Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-07
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE.
10000 People See the Men Start In Madi.
son Square Garden.

New York Dee. 6.--Twelve thousand
people saw the start of the six days BIZ
cycle race at Madison Square Garden. to-
night Thrty-six of the 40 and odd en-
frances went over the line when Starter
Eddie Bald fired the pistol at 12.15 A. NJ.
They rode i'm nine columns four men
each, with Teddy Hale. the holder of the
worlds record for six days. made over
the same course last year. In the lead.
Previous to this and while the great
house was filing up. there was plenty Of
variety to the entertainment. Midget
Michael. who was scheduled to try for
the mile indoor record, went instead two
miles and tied his own indoor record
made at Chicago OF 400 20
Michael was paced by two tandems and
triplet The first mile was done in
1.59 20 and the second in 2.O3.
But the spectators waited patiently for
the pistol shot that would send the big
riders away ON their six days of grinding.
on the journey than which there is none
more exciting at the start or distressing
at the finish.
On the lineup they made an array that
was as imposing as ii was varied In ma
tionality and appearance. Each of the
competitors was adorned with a sash of
the colors selected by him for the race.
In most cases these colOrs were those rep
resenting the nationality of the rider and
therefore was most picturesque.
Teddy Hale was in the front row of the
racers and. true to his colors. wore a
sash of green. He rode an English wheel
Next to Hale in line was Joe Rice, the
Wilkesbarre boy. who when Hale won
the championship in 1896 and made that
heartbrea king 1900-mie record, was but
20 miles behind. He appeared In magni-
ficent condition and many picked him for
the winner His colors were red and yell
low.
Albert Schoch. the war horse of many
hard battle, afoot and on the wheel
respondent in black and old gold. took
his position next to the Coal Miner and
was loudly cheered.
CASTOR Rivierre "the old man of
France was in the front rank and
looked as If he indeed might have been
the father of the group. Green and black
were his colors. Just back of Hale in the
second row was Rred Schinecr. the husky
Chicago boy. who took Halc's measure In
the Chicago race. last winter. He wore
green and red. Next to him was Maurice
T. Won Den Eyn, the Belgian. better
known by his first. name. In black
Near Maurice was Stephane. one of the
most renowned long distance riders i'm
Europe. and. like Rivierre. his fellow
countryman. an unknown quantity on an
indoor track. Stephanc was brilliant In
red. white and blue.
Other riders We're c. W. Miller Of Chi
cago. T. A. Barnaby of Boston. Oscar
Julius of Sweden. Ned Reddng, the sol
der cyclist of Omaha, Neb., and Frank
Waller the Dutchman of the West. Har-
ley Davidson. the Canadian cha NIPPON,
was the last In the line.
From the start the men rode as IL they
had only n dozen miles to go. but this
cannot last. Moderation will rule sooner
of later. Titus and Maurice. however. say
they will keep up heartbreaking gait
as long as they can stand il. But the
race is from now until Saturday night
next, and at the best there viii be but
little rest for those in the field who ex-
pect 10 get a part of the stake of 1909.
After the first lap. Rice went to the
front and mt the end of the mile ne was
in the lead having gone that distance in
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