The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-07
RECORDS WERE SMASHED
ALL THE TRACK WAS BUSTLE
AMONG THE RACING MEN.
HAMILT TOMS WORLDS RECORD GRAZED
The Fast Mile Made by Johnny Johason Last
Year Lowered by Four fifths Of
Second--This is the Ban.
ner Day.

ner Day.
Philadelphia, Pa, Aug. 6.-The open
ing race meet OF the eighteenth annual
meet of the League of American Wheel
men was held to-day at Willow Grove
Park, fourteen miles from this city, be-
fore $1,000 spectators. 1t was the most
successful in the history of the organl-
cations, in attendance, enthusiasm and
good racing. Several State records were
smashed, and Arthur Gardiner, the Chi
cago crack, came within twO-ffths of
second of breaking Hamilton's worlds
record for one mile paced. He succeed
ed in lowering the fast mile made by
johnny" Johnson, at Chicago, last year
by four-fifths of a second.
Gardiner was paced by two quads, one
loaded with Wenzel, the Turville boys
and Coburn, and the other with Webeck-
er, w. l.. Becker, Greeks and Stevenson.
He crossed the line ike flash and the
time was caught beautifully. He never
ceased his pace until the finish. made in
80 3-5, breaking the State record Of
/ 40 SO, held by Earl Kiser.
Starbuck also took trial at the record
paced by quad and a triplet. For the
first half he made very fast time, but
lost behind the triplet. His time was
IA 3-5, also breaking kiser's record.
Both these events followed the sched-
uled races for the day. In the latter the
honors among the professionals. were
won by Il. j. Loughead, of Sarnia. Ont,
who crossed the tape winner In three
trials, two finals and second man in n
third final. In one of these finals the
one mile professional, he broke the State
competition record OF 2:oI 40, by cover
ing the distance in 2:O3 80. He captur-
ed the one-quarter mile championship in
32 seconds.
Among the amateurs. honors were
more evenly divided, with the best racing
done by Peabody, Johnson, Middendorf,
Schade, Krick and Miller.
The day was perfect for racing and the
sun was not long up before hundreds of
cyclists were pedalling along the historic
and picturesque York road towards Will
low Grove, and even greater numbers
were taxing the railroad trains and troll
ley cars to their utmost. Notwithstand-
ing many of the visiting wheelmen did
not get away from last nights smoker at
the national headquarters until nearly
day light, most of them were astir early.
The heat from the sun was tempered by
a cool northwesterly breeze and there
was an almost total absence of humidity.
There were early morning runs to
League Island Navy Yard, at the lower
end of Broad street, across rope ferry
bridge to Paschalville, Pa, returning by
way of Woodland avenue, West Phila-
delphia, to Broad street, where the col
umns merged into the army Of wheel
men who had gone through Fairmount
Park and the Wissachickon drive, and
the big scheduled run to the track began.
At the track all was hustle among
the racing men. Johnny" Johnson who
was hurt on Wednesday was unable to
ride to-day, but will probably make an
effort to start tomorrow. The other men
were being rubbed down or were taking
spins on the track. The track
was specially constructed for the meet.
1t is wood, entirely surrounded by seats
with capacity of $4,000.
The trials began promptly at nine
o'clock, with several thousand spectators.
At 1910 there was recess for lunch.
Meanwhile the seats were rapidly filling
and long before the hour for resuming, it
was evident that the crowd would be
enormous. AT o'clock, the track was
cleared and racing began again, con-
tinuing until six o'clock, without the
slightest hitch. During the entire day
there were but two or three spills and
nobody was hurt by these.
Tonight Willow Park was given over
to the wheelmen and the visitors saw ex-
hibitions of trick and fancy, display |
Of fireworks and general good time.
Tomorrow promises to be the banner |
day and the seating capacity of the track
will be taxed to the utmost The races
will begin at o'clock.
Following are the summaries of the
finals:
One mile championship professionals
Bald had the pole with .Kiser, Loughead,
Mosher, Callahan, Taylor (colored), New
ton and Sanger, in the order named.
Seaton and Weinig were the pace max
ers. At the crack of the pistol the men
got away well together. At the end of
the first lap Callahan and Major Taylor
were behind the pace makers and going
1T a good clip.
On the second lap the Major took the
cad, with Bald close behind. Then the
ace commenced in earnest. Kiser. Cal
ahan, Bald and Sanger began to gather !
around the colored boy and they came
lown the stretch riding free and fast
Loughead, the Ontario crack, came like t
! flash when near the finish and crossed
he tape~a wheel ahead of Bald. with
Iiser close third Time, 2:03 3-5, a
'reaking the State competition record of c
':04 4-5. i
Final heat in the one mile, 2:05 class !
The starters were Mertens, S