The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-11

By AL Reeves.
Black-haired, handsome and modest Owen
S. Kimble, of Louisville fresh from his
honeymoon trip, captured the two-mie ma
tional championship at the first days
racing of the national meet of the League
of American Wheelmen held at Newly Oval
yesterday, and incidently captured the
hearts of some four thousand people by his
quiet manners and fair riding Married last
Monday. he came to the track Tuesday,
leaving his bride of day at home and few
thought he would have a chance in the
great races of the national meet against
the riders who had been preparing for the
trials of the year. He came on the track
almost unnoticed yet last night his name
and nickname of "Old Kaintuck' were in
the mouth of everyone about town, and to-
day he will be famous the country over.
There were five starters in the champion
ship contest, and the winner received sixty
points in the race for the championship of
the country. The men were Cooper. Taylor,
Bald, Mertens and Kimble, who had all
qualified by the hardest kind of riding. The
men followed the pacemakers until the bell,
when the real race began.
Coming into the straight, the lad from
Louisville took the lead. and was riding for
the tape like demon. With his head bent
low, the black hair flying, his mighty brown
legs working with the rapidity and pre-
cision of a piston rod, he came on for the
goal while the crowd yelled. Bald Cooper
and Taylor, the other speed merchants,
were working with will, but the bride
groom was in the race to win and would
not be worn down by the fighting of his
antagonists. In whrlwind finish the men
crossed the tape inches only separating
them. Kimble had scored the victory, with
Taylor second and the ever popular Bald
third. And 1t was a popular victory shown
| by cries of "Kimble, Kimble, Kimble" from
every stand. Modestly the lad dismounted,
only to be grabbed by half dozen trainers,
who perched him on their shoulders and
carried him to the quarters. There was
happy man in town last night and a tele-
gram to Louisville made happy woman
| there.
WORLDS RECORDS BROKEN.
Two worlds records were broken during
the afternoon, showing the track to be fast.
There was nothing out of the ordinary in
the morning trials except Taylor's mile
from scratch in 200 is. just the fraction
outside of the record. The meet went off
with a vim that was pleasing to the crowd,
and the same set of officials will serve
81, 600 handicap at two miles. and the half
mile championship will be run.
The afternoon programme opened with the
semi-final of the half-mie championship 1t
was an easy pace for the first lap. when
Peabody started at livelier gait. Coming
into the straight, Collett, of New Haven
came to the front and won by a wheel
from Van Colt, of New York. The second
trial for the final resulted in close finish,
with Joe Rogers, the Quaker lad, a few
inches in advance of Hausman.
Bald and Taylor, the coored wonder,
were the scratchmen in the final of the pro-
| fessional handicap, and at the crack of the
| gun the latter went OUT with the Bison
hanging catching the middle markers be-
fore one lap Walsh and Murbarger, from
their long marks, kept to the front, chang
ing off to keep from the faster men in the
rear. After three laps it was a hopeless
| chase. After the bell Tom Butler and Fish
err went down, while the others started 10
sprint. Walsh and Murbarger finished one
two, and in a game fight for the other po-
stions Major Taylor beat Bald by inches,
with Stevens fifth. Butler and Fisher We're
merely bruised by their falls, the rough
surface of the track filling their legs with
splinters.
rive .,dIndleuTS, LIl0 DSSL tdlSHl VI the
country. lined up for the final Of the halt
mile amateur championship. Kramer caught
the single pacemaker put in to hurry the
men, with Rogers and Collect following.
On the back stretch Collett jumped. and try
as he could, the little New Yorker was un-
able to catch him, the New Haven lad win
ming. with Kramer length in advance of
| Rogers, who finished third. Collects riding
proved he was the best man, at least for
| the day.
Fisher, Taylor Cooper, Freeman and Nc
| Farland were the starters in the semi-final
| of the two-mile professional championship
| Barney Oldfield was put in to pace, and in
| the scramble for his rear wheel Fisher was
the best, his starter getting him off a good
| bit ahead of the gum Taylor was second
| Cooper next and Mcfarland and Freeman
| following in the order named. Mcfarland
at two laps ran ahead of the pace, and when
| il went past him took to the wheel, but
soon gave way to the darkey. Freeman
seemed content to remain at the tail end
of the field until the sixth lap, when he
| went to the 'front.' and then came the shift
| ing OF positions until the bell rang.
TAYLOR'S MARVELLOUS SPRINT.
| Down the back stretch they went with
| Mcfarland in the lead and the chances of
| the colored lad. who was one OF the centers
| of attraction, seemed hopeless. Rounding
| into the turn he came on the inside. and
| with the five riders abreast at the tape, won
| by inches from Cooper, amid the yells of
| the crowd. 1t was a sprint that is seldom
| seen on bicycle track and was appreciated
| by those who were fortunate TO be present
| yesterday.
Tom David. of indianapolis. was the pace
| maker in the second semi-fnal, Stevens get
| ting the favored position. with Bald. Gardi-
ner, Kimble and Mertens following In the
| order ramed. Just before the bell Mertens
| made a sneak and before the others knew
! what had happened he lengths in the
| lead and IL was hopeless TO chase him. the
| five-Inile champion of last year winning BY
| 100 yards The fight for the qualifying po-
| sition was warm, Kimble getting to the
| front and staying there. although Bald and
| Gardiner tried their best TO pass him. The
| Bison was third, with Gardiner fourth
| and as the heat was the fastest the Bison
| WAS allowed TO start in the final. while
| Gardeners chances of sixty points vanished
| Stevens was fifth.
Bates. OF Indianapolis, set the. running for