The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-12
CONCERNING The WHEEL.
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE
RECENT RELAY RACE.
How Reno Treated Sacramento
What Sacramento Did in Re-
turn-Reasons for "Mishaps."

oo12 miles measurement, between the
Capital City Wheelmen Of Sacramento
and the Reno Wheelmen, took notes OF
careful observation of what was one OF
the most singular and enthusiastic and
altogether remarkable races awheel
ever held on the coast. Our views OF the
race differ somewhat from those set
forth in the telegraphed reports.
In the first place the Reno club is the
Prince Of hosts. For downright plump
and around ideal royal hospitality that
club over in the sage brush cannot be
equalled. They received their twenty
seven visitors from California with open
arms, took care of them during all their
stay, permitted them to contract no no.
tel bills, fed and lodged the OUTFIT OF
twenty-seven men and constituted the
club guardians Of the visitors in a way
Incompatible for broad heartiness.
The whole city followed the example
of the club Every door was open, ali
the people the strangers met smiled
welcome: nothing in the way of re-
freshment was missing from offers by
hosts TO guests. The city itself was alive
with gaiety, modest and becoming, no
whooping and yelling, but the Reno
wheelmen colors were everywhere.
Through all the community there was
manifest perfect confidence in the local
club. LOYAL TO II as we have never
seen a community leal to local con-
Germ before, they had more than faith
in their home boys They smiled on the
Sacramentans, but back of it was
quiet other smile, beaming through.
Poor fellows. What a pity you should
come so far to be done up
AS the Sacramento lads painted after
a brisk walk or a little preliminary ex-
ercise awheel the Renoites put up their
hands. commisseratingly saying, "Oh,
do not mind that. It's all
right when you get used
to it." And then they smiled know
ingly at one another. But it was all in
offensive and the Capital City men SAID
nothing but, "Why, of course you will
do US; up here we can't get the wind,
you see We do not expect to win.
And then the Remote smiled the more.
Really it was worth a double trip over
the mountains to see those Reno people
broaden their faces in hearty welcome
and confidence in the ability OF their
own treasured boys to wipe the alkal1
plains drier yet with the garnet, black
and old gold of the valley.
But be it said that Captain Hawcroft
of the Reno team had less faith to an
nounce than the outsiders. Full OF bus
iness and push, charged with host OF
duties in welcoming, entertaining ana
at the same time commanding all the ar
rangements for his own team, he was
a host in himself; a great, generous man
with hand and heart big with honest
hospitality. But he never boosted. he
said, Il have a good team, splendld
boys; but you of California are prac-
ticed: you have been there so often,
and-weIl we are new at the ropes; we
have not your experience; we do not
come into contact with great riders from
afar: we are off on one side: we VIII
win il we can. but have no horns 10
blow. We are very proud of the nope
our people have for us, very proud OF
their splendid loyalty to our colors' but
a wheel race is never over until II Is
ended. We know that much"
When the 300 people who came out
to the race had filled the grand stand
and the quarter course, and the very
long line of buggies and carriages
spread out on either hand far away and
the band struck up and the University
bows. massed in front, chorused to the
pe,ople shouted and waved their colors-
They roared with excess Of enthusiasm
as Snare came on the track, and the
Californians' hearts sank within them.
A great straddling giant of fellow on
q oe gear long stroke, and with muscles
of steel and lungs that could take into
themselves all the air the Capital Citys
were longing for.
nitted against him. Why Snare could
have nut Tommy into his waistcoat
nocket and have lost him. But the Sac
ramento boy led out. and away they
went like arrows at a splendid clip, but
at the eighth Snare faltered; something
was awry with his toe clip, and he took
mace the rest of the way, whether he
wanted To or not. There was little SHIFT
inc until the tape was passed at the
mile and then away went Snare into
+ha fence wheelless, and no relay wheel
FOR him at hand.
THAT was where the Renoites were
vrealx-in management, in foresight.
They had no relief at hand. But a
vani+al City wheel stood by and the
Remote had to mount the enemy ma
Chime TO finish his second. On his third
he got his own wheel again, but ali
this time mild Tommy was playing
along the track and picking field DAISIES
at leisure. He took every one OF the
miles and closed the really five miles
in 1891 If Snare had pushed him
harder. splendidly as he rode, the Tom
my lad would have attended to business
and have put the figures down, With
out the seconds. or less, perhaps.
-r,a+ Is the axact truth about the
first mishap, except for which, the
Reno people say, our men would nave
won" Not so; Snare might have paced
Tommy the whole five miles, and never
could have shaken him off. Albeit,
Tommy was awfully cut up by rare
air. He wanted oxygen as no young
man ever did before who was not
ready 10 die. The air was practically
still. and that made it worse. Agi-
tated air would have been breatheo
more easily.
In the next relay. Shaver for Reno
closed up much of the gap Tommy had
cut out He rode splendidiy; indeed,
all the Reno riders are capital wheel
men. How a club OF thirty members
can develop ten as good riders is amaz-
ing. The Capital Citys have 800 MEM
bers, and cannot muster over twenty
flyers fit for relay work after severe
training.
In the third relay, Shearer was near
" cut in two by rare air, but kept
Thompson of the Renos in the shade,
permitting him TO pass the tape but
twice number one.