The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-27
TILL THEIR DYING DAY
sExTUPLET RIDERS WILL RENEM-
BER SATURDAYS FEARFUL RACE.
Started to Beat the Empire Express
and Caught on the Track by the
Lackawanna Train.

SYRACUSE, n. Y. July 26.-But for the
kind intervention of Providence six corpses
in orange racing suits would now be lying
in the morgue the result of an effort made
by E. c. Stearns & Co. to race their fam
Gus sextuplet against the Empire state
express over a mile stretch of cinders near
the Solvay company's works yesterday af-
ternoon.
The few people who were apprised of the
fact that this big six-seated machine would
try a half mile dash against the fastest
train in the world considered the enterprise
impossible and even secuted the idea. r.
c. Stearns & Co. had made careful prepara-
tions for the event Friday. but rain
spoiled the plans. Early yesterday after
noon the sextuplet was trundled up West
Genesee street, and the residents along the
route began to wonder what was to be eel
ebrated. Few had any idea OF the plans
in mind or the awful experience the riders
were destined 10 pass through before they
reached the corporate limits of the city
again.
Frank j. Marion. editor of the Yellow
Fellow. originated the plan, and had Ar
thur p. Yates official photographer OF the
New York Central railroad company. on
hand to take a picture of the spectacle
when IL was produced. The time tables of
the Central had been carefully invesu
that no freights or other trains would pass
that way.
Now. the Empire State winds around
fair-sized curve before it reaches the level
stretch and the engineer usually allows
the iron horse to take it's head at this
point. Mr.. Marion had a man stationed at
the curve and at given signal that of
waving flag the men were to slowly get
in action. At last the fateful moment
and slowly but symmetrically, the twelve
legs began 10 move with mathematical
precision. Faster and faster went the ped
ais as the riders with ducked heads and
compressed breath strove to put every iota
of strength and muscle into the effort.
They were deaf TO all shouts. the one
ambition OF every man on the machine
being to beat the Empire State express
I'm that short dash if il were possible for
human beings TO accomplish the under
taking.
But Mr.. Marion and others had per-
efeiy,ed the approach OF a Delaware,
opposite track directly in the path of
the sextupiet. This road had not been
taken into consideration when the plans
were made. and consequently ii threw the
small assemblage into CONSERVATION. Wild
cries rang out on the air. Hats and coats
were waved aloft TO attract the attention
of the riders, but they saw nothing but the
cinders that were ground under the wheels
of the lightning Sextuplet. Faster and
faster came the Empire State and its RI
val. Huge volumes of smoke were going
up from the smokestacks and they were
striving by might and main to gain the
v. a
Stearns sextuplet riders. No one ever
imagined that q man on the wheel would
escape utter annihilation. Destruction
seemed inevitable.
A circumstance saves the lives of all. At
the last moment. when the spectators de-
SPARED of seeing the riders appreciate the
situation, Robert Darling. who occupied
the rear seat. turned his head and COM
pretended in moment. Although the SEX
tuplet was demolishing the air at terrific
rate of speed there was not moment to
lose. Black and threatening the huge en-
gine lowered above. 1t was lightning
thought Quicker than he had ever moved
before Darling jumped from the flying ma
chine and with strength he never knew he
possessed literally hurled the bicycle on its
side in a shout of warning directing the
other men to jump for their lives. Not a
moment was to spare. 1t all happened in the
twinkling OF an eye. but Providence exert
ed its power and the trains sped by the
at the side of the tracks and thanked
heaven for the succor that had been sent
them
Darling was badly scraped about the
arms and several OF the other men were
bruised about the limbs. Mr.. Marion In
comenting on the averted disaster. said:
alive again They would have been hedged
in between the two trains and certainly all
of them would have been killed When /
think of the affair now ii makes me shud-
der. never want To witness such specta-
| Gle again..
An hour later the men had recovered
| sufficiently to ask for another trial and
they were pitted against the fast mail
which leaves the city shortly after 2 o clock
They were nervous from the effects of
their previous experience but maintained
enough speed to hod their own with the
express for half mile. Mr.. Yates secured
three excellent pictures and they will short
| up hopes of matching the sextuplet against
! the Empire State express and will try some
Delaware. Iackawanna & Western train
will interfere.