The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-13
SCORES WILL BE CUT
BICYCLE TRACK All MADISON
SQUARE GARDEN MUCH TOO SHORT.
Measurements Made sunday show that
the "Nine-Lap Mile" Lacked POO
Feet of an Actual Mile.

NEW YORK, Dec. 12.-The managers of
the six-day bicycle contest that was finished
last night in Madson-square Garden now
admit what has been alleged since the sec
ond day of the race, that the track was
short To-day surveyors went over the
course, and. although it was officially an
nounced that the riders had not travelled
full mile for every nine laps, just how short
each mile was has not been given out.
When Miller finished winner of the race
2,093l2 miles had been chalked up to his
credit. From what can he learned it is be-
lieved that the track was something like
two hundred feet short to the mile, and
therefore the actual distance travelled was
about 2,014 miles. Miller was sixty-seven
miles ahead of Rice, the second man, and
thus the latter will have to his credit some
thing like 1949 miles. Schinneer by the new
figures, will have beaten Hale's old record
of 1910 miles by about fifteen miles, instead
of ninety, as the nominal figures recorded
last night indicated, while Hale himself is
much below his old mark. 1t is stated by
the managers that the actual figures will
not be given out until affdavits have been
submitted by the surveyors, who went over
the to-day, and until other formal
steps have been taken to insure the cor
rectness of the records made by the men,
Probably all this will have been accom-
plished by to-morrow when the prizes will
be distributed.
So much discussion has been aroused by
the relative receipts of the maragers and
the contestants that 1t has been magnani-
mously decided that every man that finished
will receive purse. Rivierre, the French
man, tenth on the list, Notwithstanding the
fact that he had been off the track more
than full day and night comes within the
list of prize winners, there being eleven
prizes the list.
Charles w. Miller, the winner of the race,
spent the night at a Turkish bath, and
when he reached the Barthodi Hotel to-
day he looked well. He felt in good condi-
ton, he said, and that he was fit to ride
another six days. He certainly did not look
like a man who had gone through the ter
rible ordeal of working 1873 hours and sleep
ing only four hours in the six days just
passed. His eyes were bright and he said
he was not in the least exhausted. Regard
ing his plans for the future, he declared
he had none, but smilingly announced that
he had received two weeks engagement
to ride three miles nightly on a ''home
trainer in a vaudeville house in this city
Joe Rice, the Wilkesbarre representative
who is always unfortunate to be just far
enough behind the leader to win the second
prize, was found at hotel stretched out on
a sofa, reading a newspaper. He was hold
ing little levee at the same time. "Oh, L
am first class, thank you, he said. II went
right to bed after a good Turkish bath and
woke up at 10 o'clock this morning Then
l had as hearty a breakfast as any man
could want, just plain substantial affair
without any frills. Then took a walk and
came back for a loaf. l don't know what
1 am going to do unless it is to go back to
work. | don't care to say whether or not [
shall enter another six-day contest; it all
depends If things seem to come my way
L will. l might have finished better if my
stomach had not gone back on me. did
no riding of any account until Thursday
but I'm not kicking"
Fred Schinneer. the third man, who, like
Miller, halls from Chicago, did not have
much to say. except that he was feeling
well and that he would race again at the
first Opportunity
Teddy Hale is laboring under the same
trouble that affected him last year. He has
almost lost his voice But he looks to be in
good shape. and he says he is. He tipped
the scale at 164, his weight at the start All
he complains of in the race was that he
hurt his knee in fall during the early part
of it and was much bothered by the injury.
Hale may start for home on Wednesday,
he says, unless he decides to enter the six
day race at ST. Louis in February
Golden said: Il am getting ole now; no
more six-day races for me- We old fellows
are dead uns now. The youngsters are
Julius, the little Swedish rider, declared:
Next time go in. II make them all Gee
things. I'm all right don't be afraid"
Enterman, the youngest of all the contest
ants, was resting at his home, but said he
was not used up at all.
Harry Elkes spent most of the day in
sleeping, after having taken a long walk
in the morning. He Will spend his time in
Florida this year in getting into trim for
long-distance contests. The others who fin
ished are in satisfactory condition.
regarding the Frenchmen-Rivierre and
Stephane. He even went so far as TO declare
that no foreigner had fair chance in this
on this score that men were in the race sim
ply to pace some of the Americans Re-
garding Rivierre's condition, he said he
Frenchman's leg was in bad shape. but that
otherwise he was ali right. Stephanes COM
plaint was IN reference to the sprinting that
had been done by the exhibition riders dur
One important result of the race probably
will be stringent restrictive measure on
long-distance racing by the League of
American Wheelmen. Hitherto these events
have been conducted under the sanction OF
the L. A. W., but A. Cressy Morrison vice
president of that organization. declares
that he will prepare and present at the
next national assembly Of the L. A. W. an
amendment covering the point so thorough
ly that IL will prevent any possible coun-
tenance or such an event In the future. Mr.;
Morrison declares that from every point of
view the six-day race should be con-
demned; that 1t Is an inhuman and health
destroying institution.