New-York tribune., 1897-12-08
THE srRAIN AppRoACHING ITS WORST.

THE STRAIN APPROACHING lis WOf9o1'
OF the thirty-six riders who started out on sun
day night only eighteen are left IN the struggle.
This number will be further reduced to-day. In all
probability. Most Of those who are able TO Win
stand the strain until Thursday morning. unless
an accident or death intervenes will remain IN the
race 10 the end. This will be the trying day Tor
the weary pedallers, the hardest OF the week i'er
tonight they will become more or less machines
Their brains will have become clogged. ana they
will become less sensitive to suffering.
Last night the men pedaed around the track
suffering mental and physical agony with every
pressure on their pedals They will suffer more to-
day. and after that partial insensibiiy TO pain Will
come on and muscular force alone VIII do the rest
Then the weary plodders will follow that magic
black line a yard from the pole-folow IT, and that
Is all not knowing why they do II. and caring less
Last night some Of the riders presented really
healthy and happy appearance but the hush on the
faces OF some Of them did not indicate either health
or contentment. II the flush which mounts 10
the cheeks o. the athlete Just ne IS finishing the
last few yards Of a terrible sprint. when every
nerve and muscle has been strained 10 the utmost
and collapse Is near at hand. All have seen 1t who
have attended athletic meetings. and 1t Is the sign
which the trainer fears the most The outside pub
lie which does rot watch closely In such things.
see the pale-faced whirling around the track
bent over their handle bars. and expect them 10
collapse at any moment These. however. are the
men who are in the struggle. and who will remain
IN II to the end
Occasional spurts by the riders invariably rouse
the onlookers to loud applause This occurs always
a. the band strikes up a lively tune. Music. GER
tainly has charms, and IL has. as we'll. nerve
strnulant for the riders in the race They are al
ways at their best In appearance and speed when
the crowd Is the greatest and the music the loud
est. Music and applause are powerful stimuant
to the poor fellows. And poor fellows they may be
called. for a who not poor could not be
-
sTEPHANE's WONDERFUL ENDURANCE.
s,ephane. the plucky Frenchman. who looks like
death but who promises TO finish near the front
barring accidents. has made a wonderful record
He rode 270 miles before he left his wheel. The
best previous record was made by Reading IN the
race last year. when he finished 260 miles without
dismounting. People who see stephane at different
times In the Gay or night always express wonder at
his continued grind and speed While he looked at
one moment II he would collapse. the next hour
he has regained all Of his wonted spirit. and is
going around the track with little exertion as
he ala hour after the race started.
At different times Of the day and night Waller
etephane and the Chicago man. Miller. divided the
honors Of leadership. Waller became fractions
early In tho day. and almost refused to go
Mrs Waller. who knows the weaknesses Of her
husband. called In. She prescribed copious
doses Of doughnuts. crullers and other dainties.
This mess gave Waller an attack Of hiccoughs. and
the German was In a sorry plight Billy Muir
ply. his old trainer to his rescue. and Waller
was got into shape. and was soon spinning around
the track again. Still. his chances for winning are
not considered good by the experts
Hicks. the South Brooklyn competitor has the
sympathy Of his friends. This young man has
been compelled to leave the track on account OF
water on the knee His physician positively refused
TO allow him to continue. saying that II he did
the chances were that his leg would have to be am
putated. Hicks lay on his couch all the afternoon
bewaing his hard luck and refusing TO go to sleep.
When asked TO do so ne replied that he did
not feel sleepy that he felt stronger In his
life and that he felt we'll enough to keep riding
for another week without sleep rest Hicks fell
from his wheel year ago and broke his leg. and
hts present condition is indirectly due to tho old
trouble
Miller going strong, In the lead at o'clock
has. night, and 1t was announced that he had COW