The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-06
MILES OF WHEELS
Broad Street, Philadelphia, a
Mass of Wheelmen.
Opening Day of the Great L. A.
w. National Meet.
RACING BEGINS TODAY
Eighty Entries for the PrOfes.
sional Two Mile Handicap.
johnson Was Unable to Ride
Because of an Accident.


full day could not have been asked for
than that which formally inaugurated
the big race meet of the League of Amer
lean Wheelmen here today. The warm
sun was tempered by a cool, northwes-
terly breeze. Early morning runs were
taken by many of the visiting wheelmen,
especially those who could not get into
the arena. There were thousands of
pedalers every run. AS far as the eye
could reach Broad street there was an
almost solid mass of bicyclers. By the
time the leaders of the run had reached
old York road, a distance of four miles
from League headquarters, there were
still many riders who had not yet mount
ed their wheels. All roads leading to the
Willow Grove track seemed to have been
converted into bicycle paths. The wheel
men owned the city and the policemen
who are usually so strict with regard to
scorching, stood complacently by and
paid attention to the visitors who
were unconsciously committing a breach
of law by travelling at a 2:40 gait. Not
withstanding that thousands were push
ing their way to Willow Grove on wheels,
the street cars and railroads We're also
taxed to their utmost.
The Willow Grove track was a revela-
ton to the visitors. They had never seen
such a race course, specially constructed
with wood, lightning fast, solid as rock
and entirely surrounded by seats with a
seating capacity of nearly 25,0O0. Flags
fiuttered from hundreds of staffs and the
L. A w. purple predominated every
where.
Bicycle Track, Willow Grove, Pa, Aug.
6.-The racing cracks were awake early
this morning and after a good rubbing
down took preliminary spins on the
track preparatory to the trial heats which
were to be called at o'clock. AS early
as o'clock the crowds began arriving
and when the first heat was pulled off
good crowd was present. The day was
perfect for racing, light breeze swept
across the track from the northwest.
All the riders were delighted with the
weather and track and everything was in
proper condition for fast time. Johnny
Johnson, who was injured Wednesday
while training the track was out this
morning trying his stiffened legs. He ap-
peared to be in rather bad shape and
there was every evidence that he would
not be able to race. He proposes, how
ever, using linimente until the last min
ute and if there is the slightest chance
of his making a show he will enter in the
morning trials. The first three men will
qualify in the two-mile handicap pro-
fessional and the two-mile handicap anna
teur and in all the other races, the first
two with the exception of the quarter
mile championship professional in which
only the winner of each heat will enter
for the finals. The first event the
two-mile handicap professional. This was
in six heats and in all there were about
eighty entries, first three to qualify.
First heat, F. J. Loughead, Sarnia, Ont,
scratch, won: w. E. Becker, Minneapolis,
40 yards, second: E. ]. Titus, New York,
so yards, third. Time, 4:46 10.
w. c. Sanger was scratch man in the
second heat of the two-mile race with
Arthur Lee on the so ward line and H. R.
Steenson, Dayton, 20 yards. The pace
was slow and the men rode in a bunch
throughout. A. E. Weinig, 11O yards, won:
w. c. Sanger, second; c. r. Newton, 60
yards third. Time, 5:O3 As.
Tom Cooper had the tape in the third
heat and the nearest men were J. A. New
house, 25O yards. and Dock Brown, SO
yards For the first few laps the pace
was fast, but they soon punched and lap
ped to the finish, when the winner cross
ed two lengths ahead. Cooper, scratch.
won; Fred Sims, Washington, 100 yards,
second; ]. A. Newhouse, Buffalo, 25 yards,
third. Time, SOC 2-5.
Arthur Gardiner of Chicago, was
scratch man in the fourth heat with
Starbuck the nearest at 10 yards. Arthur
lost two yards at the crack of the pistol.
All hands went out for blood and rapid
pace was kept up until the finish. Gardi-
ner won; L. A. Callahan, so yards, sec
ond; Barney Oldfeld, ITO yards third.
Time 4:41 2-5.
Eddie Bald, scratch man was excused in
the fifth heat. Sam Brock and Jay Ea-
ton were on the 50 yard mark with Frank
Butler at so yards. Butler took the lead
on the last lap but Eaton spurted from
the tail end and crossed the line an easy
winner. F. C. Hoyt, 50 yards. second
VIII Corwin, IS yards, third. Time, |
4 so 80
Johnny Johnson was unable to start in
the sixth heat of the two-mile profess
sional handicap and F. A. Mcfarland
was the other scratch man, with James
A. Church on the forty yard line. F. F.
Hammer at SO yards and Frank NJ. Damp
man at 225 yards Charles A. Church
won: c. S. Wells, 80 yards. second; o. L. |
Stevens, 20 yards, third. Time 442