The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-10
THE SIX DAY RACERS.
Remarkable Endurance Of the Cy-
cling Champions in New York.
THEIR BRAINS MAY BE AFFECTED

An Onicial Of the Board of Health De-
clnres the Exhibition Brutal and
Dangerous, But Police SEQ No Cause
For Interfering with the Contest.
New York, Dec. 1G.-iIale's record
for 1896 will look ridiculous when this
years figures in full will be placed up
against it, In this contest Hale has
putstripped his own figures. and was
"a miles ahead of them at 81 hours.
Last year he had 1.S06 miles to his
credit, and last night lie had covered
1880.
Stephane, the French rider. from
whom SO much was expected, was
officially declared out of the race last
night. He had not been on the track
since morning. He was thoroughly ex-
hausted.
Miller seems to be absolutely tire
less on the wheel. He is fast approach
Ing the automatic state. His eyes
stare straight ahead. and We're 1t not
for his occasional great spurts he would
seem to be lost to all consciousness.
Hale and ,Elkes are looming as dark
horses" They are the freshest men on
the track, with the advantage in favor
of the Glens Falls youth, who still cuts
Nace that the rest of the bunch
find 1t hard to keep UP with. He has
had over 20 hours sleep since the race
started, and lots of speed is left in him
yet.
Hale astonished the throng when,
along about $3.50 last evening. he began
to spurt. He looked as if he had just
gone into the race and rode along for a
while at exhibition speed. He Is show
Ing great form. Gus Burgland, Millers'
trainer, says that the leaders condi-
tion is improving greatly as the hours
roll by.
The motion of the wheel is begin
ming to affect the riders brains, and
even in the fitful snatches of sleep
which they allow themselves they i'm
agine they are still riding. The men
must be forced to sleep in most in
stances by the trainers. They want to
be up and away at the pace which has
shown no tagging since the start.
This Is most plainly evinced in Mil
ler's case. With more than SO miles in
the lead of the second best man he Is
anxious and insists upon sticking to
the track Not only that. but he spurts
whenever any one offers him chance.
He is Jealous of every lap made by the
others, and is fearful lest during an
interim of rest his lead will be stolen
from him. AS matter of fact he could
spend three hours on his cot without
serious loss but his trainers cannot
convince him Of that.
hn >f tI,o
is best shown by the actual time spent
in sleep by the leaders. Miller had slept
just one hour and six minutes in the
first u hours of the race. Rivierre rode
1,124 miles without a wink of sleep, and
he then took two hours. Waller had
slept three hours, Rice five hours,
Moore six hours Pierce six and half
hours, Golden nine and three quarters
hours and Stephane seven hours in the
same time. Elkes made 1000 miles in
the first 72 hours, despite the fact that
he had slept 20 hours.
Henry Steinert, counsel to the board
of health Of this city, speaking about
the bicycle race, said:
ut is a brutal exhibition, and should
be discontinued forthwith. 1t is not
scientific exhibition. but one in which
sheer brute fufce prevails. IF II can De
proven to the board of health that 1t is
detrimental to the life and health of the
participants, then the board can step In
and stop it."
DR.. Edward W. Martin, of the health
board, speaking on the same subject,
said mo horse or locomotive in the
New York Central could do what the
men in the race have done up to the
present time. The participants can
never recover form the effects of the
strain, and I would not be surprised
If some of them do not become raVing
maniacs before Saturday night
Police Inspector Brooks. with several
police surgeons, visited the Garden last
night and made a thorough inspection.
They said that they found no cause
for complaint, and that interference
would be unwarranted
The score of the leaders at 2:15 a. m.
was: Miller, 1905: Rice, 1921; Rivierre.
1922; Schnneer, 1,487; Waller, 1,412;
Moore, laps; Hale, 1,iO2; Pierce, 1872;
Elkes, 1,2S6E; Golden. 1855; Enterman,
l,251R; Cannon, 1,211; KIM, 1,1SS; Ju-
illus, iii. Miller was 2S4 miles and 4
laps ahead of the record for 9S hours.