The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-06
Y. M. |. BICYCLE RACES
AN ALL-DAY PICNIC GIVEN AT THE
STATE FAIR GROUNDS.
Spill in One of Events-CoIored Rid
ers' Road Race over Ripple
COurse-Night Events.

1t was an all-day affair, beginning with the
bicycle race for members of the Y. NJ. l.
at 10 o'clock and lasting until late in the
evening, when the last heat of the half
mile horse running race was finished Two
or three thousand people attended the pic
mic. At noon the family and party bask-
cts were brought out and lunch was spread
under the trees on the west side of the
grounds. There were also refreshments for
all, served under the grand stand. Pa
triotic addresses were made by Rev.
Fathers O'Donaghue and McCabe
The bicycle races were the chief attrac-
ton of the day. Other sports included a
mile footrace. The latter had but two
starters, J. ]. Clancy and Fred Drummer.
Clancy won, making the mile in 5:45.
THE BICYCLE RACES.
The bicycle races began at o'clock with
the quarter-mile open event. Being mile
track this was equivalent to a straight
away course, as the start was made at
the turn of the stretch. The wind was at
the backs of the riders and materially as
sisted them in making the sprint 1t was a
dashing race with seventeen entries. There
was no need of dividing the starters into
heats, as the track was amply wide for
twice the number. This race was won by
The second event was a mile open in
which there were twenty-five starters. 1t
was the prettiest race of the day. The
riders remained in a bunch until the turn
into the stretch had been made. Then it
became a race between L. o. Watson,
George Buschman and e. G. Pfeffer. Wat
son was back in the middle of the bunch
as they swung around the turn. Busch
man and Pfeffer were in the lead and
fighting hard for the supremacy. Sudden
~ there was another competitor for first
honors, and as Watson guided his wheel
through the field and rapidly passed the
riders one at time, there was a din of
applause from the grand stand Hundreds
of pistols and thousands of frecrackers
were fired as the field came tearing down
the stretch .e for the tape. 1t is race be-
money either way.
Now Watson FORCES ahead. His front
wheel is at the rear wheel of Pfeffer. He
has passed him and is giving Buschman
a tug of war for first place. Twenty-Five
yards from the tape these two riders are
tire and tire, but Watson has the strongest
sprint and wins the race. The applause is
deafening and browns the sound of the
martial air played by the band in the grand
stand.
A RANK OUTSIDER WINS.
The two-mile handicap was won by a
rank outsider on account of a spill in the
turn on the second mile, which caused six
riders to quit the race. The first bunch had
just turned into the stretch. L. O. Wat
son and e. c. Pfeffer, the former a scratch
man, were just beginning to get themselves
together for a final sprint. They were we'll
up toward the front and Watson could
probably have won the race. The turn had
just been made when Jacob Steinmetz tried
to cross in front of Watson. 1t is not be-
lieved he caused the spill Intentionally but
rather that he miscalculated his distance
from Watson and the latter's speed, AS
II ha
threw him. Pfeffer went down with Wat
son, and four other riders who were too
close to avoid striking the mix-up went
down. Fortunately none of the men We're
hurt, but Watson's wheel was badly
wrecked c. r. Pease and c. f. Snapp
made a pretty sprint for the tape, the
by half length. The time for the first
mile by the scratch men was 218 and the
two miles were run in 4:3S.
The halt-mile open was next. 1t was un-
eventful, but it proved the ability of
George Buschman as a short-distance man.
He took the lead at the start and kept it
up, finishing two lengths ahead of Pfeffer.
The tive-mile handicap closed the bicycle
races. c. r. Pease, with four hundred
yards to the good, set the pace for nearly
the entire distance. AS they crossed the
tape for the first mile the riders We're in
two punches, the scratch men having
caught the Northumberland men and all
those in between having punched. This
position was maintained for four miles,
several riders having dropped out at va
rious places along the route. Pease was
still in the lead at the half of the last
mile but the severe work of setting the
pace was telling on him strongly. He
gradually lost ground as they, swung into
the stretch and down the stretch he was
passed by c. F. Snapp and L. o. Watson.
He finished third by small margin. 1t
was the prettiest and most exciting finish
of the day There was hardly a foot be-
tween Snapp and Watson and less than
while the rest of tte bunch were close in
the rear The race for members of the
Y. NJ. l. only was run off in the morning
and was an interesting affair. The gold
medals were won by F. c. Becker and Sam
Week, while the prize for the last man
in went to Fred Arens.
THE SUMMARIES.
The summaries of the events follow:
Y. NJ. l. race, one mile: f. c. Becker,
won; Sam Week, second; Ray O'Donald,
third; Timothy McGrath, fourth; Roy Ha-
zilrig, fifth; Fred Ahrens, sixth Time, 2:34
One-fourth mile, open: H. Muse, Mulber-
ry, Ind, first; George Buschman, second
Edward Raymond, third. Time 81 20
Other starters were c. r. Pease William
]. Helms Jacob Steinmetz, l.. O. Watson,
H. TacoSna, o. Reiger, p. c. Pfeffer, G. A
Pleschner and c. Surendorf.
One mile, open: l.. O. Watson, won
third; S. T. Singleton, fourth. Time,
2:34 20. Other starters were Lee Heller
=. SurendOrt Wllnam j. Helms, jacob
Steinmetz, Oscar Riegel, H. COffman, Ed
ward Steinmetz, c. a. Bates. Marshall
Levy, Sam Murray H. Moorehead c. F.
Snapp, H. Muse of Mulberry, j. c.. Muse
of Mulberry, ]. c. Pierce, II. Pleschner
and B. NJ Morrison
Two-mile handicap: G. R. Pierce GOO
ond; L. Gordon go yards). third. Time
First mile, 2:18; two miles. 4:3S. Other
starters were Lee Heller (scratch), w. j.
Hines $50 yards). Jacob Steinmetz Us
yards), /. o. Watson (scratch), II. A.
yards, E. G Pfeffer 200 yards Edward
Steinmetz 600 yards) C. A. Bates Us yards,
H. Atchison GOO yards Edward Raymond
Q50 YARDS. Marshall Levy go yards), r.
c. Bell 200 yards), Walter Greig (225
yards, H, w. Mcbride 900 YARDS w. l..
H. ard a. Hsdgss So cards 6 F. saaPp SO
Muse $50 yards ]. c. Muse $3.50 yards),
Harry Moorehead $3.50 yards).
One-half mile open-George Buschman
Won Won; E. G.. Pfeffer, second William j.
ers were Jacob Steinmetz, L. Q. watson
ward Steinmetz, c. A. Bates, Edward Ray
mond, Marshall Levy, Sam Murray Wal
ter Greig, John Bryan, c.. F. Snapp. H.
Muse, j: c. Muse, B. M. Morrison, c.
Fiye-mile handicap: c. F. snapp Us
ond; c; r. Pease 600 YARDS third. Time.
12:3S Other starters were J. c. Pierce
lscratch), w. j. Helms 900 yards), Jacob
Us yardsl, H. Coffman 400 yards), c. f.
Pfeffer $3.50 YARDS, Edward Steinmetz Q75
yards), c. A. Bates $50 yards), Edward
Raymond (275 YARDS, Marshall Levy 600