The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-07
MERTENs RIGHT \ IN LINE.
ONE-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP PICKED
OFF BY THE ST. PAUL
CRACKd
GARDNER THE HERO llE OF THE DAY
Paced Mile Made within Two
Fifths of the WORLDS Record
$50 Results of Races. s,-rt

city, before $4,000 spectators 1t was
the most successful in the history of
the organization, in attendance, good
racing and enthusiasm. Several state
records were smashed, and Arthur
Gardiner, the Chicago crack, came
within two-fifths4 of a second of break,
ing HamiItons worlds record for one
mile, paced He succeeded in lowering
the fast mile made by Johnny johnson
at Chicago. last year by four-fi fths of
second Gardiner was paced by two
quads, one loaded with Wenzel, the
Turville boys and Coburn, and the
other with W. E. Becker, Crooks and
Stenzer He crossed the line like a
flash and the time was caught beauti-
fully. He never ceased his pace until
the finish, made in 1889 3-5, breaking
the state record of AS 3-5 held by Earl
Kiser Starbuck also took a trial at
the record, paced by a quad and a
triplet. For the first half he made very
fast time, but lost with. the triplet. His
time was LA 3-5, also breaking Kiser's
record. ...1
Both these events followed the sched-
uled races for the day, In the latter
the honors among the professionals
were won by F. J. Loughead, of Sar-
MIA, Ont, who crossed the tape win
ner in three trials, two finals and Sec
ond man in a third final. In one of
these finals, the one mile professional,
he broke the state competition record
of 2:O4 As, by covering the distance in
2:03 3-5. He captured the one-quarter
mile championship in :32. -a'"
Among the amateurs the honors were
more evenly divided, with the best rae
ing done by Peabody, Johnson, hidden
dorf, Schade, Krick and Miller.
The day was PERFECTION racing and
the sun was not long up before hun
dreds of cyclists We're pedaling along
the historic and picturesque York road
toward Willow Grove, and even greater
numbers were taxing the railroad
trains and trolley cars to their utmost.
WHEELMEN UP EARLY.
Notwithstanding many of the visit
ing Wheelmen did not get away from
last nights smoker at the national
headquarters until nearly daylight,
most of them were UP early. The heat
from the sun was tempered by cool
nCrthwesterly breeze, and there was an
almost total absence of humidity. There
were early morning runs to League
Island navy yard at, the lower end of
Broad street, across Rope Ferry bridge
to Paschalville, Pa returning by the
way Of Woodland avenue, West. Phila-
delphia, tor Broad. street; where the
columns merged into the army Of VIII. ell
men who had gone through Paramount
park and the -Wissahickon drive and
the big scheduled run to the track be-
gan. When the head of the line reach
ed Old York road, four miles from
headquarters, there were many who
had not mounted their wheels
At the track all was hustle among
the racing men. johnny johnson, who
was hurt on Wednesday, was unable
to ride today, but will probably make
an effort to start tomorrow. The other
men were being rubbed down or were
taking preliminary spins on the track.
This was specially constructed for the
meet 1t is of wood, entirely surround.
ed by seats with a capacity or 70 OO0.
The trials began promptly at 3 O'clotk,
with several thousand spectators. At
12:40 there was a recess for lunch.
Meanwhile the seats were rapidly I'LL
ing and long before the hour for re-
Stunning, it was evident that the crowd
would be enormous. At j O'Clock the
track was cleared and racing began
| again, continuing until 6 o'clock, With
out the slightest hitch. During the
entire day there were but two or three
spills and nobody was hurt by. these.
Tonight. Willow Grove park was
given over to the wheelmen and the
visitors saw exhibitions of trick and
fancy riding, a display Of fireworks
| and a general good time. Tomorrow
| promises to be the banner day, and
the seating capacity of the track will
be taxed to the utmost. The races Will
begin at O'Clock under the same offr
Gals. with the exception that eX-Chalr-
man of the Racing Board Gideon will
be relieved by Albert Mott, of Baltl-
more, the present chairman, as referee.
The summary Of todays events fol-
lows:
MILE CHAMPIONSHIP.
Mile, POS class, professional, run in five
heats. first two to qualify
First Heat-The pace was slow and on the
last lap Clinton w. Davis crossed first; Nat
Butler hunted him down. however, and came
down in the stretch even with Barney Old
field, but crossed first by narrow mar
gin, Oldfeld second. Time, 2:52 %.
and finished F. L. Fitchner first, w. E: Beck
er second. Time. PAP. Time limit in this
heat of 2:3O. Referee decided no race and no
run over.
Third Heat-Pop. Dampman led the fed and
landed an easy winner. Major Taylor the
colored lad, from Cambridgeport. Mass,
second. Time, 2:3S. Time limit of 2:SO and no
race and no run over.
Fourth Heat-The line jumped away at the
crack of the pistol and kept rafting good
pace all around. F. A. Mcfarland won L.
Fifth Heat-This was a splendid race
throughout A. c. Mertens jumped away
from the bunch and maintained an easy lead.
crossing winner by 80 yards. In the bunch
there was continual shifting of positions
and it was a dead heat between Fred Titus
and Fred Simms for second. Time. 2;1o 1-5.
Final Heat-Starters, Mertens, Mcfarland,
Nat Butler Titus, Simms, Callahan and
oldfed: Mertens had the pole. There was
one false start. At the second attempt they
were gotten off. Oldfeld Jumped from the
outside to the pole, directly following the
pace maker at rapid pace. Titus fell out
in the first lap. Odfe.d held the lead into
the stretch, when Mertens and Butler came
up. The three men raced abreast to the tape.
Mertens crossed the line winner by about
3 feet Butler was second and Simms third,
with Mcfarland fourth" Time, eli.
TWo-TwENTY LIMIT.
ed into four heats. First two in each heat to
qualify. Time limit, 2:2OiC
First Headlight Starters. Eddie Aker,
Philadelphia. led the push for two laps with
Arthur Gardiner at his heels. At the tape
the cracks went OUT for splace and Major
Taylor showed his mettle by gallant squirt
with the other riders ALI close up. The
major made great race to the finish when
Fred Eoughead. of SarR:an Ont, lifted his
wheel and crossed the. line a winner by six
inches, the colored by second. Time, 2:14 is.
Second Heat-Johnny Johnson, who was
entered in this event, was still too stiff to
starters The men set a good pace. Howard
Z. Mosher, Boston, won, w. c.. Sanger, Mil
waukee' second. Time, 2I6.
Third Heat-There were eight starters
The bunch was slow in starting off, but soon
got down to work and ran one of the fastest
heats of the day. Eddie Bald Buffalo made a
great squirt and landed winner, l.. A. Gala
han, Buffalo second. Time, 213
Fourth Heat--Eight starters The men