The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-07
SEVERAL RECORDS LOWERED
FAST TIME BY GARDINER, STAR
BUCK, LOUGHEAD AND OTHERS.
Few Spills and Nobody Hurt-The In
d~ianapOIis still Hust-
ling for the '0s Meet.

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 $4,000 spec
tators. 1t was the most successful in the
history of the organization in attendance,
enthusiasm and good racing. Several State
records were smashed, and Gardiner, the
Chicago crack, came within two-hfths of a
second Of breaking Hamilton's worlds rec
ord for one mile, paced, He succeeded 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 w. T.. Becker, w. L. Becker, Crooks
and Steenson. He crossed the line like a
flash and the time was caught beautifully.
He never ceased his pace until the finish,
made in 1:39 3-5, breaking the State record
of las 3-5. held by Earl Kiser. Starbuck
also took a trial at the record, paced by a
quad and a triplet. For the first half he
made very fast time, but lost behind the
triplet. His time was 1:44 3-5, also breaking
Kiser's record.
Both the above events followed the sched-
uled races for the day. In the latter the
1890 SA"OA9 NAC PAOAOooAOAldA0 "CAo "O1
by h. n. Loughead, of Sarnia, Ont, who
crossed the tape a winner in three trials,
three rinals and second man in the third
final. In one of these finals, the one-mile
professional, he broke the State competi-
ton record of 2.04 As by covering the dis
lance in 2:03 SO. He captured the one
quarter-mile championship in 81 seconds.
Among the amateurs honors were moro
evenly divided, with the best racing done
by Peabody, Johnson, Middendorf, Shade
and Miller.
The day was perfect for racing and the
sun was not long up before hundreds OF
cyclists were peddaling along the historic
and picturesque York road towards Willow
Grove, and even greater numbers were tax
ing the railroad trains and trolley cars to
their utmost. Notwithstanding many OF
the visiting wheelmen did not get away
from last nights smoker at the national
headquarters until nearly daylight, most
OF them were astir early. The heat from
the sun was tempered by a cool northwest
erly 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, re-
turnAls NY way OF Woodland avenue, West
Ph4iaLellnla. 10 Broad street, where the
cO!ullifsS merged into the army of wheel
lnSlI vino l4aQ Sona through
lark ana the Wissahickon drive, and the
bag schedule run to the track began. When
the head o. the line reached old York road,
four miss 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 win probably make an effort to
start tomorrow. The other men were be-
ing rubbed down or We're taking prelim-
mary SPINS on the track. This was spe-
cialIy constructed for the meet. 1t is OF
of 5000. The trials began promptly at 9
O'Clock, with several thousand spectators.
AT 12;40 there was a recess for lunch.
MeanN lille the seats were rapidly filling.
and long before the hour for resuming il
was evident that the crowd would be enor-
nous. Al ) ocloUl- the track was cleared
and racing began again. continuing until 6
O'Clock without the slightest hitch. During
the entire day there were but two or three
Spills, and nobody was hurt by these.
Inc indianapolis boomers and the
hustlers from Omaha were on hand. and
while they desisted from any outburst,
much quiet work was performed.
Tonight Willow Grove Park was given
over to the wheeimen, and the visitors say
eXhibitions of trick and fancy riding, a
display of fireworks 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. The races will be-
with the exception that ex-chairman of the
racing board Gideon will be relieved by AL
bert Mott, of Baltimore, the present chair
man, as referee.