The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-17
NEWS OF THE wHEELMEN.
TOM LINTON BEAT rs JIMMY MICHAEL
BY ALMOST ONE MILE

Punctured Tire-New Worlds Records
C~reRted-Great Crowd at Manhattan
Beach TrRok-Results on Other Paths.
It is hard to tell. after his rece with Tom
Linton yesterday. whether Jimmy Michael. isto
be considered a shattered idol or a champion
who has been beaten a couple OF times through
hard luck. Michael was beaten by practically a
mile. but he had an excuse as good.
II not better. than that which he
had when he was beaten by McDufle. His
~reartire punctured In tho fifth mile. and that
cost him a lap and a half. or half a mile. After
he had changed his wheel he lost the rest OF
the distance. Still he was cheered to the finish
by thousands. although other thousands Kissed
him. He was tho favorite Of tho public and
tho majority stood by him even In defeat, in
spite OF the fact that many believed the little
fellow to have been fairly beaten and his acci-
dent to have been utilized for explanation.
1t Is equally hard to tell from the events at
Manhattan Beach track yesterday whether BIZ
cycle racing experienced a revival and a new
boom or whether 1t received n black eye. The
crowd present was the largest and most enthu-
slastic seen at any track this year. The excite
ment in tho first part of the big race amounted
almost to frenzy. 1t was tho comment on the
lips or In the mind Of every one that cycle
racing had been restored to popular favor.
After It was all over, however. and there
was time to reflect upon the disappointment
OF the affair. questions rose to mind which
before had been excluded by excitement, with
the consequence that on the homeward bound
trains the faces OF the spectators wore q
thoughtful look. and it is doubtful IL such
another crowd can be brought out this season.
Linton made a wonderful ride and records
were swept away, but, instead Of q twenty-mile
contest, there was a race for Ave miles and then
a procession home. The blame OF the pune
ture that caused 1t canno be charged
to any one. 1t simply happened 30. but
1t leaves the situation In doubt after
1t seemed certain that it had been cleared up.
About 1900 or 10000 persons were present.
and the track has not witnessed such scenes
since the Michael Starbuck race Of last year.
The bleachers were filed. the infield had q fringe
OF spectators four rows deep. and the police had
difficulty in clearing the edge Of the track for
the chief event. Two interesting facts were
amply demonstrated The first is that the war
has not hurt the sport. The big crowd showed
that when u card is provided to please the
public it will turn out. The second point is
that Jimmy Michael is still the central object
OF interest in the game. Even after the race
there were more cheers for him than for the
victor.
The race was a remarkable one in many re-
spects. 1t introduced many new problems and
opened wide the field for SPECULATION concern
INK WIltJ 10 W lOllDW N SIIlhlDR IthIuTt IL III
day was the. introduction Of open, betting. It
was something entirely new to the frequent
srS IA Il cycle Tnf racing sSsm in in these parts; but
Of the audience. Prior to the start Of the race
the press atand. the track in front of the grand
stand and tho bridge leading from one to the
jumping about with big rolls Of bills sin in, their
money with a man who was. chosen by nearly
all as stakeholder. The bets we're formally
OraD1n hating Inv 81 long chalk nnya Shafar
Michael's manager. sent something like a thou
sand dollars out in the hands q his secretary.
took large slices Of it. and it was vas placed about about
a finger. The Linton people had plenty Of
money going around early at odds of 5 to 4. but
Il soon came to be placed at eyens. and after
strong delegation from the Brighton race track
brought all kinds OF money to lay on Michael.
,o SeiSr lathe the rae TSo, was fscs on vail all The the pro Rr9mot ;'Gs
that have appeared on them at any meet this
season;. 1t was Ike a cycling Suburban day.
and 8niy after the Sa race there we're SiDsI plenty ayf to SUGGEST SUGGEST
..''bIuI money When, asked, about 'Mieshael.
the race Of his life. and added that IL he could
60 behind q locomotive right then he would
however. was contradictory. He looked pale
and thin. as il he was i'll. or drawn too fine. and
s before hn the ira race sr %Gs hni IL a. ne eb had two hectic
on the other hand. seemed perfect. and more
absolute confidence, than he exhibited from
start to finish never has been seen.
The race was, down on the programme for 5
O'clock. and at about $3.50 Linton appeared.
hand. and Linton took a few turns around. He
was applauded. but his reception was weak. In
the toss for tho pole and the choice Of pacing
advantage in having to make his pickups while
going AGAINST the wind. Shafer fooled the OPP
G G8 the tu nnSuf From ana 5 9ipm iii S G O'clo osf t ih@aqE was
a tedious wait. and the crowd grew very i'm
Some OF the racing men who know him said
that Michael was holding back because no did
not like to ride In the sun and was playing for
delay. Others who understood the ideas OF the
managers said that the wait was for the race
track crowd with its money, Throughout
laughing and chatting, with friends. a picture
OF health and ease. There are few men who
cumstances. but he certainly was not.
MlfThSFelS; e 59t it t EsS I,t,t Hst fe three on minutes after after. 9
who blamed him for the delay began to hiss,
but their noise was drowned quickly by cheers
dous ovation. but Jimmy never turned his head
to look at the people.
leading of, by 20 yards. Linton. riding a iGI
gear, 9 caught gitb W Dt G%ickSI bhS and they he .i fpis ReS the
from five to thirty yards at different times
until in the last lap of the fifth mile Linton
passed Michael and crossed the tape five yards
Immediately after beings passed Michael be-
gan to fall away. and after another lap It was
announced that his tire had punctured. He
went around for two laps after this and then
dismounted to change wheels. He had
Ing. While hs was standing on the ground
way, again the midget was a lap and a half be-
hind. He did not catch his pace right away
mile was finished he, had been Tapped
a second time and Linton had a lead of two and
a half laps. which put Jimmy practically out OF
the race. unless an accident happened to his
rival.
Michael rode n game race and tried to hold
his own. but 1t was In the last ten miles that it
looked as II he had met his master. The dis
lance between the men fuctuated from two
laps, for six niles. Michael straininS to
catch upr and gaining only to have
hope was to have Linton break down. and he
saw 1t but Linton was riding easy. with a quiet
grin OF confidence and triumph on his face. In
the eleventh mile n chain broke on one OF