succeeded much in this,
yet he made Il plucEy showing, satisfy
ing his senior Ii this young man,
whom we will call Smaley, could win
such great event at home, his father
would feel that his money had been we'll
invested.
Another potable one of those i'll train
ing was Charles Fastleigh. Fastleigh
was naturally the fastest man, but he
had disadvantages that probably made
Smaley his better, thought the boys.
Fastleigh Was mechanic, and he was
handicapped by the muscle bound trOu-
Bile. His great forte was his staying
power. Fast leigh had won races before,
but always by setting a killing pace at
the start and with remarkable ability
keeping i; to the finish. Smaley. on the
other hand, was bad pace setter, a
good hanger On, and devil for short
spurt Now to squirt was quite impossi-
bic for Faatleigh, as most any of the
boys could pass him if they could hold
on without going flat until the last
eighth.
All said the race lay between Fast
leigh and 5maley and all We're nightly
interested. Fastleigh and Smaley lived
on the road along which the race would
pass. Iheii homes were about four
miles from the center of the city. In
the evening, after training, they would
srowly ride home. The subtle quiet Of
the country as they entered was delight
iul and often i'll the sweet moonlight
they would talk over their prospects.
Strange as it may seem each Of these
men was willing that the other should
win. Here We're il modern David and
Jonathan. To show how substantial
was the feeling, each did his best to
bring ont all the speed III the other,
Smaley had been teaching Fastleigh
quite Il little sprint and FaStlCegh Ia
bored long with Smaley getting his