The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-29
MACHINE BREAKS DOWN.
HumanMuscleB etterThan Petroleum
in q Cycle Race.

Al a NTG40 GShCSs
New York, Dec. 29-Human muscles
proved their superiority to petroleum as
a driving power for a cycle last night
in Madison Square Garden, when H.
Elkes, paced by men, rode against Teddy
Goodman and Jay Eaton, paced by a
petroleum motor cycle.
Henri Fournier's French petroleum
driven machine broke down In the third
mile of the race against seven tandems.
At the time of the breakdown the
Frenchman was lap and a half be-
hind.
Ten thousand spectators were in the
garden when the big race was started.
The amphitheater and the two galleries
began to fill at o'clock. The galleries
We're crowded a half hour later. By
o'clock the arena boxes and seats were
comfortably filled
It was a holiday crowd decked in
holiday attire. The majority of the wo-
men-and there were many present
wore gay dresses and bonnets and car
ried flowers. Many OF the men wore
evening dress.
Conspicuous in the box opposite the
judges stand was Charles w. Miller
and his bride. Mrs. Miller attracted
much attention. She was picturesque in
a Gains borough hat and gray suit
trimmed with black fur.
Miller seemed none the worse for his
recent six-day struggle, but he has
Cancelled his engagements to ride in the
east this week, and will prepare him
self beginning tomorrow, for-the TWEEN
ty-four-hour race in the garden on Jan
and Z.
When Fournier mounted on his funny
machine, which puffed around the track
like a little toy steam engine, the crowd
stared for awhile, and then hOwled with
glee, so homogeneous, 80 out of place on
a cycle track did it seem; but Fournier,
gradually turning on a little more, flew
around the track on a trial spin at
speed that opened the spectators eyes.
Everything seemed satisfactory, and af-
ter few warming up spins by Elkes'
tandems everything was ready. Eaton
and Goodman decided to divide the rid
ing into two ten-nlile relays, Eaton
taking the first period and Goodman the
second. Ellkes had seven tande1ns to
pace him.
After considerable maneuvering the
start was made. The internal ma
chine" as the pacemakers call it.
gathered Roadway slowly. The men on
Ell1es' tandem jumped like a fash and
gained half a lap. 1t looked like a run
away for human pacing. Elkes contin-
ued to gain rapidly until the second
mile, when Fourier and Eaton began
to hold on better.
The pace was fast, 200 As, for the
first mile and 1857 1-5 for the second.
At this point Fixes was q clear lap in
the lead.
Then something happened. A leather
belt-the substitute for q chain on the
motor cycle-gave way and the in
fernal machine, less part of its mecha-
nism, took the bit into its teeth" and
ran away, leaving Eaton in the rear
and picking UP the flying Elkes.
Fournier's only recourse was to turn
off the motive power. He dismounted,
a sad sad Frenchman, and little
band of his friends who had gathered
about the amphitheater railing to cry
''Vive Fournier!" and ''AllezI" went
home in detection.
Fourier said that the breakdown
was due to his confidence in a Yankee
shoemaker, who had reinforced the
driving belt for him
He made too many holes in it," said
Mr. Fourier, and many other things
in French that will not bear repetition.
EIkes continued to ride on and finish
ed winner of the race by many miles.