The San Francisco call., 1897-03-01

ne race was dONcIlIoc0 W DC6lh 81 AZ
A. NJ, and this necessitated an early start
from this side, so that from Z O'Clock TO
and after the ferry boats bound for Oak
land were crowded with cyclists of all
ages and conditions, and with all manner
of wheels, from an old creek to the new
1897 model There were ladies without
number, but it was particularly notice
able that few OF them ventured the
bloomer costume, it having become thor
oughly obsolete in the East and practi-
cally out of date everywhere, being re-
placed by skirts of scarce folds and cur
tailed lengths, which seemed far more
appropriate and becoming. OF course, the
ladies will have 10 give up riding the
diamond framed mems wheels by reason
OF this change in raiment. but then that
''cuts no ice'' with them.
On account OF the early hour of the start
not many gathered to see the men sent eff
as compared to the immense throng that
congregated about the time the finish was
expected. The road was lined with peo-
pie for quarter of a mile on either side
of the tape, pushing and struggling with
each other for q coign OF vantage. and
many a swaying tree limb oyerhanging
the road bore Its load OF human freight,
consisting OF the small boys of San Lean
dro and the younger wheeling element of
this City and Oakland. Ropes were
stretched on either side of the road, wound
around an occasional tree trunk, to keep
the crowd back so that the men would
have a clear road to finish in. Some
to a lamppost and when the men first
in ;r,bt @ho 70
surge forward for better view. this poor
lamppost was literally "torn up by the
roots" as one man remarked, ana fell,
shattered, by the wGyside. The people,
released from their bonuage. started to
crowd forward upon the road, but dozen
sturdy marshals stood them off until the
men had passed and averied what might
have been serious mix-up.
Prior to yesterdays race it was gener-
ally conceded that the prizes for fastest
time would fall to the scratch men, and it
so turned out, but no one seemed to care
to try pick the winner of the race from
the hundred odd handicap men, though
some few prophecies were offered which
the result com pletely upset.
1t was 20 minutes past 10 o'clock when
Starter George H. Stratton gave the word
to the limit man to go. He had 10-min-
ute handicap, and before the next bunch,
which was given 8 minutes start, was
ready to leave. he was out of sight. But
the Handicapped knew his business, for
they overlook him before he got once |
around the circle, and he gave up the |
struggle. The first man started alone, but |
after that they were sent away in |
punches, four with minutes handicap, |
ten with ~, eleven with Z, thirteen with |
6, and so on down to the seven scratch !
men, who got away at exactly 1880. They |
were: Il. w. Squires, Acme; l. R. Lind, |
Imperial; G. w. Tantau and ]. E. Wing, |
Olympic; Tony Delmas Garden City; C. |
A. Kraft. Bay City, and &. NJ. Hanlin, |
San Francisco Club.
And now comes the chapter of accidents. |
The road was rough in some places, sandy |
in others, and what with the uneven and |
uncertain surface many good man went |
down. Take for instance the scratch |
bunch of seven. Before they had gone
the first round Lind, who was up front |
with Delmns and Wing setting pace, slid
and fell. The two alongside Of him /
escaped, but all the others crashed into |
him, and in an instant all their chances !
Tor the race were gone, for Wing. and Del !
mas never stopped and were soon out Iof |
sight, while the others had contusons to |
bandage and broken wheels to mend and |
were in a sorry plight. They all patched
things up as best they could, remounted |
and rode into San Leandro, sore in mind /
and body. Some got other wheels, re-
mounted and continued On for time, but
soon got discouraged and gave up the
hopeless stern chase.
And there are others TO tell about.
Gaines of Alameda fell, punctured his tire |
and rode 1t in as fiat as pancake. l.. II. |
Smith, in whom the Olympics set great |
store and expected much. got INTO mix |
up and was considerably bruised. Hell |
more and Ramsay of the same club went |
down together, remounted and finished |
strong, little if any hurt T. A. Schleuter, |
an Acme man, suffered some bad bruises |
in fall, as did also Thiel and Robinson |
of the San Francisco Road Club. Francis |
Of this club fell and broke his wheel, but |
managed to make it do until he got around |
where he could get another, when he was |
off like the wind again and managed to |
ride into sixth place. If not delayed by |
this accident he might have got first |
position. Williams of the California Club |
will know he's been in road race by the |
soreness he will feel for the next few days, |
and Anderson of the Imperials had to !
have four stitches taken in jagged cut |
in his back where body's pedal dug |
into him IN general mix-up. The Estu- |
diIlo House at San Leandro was like an |
emergency hospital after the race, and |
arnica, cotton batting and other measures |
for the temporary relief of the injured !
were in such demand that the supply of |
the local drugstores was nearly ex-
hausted.
There was also another set of com plain |
ants about the hotel after the race, those |
who had ridden and bad accidents to their |
wheels which forced them to give up,
whereas otherwise they would have won |
the race beyond any manner of doubt. |
There were mum Der of this sect, and /
they told their woes to all who would
listen. Hard luck stories were as plent-
full as bees in a hive, and the fact that |
they had got off free OF personal injuries
such as many others suffered never |
seemed TO occur to the story tellers.
The finish OF the race was very exciting. |
The various punches had passed the |
crowds at the tape twice and were about |
due for the last time. The officials were |
getting in readiness to take the times and |
positions, and all necks were eagerly |
craned down the road. ''There they |
come" shouted an eagle-eyed lookout |