New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
CYCLING.
MICHAEL DEFEATS MDUFFEE ON THE
WILLOW GROVE TRACK

RACE WAS TO HAVE BEEN FIFTEEN MILES. BUT
IT WAS EXTENDED TO TWENTY-FIVE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNEl
PHILADELPHIA Aug. 6-Amateurish management
did much to mar to-day at Willow Grove what
promised to be Of the greatest middle-dstance
bicycle races ever seen in this any other country.
The chief attraction of the afternoon meet was an
nounced as 1ftecn-me paced between
Jimmy Michael and Eddie McDufee. The pace
makers were limited to thirty-two men each.
This was the announcement on the official pro-
gramme. The advertisements In the papers. how
ever. said that the race would be for twenty-five
miles and this set the spectators yelling that they
wanted the race TO so for twenty-five miles or
their money back. 1t therefore extended
twenty-five miles. Michael finished first by forty
yards. and most Of the spectators left the track
supposing that would end the matter A protest.
however was entered that Michael had used more
pace-makers than had been agreed upon. Wildly
excited riders. trainers and managers nocked
around the judges stand. making all sorts Of
claims. The referee pulled and hauled around
until that demoralized individual a pitiful
sight. McDuffee's managers produced the names
Of the alleged extra pacemakers who had been used
by Foxy CUTLER" Shafer. The referee finally
nounced TO those about him that as a protest had
been entered that he would give decision. This
declaration not announced TO the public.
Harvey Uhler. the referee. said tonight: There
has been a protest and have withheld my de-
cision. l shall refer the entire matter TO Albert
Mott. the chairman OF the Racing Board Of the
League OF American Wheelmen."
But how going to settle our bets?" yelled
an excited bunch of humanity the outside crust
of the disputing cyclists
That have nothing to do WITH" said Mr. Uhler,
'as the league does not permit betting on any
races" Even the referee himself forced TO
smile at this for bundles Of money had been waved
wildly in the air all the afternoon
The squabbng between the respective managers
and trainers began soon the sprint
were over. When 1t supposed that the race
was to be at fifteen miles with thirty-two pace
makers each. there little or no Michael money
In sight. Then offers of 800 to $50 made with
McDuffee the favorite. and later the odds in
creased to 500 to SIS. little Michael money came
In. but not much OF 1t. Later It announced
that the would be for twenty-five miles with
thirty-two pacemakers. and some who had bet on
McDuffee declared their bets off they knew that
McDuffee at this time preferred ffteen-mile
IT was o'clock when the race was started and
those who had expected to get back TO New-York
before midnight quickly abandoned the idea
The result of the shows rothing except that
the racemakers the real power in such contests
Either rider could have made better time to-day
The attendance fifteen thousand was the largest
seen here any sporting contest since the record
crowd of thirty thousand at the L. A. w. here last
year
ard the crowd Kissed as the rival teams jockeyed
for position On the backstretch Michaels pace
makers went TO the front, ard passing the stand
for the first time Michael led by twenty yards, and
he was fairly flying. McDuffee seemed to be labor
ing slightly with his big gear of 100 At the end Of
the first mile Michael led by forty yards and the
spectators were their feet yelling like madmen
Both made poor pickups they changed pace in
the first two miles. The pace increased, the two
men whirling along at a steady clip fifty yards
WolShman
Michael increased his lead to eighty yards in the
In the fifth McDuTees pacemakers began to put
more speed. and twenty yards Of Michaels lead was
the sixth mile Michael's advantage was cut down
to twenty yards and McDulee and his pace seemed sN
TO take the lead.
records never being in danger. The spectators did
not like this sort Of tactics and were not slow in
is speed and records and without either It is
sport. The ten miles were covered in 1872 over
IN the tenth mile and succeeded in increasing his
advantage to nifty yards, A minute later McDuf;
passed Michael easily This seemed TO please the
the fourteenth mile they began to Jockey" and
the crowd Kissed The pacing teams almost bumped
McDuree led on sufferance by several yards m
H:2S i-5. The record was 25:5s3 -5 The fifteenth
everybody that the men were reserving themselves
for. the finish. The procession showed no change.
and the eighteen miles were done IN 1926 2-5. Nc
Dunee's men then ran up the embankment, and
Michael shot into the lead with the evident inte1-
ton Of opening up gap. McDlffee's men spurted
after the little Welshman. and Michael did not gain
twenty yards. and in the twentieth mile this
advantage reduced 10 five yards. They
two minutes behind the record, and the race
up 10 this time had shown nothing.
McDuffee missed pickup in the twentyhrst
mile. but his old team keeping on. no ground was
lost. IT still either man's race. Michael i'm
proved IN the twenty-third mile and steadily drew
away. increasing his lead TO forty yards. McDuffee
was calling for more pace. but he old not get IT,
His pacomakers seemed 20 lag, while Michael's
helpers appeared remarkably fresh and vigorous.
Michael maintained his advantage TO the end win
ming by about forty yards Entering the home
stretch In the final Ian both men left their pace
makers and sprintod alone for the tape. Consider
ing the manosuvring during the race. the time was
fair being only little over minute above the
world and competition records. The leader at eaHh
mile the time and the old records are as follows