The San Francisco call., 1897-05-31
Z|EGLER
( LOWERS A
RECORD
TWo-Thirds Mile Race
Mark Reduced to
l:2O Flat.
SPLENDID CONTESTS AT
SAN JOSE.
Success of the Sunday Meet
Sanctioned by the New
Association.
EXCITING FINISHES IN ALL OF
THE EVENTS.
Eleven Cyclists Fall in a Bunch in
the Final Of the Amateur
Mile Handicap.
SPLENDID CONTESTS AT
SAN JOSE.
Success of the Sunday Meet
Sanctioned by the New
Association.
EXCITING FINISHES IN ALL OF
THE EVENTS.
Eleven Cyclists Fall in a Bunch in
the Final Of the Amateur
Mile Handicap.

SAN JOSE, CAL, May 30.-"The great
est race meet ever held in California
was the universal expression of opinion of
the races conducted here this afternoon
by the Garden City Cyclers under sane
tion of the California Associated Cycling
Clubs. 1t was the first attempt of the
San Jose Club to conduct Sunday meet,
and not only was it a big success in point
of attendance, but the races we're OF the
nerve-thrilling, hair-raising variety and
kept the immense audience on its feet
constantly yelling in excited acclaim for
its iavorites.
In the final of the mile handicap, ANA
teur, with twelve men on the track going
at break-neck speed, somebody made
slip, ana down came the entire bunch
but one who continued on and won the
race unchaIlenged. OF the eleven who
iell two were thrown clear over the stee
bank of the track and were considerably
hurt. The others suffered innumerable
bruises, and their wheels were all ''irre-
pairably" damaged. 1t was the worst
mix-up seen on a cycle track in many
day.
The splendid three-lap of the Garden
City Cycers is always in good condition
and lightning fast, and Is conducive to
great speed and record breaking. Every
mile was ridden to-day under 2:20 even
in the amateur class, and Otto ZiegIer
broke the worlds competition record for
two-thirds of mile, bringing the mark
down to / 30 fat.
Ziegler covered himself with glory to-
day, Winning every heat and race in
which he started, and he was simply in
vincble. His victories over Jones in both
profes ssional events were most pronounced,
and he thoroughly redee med himself for
his defeat by the speedy Olympian week
ago at San Francisco.
The real sport began with the two
thirds mile handicap professional race,
which was run in one heat with eight
starters. Ziegler, Jones and Coulter were
on the scratch mark, Davis had 20 yards,
Downing 80, McCrea so, Boyden 20 and
L. ford so.
There was no Ioafng from the crack of
the starters pistol. Tbs scratch men,
Ziegler in the lead, started out to catch
the limit men, who did not propose to let
them if they corid help it. Downing
caught up with the men in front OF him
and then slowed the pace. 1t was fatal
mistake, for Ziegler, Coulter and Jones
shot by the limit men as though they
were standing still, and opened gap that
could never be clio ed.
Then ensued battle royal for the last
sixth of q mile between the three giants of
theCalifornia track-Z:egler, Coulter and
Jones. They came tearing around the
last bank in that order at killing pace,
the audience on it's feet yelling wildly at
the greatest riding it had probably ever
seen. Though there was only difference
OF inches in the lead OF each man over the
next, neither gained nor gave an inch as
they flew down the homesretch and
across the tape in the order named.
The people felt that remarkable time
had been made the pace had been so fast,
and tney kept up their cheering until the
men had returned to the stand. The en-
thusiasm broke out afresh as Ziegler was
carried to his dressing-room on the Shout
ders of his delighted clubmates.
'Zieeler first, Coulter second, Jones
third" stated Announcer Knapp through
his megaphone, and then. after waiting
few moments for the renewed enthusiasm
TO cease, time, 1:20, worlds competition
record"
And the people again stamped, ap-
plauded, cheered and yelled as they fully
realized what magnificent race they had
witnessed.
The record Z:egler lowered was formerly
held by c.. 4. Coulter at 1:21, made at
Denver long time ago, and the cracks of
the world have often been al er II before,
but without success, so that Ziegler's per-
formance to-day is all the more remark
able and creditable.
The one-mile open, professional. also
furnished some exciting sport, both in the
two heats and tue final, those who quail
fed for the final being ZiegIer, Jones,
Coulter, Downing, Elford, Davis and Nc
Crea.
Boyden was put IN to pace, and con-
scIentiousy set out to make it Just as hot
as he knew how, and Arthur knows how
to make il good and hot when ne wants
to. They were soon strung out in Indian
file. hving around at a rafting gait, Zieg-
Ter first behind the PAGER, then Downing,
Jones and Davis. On the bell lap Nc
Crea, from last position, sprinted up to
first but the effort was too much, for in
stanIly egler challenged him and ne was
NOT equal to it. McCrea's sprint, how
ever had set the others battling for posi-
ZION and the Little Demon soon had
his hands full, as Jones, Davis and Down
ing drew up alongside. and the hnal sprint
down the homestretch began.
ZiegIer ana Jones were on even terms
as they swung INTO the slralgh.' Du1 i1 JONES sI
could not stand the pace and fell back,
heaten- Downing and Davis both leading
rim at the tape ZeGler had drawn
ahead and his lead as ne flashed over .he
wire was fully three wheel lengths.
ZieoIer was accorded another ovation as
he returned to the grand stand. L ne
men had ridden The race IN 2:lu.
The amateur riders were not behind the
"nrosn in furnishing good sport and the
n5onIa were as thoroughly pleased with
their performances as with the cash prize
men. Three cleve-ly ridden heats In the
one-third mile scratch event brought the
field down to Wing, Deacon, Wyman,
Mott Gooch, Murphy. Kraft and
Schwall, frisky lot OF colts. VINO SET out
to make as hot race OF the
final heat as they knew how. Wing took
the lead at the jump, Wyman and Mott
and cbailenged Wing. Gooch also had
the fever and showed in front, put only
for a moment, for Wing got the idea INTO
his her that 1t was time 10 sprint LOT
home. aud the others had to be satisfied
with anywhere behind him. Mott moved
up from fifth to third position and then
passed Wyman and was second, gaming
bv inches on Wing, so that when they