The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09

cling in the East and South is about two years
behind the times They mostly possess no
track at all, or where there is one 1t Is QUILT
with total disregard of banking or any other
absolute necessity for obtaining the most I'M
portant thing on any bicycle track-tlme.
There are few bicycle clubs in the larger
cities, but an overwhelming social eleme nc IN
every case SO oYershadows the objects OF the
club as cycle club that the Embarrassing,
nerye-tingling enthusiasm which so endears
the Bay City Wheelmen to its members is
totally lacking. and the percentage OF iegia-
mate racing men in these inStltu tons is NIL.
| must confess l am disappointed In the
East from bicycle standpoint. Here in De-
trolt, for instance tom Coopers home), we
have the Detroit Wheelmen, whose clubhouse
is revelation and whose Golfers burst with
superf1uous cash, but one has to go through 1t
with a comb to find an enthusiastic wheel
man. Dances, whist parties, a circus with
professional talent bowling, billiard tourna-
ments-ln fact, everything except blcycllng-
was my experience when talking with those
members with whom 1t was my pleasure 10
meet. but their hospitality to one from the
far West like myself, coming from club that
had entertained their pride, Tom Cooper as
we did, was so cordial that Ii is impossible to
tell you by writing.
The B. C. WIS are we'll and bly, known
everywhere l have been, and the TACT of my
being one of them has been an open sesame
wherever | have found b cycle club OF any
pretensions.
You ought to see the wheels in use in some
of the larger cities. l saw in Philadelphia
solid tired wheels of the vintage OF 'S9. cush-
1on-tired ones which were in vogue little
later, and wheels made in '9l and 90 seem
to be the rule rather than the exception. In
the East it seems to me man buys wheel
and it has to last him until cycle senility
causes its collapse. How different from our
up-to-da:e boys in San Francisco, who "traoe
in" as regularly as new models are brought
out.
With kindest regards to the King, yourself
and other inquiring friends, am, yours sim
cerely, II. AUSTIN GODDARD.
Judging from the atfidavits which fol-
low, Walter Foster was very unfairly
treated by Floyd Mcfarland in the pro-
fessionaI events at Pasadena on January
l. 1t is understood that the matter will
be brought before the racing board, and if
Mcfarland cannot disproye the charges,
he should certainly be suspended from
track-racing for a long time to come.
Here are the affidavits:
PASADENA Cal, Jan. 4, 1897.
We, the undersigned race officials and pro-
fessionals that dictated and competed in the
Pasadena race meet, January l, 1897, declare
That Floyd Mcfarland, in the mile open pro-
fessional race, deliberately and purposely
fouled Walter F. Foster on the upper turn, en-
tering into the homestretch, by eibowing him
off the track.
the track into soft ground, and thereby all his
chances for first prize in this race were lost
Ii we signed anything contrary to the above
1t was a Misrepresentation TO us, and was not
signed to convey the idea that Mcfarland did
not foul Foster.
1t is clear to us that Mcfarland won th s
race by foul tactics.
starter; Ed K. Braley, clerk OF course; Albert
E. Edwards, assistant clerk; Horace F. Sander
SON. assistant clerk: Edward 5. Crump, timer
NJ. A. Hill professional lin this race); Frank
A. Coty, profess ional zone of the pacemakers
on tripleD.
Attest: Frank E. Burnham. c. c. C. Club
secretary.
PASADENA, CAL Jan. d, 1897
We, the referee and starter of the race meet
held in Pasadena January 1, 1897, positively
declare that MIR. Foster had good ana substan.
iiai grounds to claim a foul in the mile-oper
race against Floyd Mcfarland, as Mcfarland
ran Foster off the track, and thereby ruined
ali chances for Foster TO win the race.
We also declare and state that we waited un
til every one had departed from the track And
then approached Mr.. Foster and asked him tt
enter protest against McFarland's foul rid
ing, which Mr.. Foster gave us the liberty o.
dong if we SO wished.
We thereby considered that protest was
entered by Foster against Mcfarland fol
elbowing and running him off the track, bu
as the first protest OF having Mcfarland dis
qualified for his starter stepping over the
tape held there was no need of pressing the
latter foul of elbowing and runniil Foster of
the track. H NJ. BLACK, Referee.
GEORGE II. FROST, Starter.
The board of officers of the North Cali
tornla DIVISION, League OF American
Wheelmen, are very anxious to secure
new members, and are directing earnest
efforts in that direction. Thev wish il
possible to bring the roll up to 20G0 within
the next month, an increase of about $50
and from the way the applications are
coming i'll it seems quite likely that they
will succeed in their endeavors. Y. h
Hancock of the mem bership committee is
making special canvass of all the loca
clubs and is securing many new names.
The Impe rial Cycling Club has com.
pleted ali preparations for its party, to be
held at Native Sons Hall Tuesday even
ing, January 10, and a very enjoyable
time is anticipated. SPALDINe.