The times., 1898-07-25

most prominent recruit being Frank Wal
ler the Flying Dutchman. who boasts
that he never paced a loser. II was Wal
Ter who saved the day for Michael at
Boston in the match with McDuffie, and
as a multicycie steersman the erratic
and talkative Dutchman has no superior.
Probably he raised the price, and Dave
Shafer declined to see the figure. and
this economy may have cost Michael the
race.
Even when enjoying success many men
are not content to pursue that which
brings them money and fame, and Mi
chael also itches to try his hand at some
thing else. 1t is the height of his ambi-
ton 10 become identified with the turf
in the dual capacity of owner and jockey,
and sooner or later he counts upon bios
soming forth as the proprietor of stable
of thoroughbreds. Very few owners enjoy
the advantage of riding their own mounts
and Michael would have only himself TO
consult as to the manner in which he
wanted his .ibangtaiis' to perform. His
size makes him an ideal candidate for
jockey, and his headwork in cycle racing
has been demonstrated on more than one
occasion. 1t would appear that Jimmy
anticipates success in the new field. but
it is good guessing that he will never
quit the bicycle saddle as long as he can
as he has done this year.
Owing 10 his boyish appearance. Jimmy
has often been subjected to mistakes of a
trifiing and annoying nature Once at a
New York hotel he returned from tour
of the stores well laden with bundles, and
not being recognized by the clerk, was not
permitted to take the elevator and was
sent up the back stairway. the presump-
ton being that he was a messenger from
department emporium. Another time,
in Boston, a gentleman desired the SER
vices of boy, and Jimmy being the first
encountered, was asked to do the er-
rand. His expostulations and declination
of money were received with much dis
gust, until the whilom employer was in
formed as TO the identity of the celebrat-
ed speed merchant"
During the Summer Jimmy yearned for
familiar face. and so it was that ne
sent over TO Wales for hits chum OF
scnool days, and the one sent for did not
lose any time in joining him. The two
| have been inseparabIe since. and n more
| chummy pair has never been seen. Re
! ports have been current now and then
regarding the marital relations of Jimmy.
| ana only the other day a story found It's
| way into print to the effect that Mrs
| Michael was sojourning somewhere in
| Pennsylvania. But IL seems that there IS
doubt as TO whether Jimmy is or is TO;
/ benedict, and those fair ones who have
| had heartache while gazing al his smiling
| and good-looking countenance may still
| harbor the hope of conquest in this direc
| ton.
| Billy Bainbridge, who used to b,
| MichaePs trainer and companion, tells Z
story that is worth repeating. One day
| Michael was taking a practice spin be
| hind quint. with Bainbridge on the real
1
| kept at the men. saying Get out anC
work, don't you know; tear the bIoomin
| old trap TO pieces; faster! fasteri I'll g,
| to sleep, don't you know" After a few
| laps OF this sort of thing the men go
| mad, and Bainbridge passed the wore
| along. jump the little dog and give hin
| all the pace he wants" No watch wa.
laid on the machine for the next two laps
| but its riders say that each must hav,
been ridden under thirty seconds Per
| haps this is true. At any rate, they Sc
a tremendous clip. When it was all over
| cambridge looked around and there wa!
Michael, still at the rear wheel of IN,
| quint, grinning as though It was all sucl
| good joke.
| That Michael is the fastest follower o
pace in the country today few people vii
| dispute But in competition he runs III
| against a different game. 1t is a jump {,
| catch the pacemaker. or whoever get.
away first, it is long, fast chase. linet
| out; ii is a punching, on the turn Will,
wheel laps wheel and bars are locked
and when swerve of a few inches woulC
| be fatal: a close bunch and then a granC
burst of pedal-pushing by the men for
tunate enough 10 know, with Eddie Bald
| that position is everything" In such Z
| game, where will little Jimmy be? VII
| he be as daring as Pete Berlo. and as -as
as Nat Butler? VIII he come out OF tn
close-packed bunch like those "whirl
| winds" the cycling editors like TO writ.
| about and tear down the home-stretci
ike "nend. while the graudstand an,
| the bleachers lose all self-cOntroI an,
howl like mad?