The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-07
BANNER MEET OF THE BIKERS.
FIFTEEN THOUSAND SPECTATORS
AT THE RACES.

"V"! "ohhsons tnSt Mile at Chi
c"gO Last Year by 4-5 Seconds.
Crosses the Tape In $50 30.
Philadelphia, Aug 6.--The opening race
meet Of the eighteenth annual meet of
the League of American Wheelmen was
held to-day at Willow Grove park. four
teen miles from this city. before 1900
people 1t was the most successful in the
history of the organization, in attendance.
enthusiasm and good racing Several
state records were smashed and Arthur
Gardiner, the Chicago crack, came within
2-5 of second of breaking Hamilton's
worlds S record for one mile paced. He
succeeded in lowering the fast mile made
by Johnny Johnson at Chicago last year
40 second Gardiner was paced by two
quads, one loaded with Wenzel, the Tur-
Vile boys and Coburn, the other with
w E. Becker, w. L. Becker, Cromas and
Steenson. He crossed the line like a flash
and the time was caught beautifully. He
never ceased his pace until the finish was
made In 1879 S-5 breaking the state record
of las 3-5 held by Earl Kiser.
Starbuck also took trial at the record
first half he made very fast time, but
lost behind the triplet His time was
1:44 3-5, also breaking Kisers record.
Both these events followed the sched,
uled races of the day. In the latter, those
among the professionals were won by +.
]. Loughead of Sarnia, Ontario, who
crossed the tape a winner in the trials,
two finals and second man in a third final.
In one Of these finals, the one mile pro-
fessional, he broke the state competition
record of 2:0l 40 by covering the distance
in 2:O3 3-5. He captured the one-quarter
mile championship in 81 seconds.
Among the amateurs honors we're more
evenly divided, with the best racing done
by Peabody. Johnson, Middendorf, Scharz,
Krick and Miller.
The day was perfect for racing. and
the sun was not long up before hundreds
of cyclists were pedalling along the his
torc and picturesque York road towards
Willow Grove and even greater numbers
were taxing the railroad trains and troll
ley cars to their utmost. Notwithstanding
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 n
cool nOfInWeSlefiy DfeeNe. lneIS was dal
almost total absence Of humidity. There
were early morning runs to the League Is
land navy yard, at the lower end Of Broad
street, across Rope ferry bridge, to Pasch-
alville, Pa, returning by way of Wood
land avenue West Philadelphia to Broad
street where the columns merged into
the army Of wheelmen who had gone
through Fairmont park and the Wissa-
hickon drive and the big scheduled run
to the track began. When the head Of the
line reached old York road, four miles
from headquarters. there were many who
had not mounted their wheels.
At the track all was hustle among the
racing men. Johnny" Johnson, who was
hurt on Wednesday was unable to ride
to-day, but viii probably make an effort
to start tomorrow. The other men were
being rubbed down or were taking prelim-
mary spins on the track. 1t is Of wood,
entirely surrounded by seats with a ca
pacity Of 25,000.
The trials began promptly at . O'Clock.
with several thousand spectators. At 12:3
there was a recess for the lunch. Mean
while the seats We're rapidly filing and
long before the hour for resumng II was
evident that the crowd would be enor-
nous At 3 o'clock the track was cleared
and racing began again, con tinuing until
o'clock without the slightest hitch. Dur
ing the entire day there were but two or
three spills and nobody was hurt by
these Tonight Willow Grove park was
given over to the wheelmen and the visit
ors saw exhibitions of trick and fancy rid
ing. a display Of fire works and a general
good time.
Tomorrow promises TO be the banner
day and the seating capacity Of the track
viii be taxed TO the utmost
Following are the summaries of the
finals:
One mile championship, professional.
Bald had the pole, with Kiser. Loughead,
Mosher Callahan, Taylor (colorod) New
ton and Sanger in the order named. Sea-
ton and Weining were the pacemakers.
At the crack OF the pistol the men got
away well together. A. the end of the
first lap Callahan and Major Taylor were
behind the pacemakers and going at
good clip. on the second lap Taylor took
the lead, with Bald close behind. Then
the race commenced In earnest. kiser,
Callahan, Bald and Sanger began to gath
ar around the cOlOred boy, and then came
down the stretch riding free and fast.
Loughead the ontario crack, came like
flash when near the finish and crossed the
tape a wheel ahead OF Bald. with kiser "A
close third. Time 2.O3 3-5-breaking the
state competition record OF 2.0 As.
Final heat In the one mile, :05 class pro-
fessionaL The starters were Mortcns, Nc
Farand. Nat Butler, Titus Smms, Cal
lahan and Oldneld. Mortens had the pole.
There was one raise start. At inc second
attempt they were gotten of. Oldneld
Jumped from the outside 20 the pole d.
rectly following the pacemaker at a rapid
pace Titus foli out In the first lap. Old
field held the lead into tho stretch, when
Mortens and Butler came up. The three
men raced abreast TO the tape, Mertens
crossing the tape n winner by about three
feet Butler was second and Simma third.
with Mcfarland fourth Time 2.li.
The final ln the one mile championship
amateur was called. There were six start
ers Ertz led the bunch on the frst lap
with Howard second. on the last lao began
a beautiful run IN which an hands made "A
play for place. stevens caught Ertz In
the stretch and shoulder 10 shoulder they
came home. Etrz winning by an inch from
stevens Mlddendorf taking third place.
Time 2.iG 2-5.
The fnal in the One-quarter mile cham
pionahip professional WIS the next event
called There we're five starters, Gradiuor,
Cooper. Randall Bald ana Lughead.
Cooper jumped on In the lead After they
had gone l5 yards Randall took tho iend
and Wna nHfflnW "a terrific elm. Tu tho