The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-13
ELEVEN MEN In A BAD SPILL
JOHNSON, MARTIN AND PACEMAK-
ERS ALL IN A HEAP.
More Records BrOken-Water Carni-
val at Broad Ripple Yester-
day Was a Success.
By Al Reeves.

himself and Tom Cooper at Newly Oval
national meet l.. A W. last night, by de-
feating the Detroit rider in two straight
mile heats. About eight thousand people
were present to see the trick done, and wit
messed two of the oldest mile races ever
held in this country. Yet, after it was all
over. there was no doubt of the superiority
of the Buffalo lad over Cooper The times
of the miles were 1858 and 1857 3-5, so the
style of the heats can be understood.
The second and deciding heat of the race
found Bald on the POLE with Aker in front
to set the pace. The gun went off, but the
men did not, neither one being anxious to
take to the pacemaker. Once again the pis-
tol was fired and once again the men re-
fused to start. Referee Mott then informed
the men that unless they started at the
next shot he would furnish them with 9TH
er starters.
Then came the next report, with the peo-
pie expecting to see the men dash for the
pacemaker's rear wheel But no such thing
1t was evident that the man who has the
pace in a match race stands the least
chance of winning. Some fancy trick riding
ensued, really ridiculous. but Bale was the
best man for a slow race, and was behind
Cooper when he went up to the amphithe-
alter fence and hung on to it. Bald stuck
behind him. and after a few minutes pow
wow the pair went ahead. On the back
stretch Cooper took to the pacemaker, who
started and carried them at good gait I'M
til two laps, when Cooper ran up on the
banking again and took hold of the fence.
with Bald behind him. This sort of work
kept Uncle Jerry Mott sprinting up and
down the track, while the crowd laughed
cheered and Kissed in turns. 1t was far
from a nm 70 hot cfa
A FUNERAL PROCESSION.
The pair led funeral procession until the
bell, when Cooper put on a bit of extra
speed and worked his gear of S71a bit fast
er. Bald's wheel being fitted with an eighty
inch gear. Cooper rode up the banking
until the head of the back stretch was
reached, when Bald tried Cooper's trick of
the heat before and dashed down the bank
ing with the Detroit rider on his wheel.
Faster and faster the two champions rode,
while the crowd rose up like one person and
yelled with delight at seeing some real rae
ing
Coming into the straight Cooper came up
on the outside of the Bison and the real
fight began. And it was a fight for blood
as well as the 1000 purse. Old scores of
two years had to be settled in that short
straight-scores that promoters have been
trying to settle for all that time, but which
had never come to climax. On on, on the
pair came, their brawny legs driving the
pedals with desperation. The crowd yelled,
but the riders, with their heads down,
neither seen nor heard. All they knew was
to ride, and ride they did in a style that
was worth going miles to see. Their legs
could hardly be distinguished, so rapid was
the motion.
Like a pair of demons they came on for
the ordinary white line across the track, to
pass which first meant money, glory and,
what was best to these men. satisfaction.
Twenty-Five yards from the tape Bald
started his terrible wobble. and his machine
seemed to fairly jump. The lad at his side
in white was doing his best. Every nerve
and muscle was eXerted. but try as he could
it was impossible to make up the foot that
Bald was ii. advance. Across the tape they
went and although each saw the finish line
pass under him, it is a question whether
either one knew who had scored the victory.
But the foot of space was seen by the crowd
and all cheered and took their seats with a
relieved feeling, for the strain had told not
only on the giants of the wheel, but on those
who saw such riding as has seldom, if ever.
been seen on bicycle track. 1t was clean
cut win for the boy from Buffalo, and there
is now no question of his supremacy over
Cooper.
Cooper went so far as to claim that Bald
touched him when they both hung on the
fence thereby constituting foul, but Ref
cree Mott rightfully refused to allow it.
Cooper took the lead in one heat and lost.
and Bald took 1t in the other and won
There is. consequently, no room for doubt
A good portion of the crowd was Disguised
with the Bald-Cooper match, and rightfully
to some extent But 1t must be admitted
that the finish and the last quarter, which
is almost always the real race. was great
piece of riding. The men merely made both
heats an exhibition OF European riding, in
stead of one of them being American style.
Match racing or this sort, however, does
but then no one could attempt to instruct
the riders in their own business.
The first heat of the big match was on
the European style. or unpaced. At the
gun, Bald went out easily, Cooper waiting
for him to go in front; After a, lap Bald
went up on the bank, waiting for the Detroit
lad to take the pace, but the latter refused
and for the second lap the pair rode on the
a case of trick riding for either one Of the
men to keep on their machines, and Bald
went so far as to duplicate the action of
with johnson. took hold of the outer fence.
waiting for the American to go by. 1t con-
tlnued in this manner until the bell when
Bald moved a bit livelier and started to go
up around the upper part of the track. At
the head of the back stretch Cooper sud-
denly shot down the banking and opened a
lead of two lengths before the Bison
fairly got started. But when the latter
did start TO move he seemed to fly around
the turn and around Cooper coming almost
on even terms with him in the straight. II
was battle royal to the tape but the lad
from Buffalo was a bit stronger and lump
ing his wheel near the finish urged il across
the white line foot in advance of Cooper
1t seemed to be a popular win and the
champion was cheered to the echo.
FIVE-MILE PACED RACE
The five-mile paced race between Wagner,
of Dayton. and Gibson. of Cincinnati.
proved an interesting contest Each man
was limited TO twelve pacemakers, on trip
let's and quads. For a mile the pacemakers
of the men hung together. when Wagner's
men began TO take him TO the front The
pacemakers of the little lad from Cincin-
natl warmed up bit, however, and at three
miles passed the Dayton youngster and
opened up a gap of thirty yards. with their
man hanging well. New pacing teams were
sent from his camp in rapid succession and
no soon increased the distance, but lost il
all when Wagners fast quad picked him
up. The crowd went into ecstasies how
ever, when the little fellow again came to
the front and almost went wild when at the
bell his teams took him past his opponent