The Worcester spy., 1898-10-19
Did Curtis Get
Assistance
IN RECORD RIDE :?
Many Charges Being Made
Against Meriden Man.

A. M. Curtis, the eyclist who rode
from New York to Boston in IS hours
and so minutes, last Monday, to be odi-
cially recognized as the record holder
must prove to the secretary and the
other officials of the Century Road
club that he complied with all the rules
and regulations regarding road riding
during his long ride of 262 miles.
From present indications, however. it
looks as though Curtis would have lar
more difficulty in having the road cldb
ofhcials recognize the record than ne
experienced in making the lime which
has been unofficially credited to him
AS told in The Spy yesterday moraing,
reflections of a serious nature were cast
upon Curtis sportsmanship during the
ride, which had led Secretary Pease to
say that thorough investigation would
be made before any records were rec
ogniZed as official.
The past "a hours have not strength
ened Curtis position one iota. On the
other hand, more stories were afloat in
Worcester yesterday about Curtis foul
tactics than had found currency in Bos-
ton on the preceding evening From
various sources 1t would appear that
somewhere between the Brookfields and
sistance in his long journey. In a
word claim is made that a rope running
between his tandem pace and the han
die bars of his own machine saw ser
vice in one or two places the other
side of Spencer while at another time
Curtis was drawn along a couple of
miles of road by passenger on
Spencer bound electric.
These stories are being Investigated
hVr zs.nTNe
III each case is the same. There is
considerable fire beneath all this smoke.
Naturally, one of the parties most in
terested in establishing the truth or fall
slty of the charge is Curtis rival,
James j. Casey. Casey's brother, Dan,
took run up to Spencer yesterday af-
ternoon and in short time amassed
considerable testimony that is likely to
result seriously to Casey. Dan refused
to enter into any of the details. He
would only say that he had already Sc
cured the aftidavits of five or six peo-
pie who were willing to swear before
any notary in the state as to the truth
OF their assertions. These were for
warded to Secretary Pease at Boston
and formed but the first installment Of
the mass of evidence that Casey pur-
poses to collect.
The Spy has done a little investi-
Il,
ncultY, reputable citizens who are will
ing to go on record as having seen un-
sportsmanlike things in Curtis riding
One charge, the one that has been
most industriously circulated, is that
between the Brookfields, Curtis received
considerable assistance by being pulled
along by good sized hempen rope
c. A. Jefts, superintendent Of the War
rem, Brookfeld and Spencer street rail-
witness 70
seen by a Spy man last evening, and
said that about half past o'clock he
rode from Brookfield to East Brookfield
in the cars. Along the level stretch
between the two towns they overlook
Curtis party. A tandem was several
yards ahead of Curtis himself The
car came up on even terms, and went
| along for several rods by the side of
| Curtis. Superintendent Jefts saw
( plainly the rope that was doing service
| A portion of the time Curtis feet were
on the pedals, the rest of the time he
| assumed a coasting position, although
/ the road was slightly up grade at that
| point. Other men ON the car with Su-
| perintendent Jefts saw the ching dis
| tinctly.
! Another charge is that just before en-
/ tering the town of Spencer, Curtis was
| enabled to rest himself somewhat by
| being drawn along by Worcester man
who was upon the Spencer bound car.
| To this William j. Heffernan editor of
| the Spencer Leader" was witness.
| Mr.. Heffernan told The Spy man that
| he had been riding from East Brook
| field into Spencer. When the car be-
| gan it's trip across the flats between
| Westville and Spencer, Curtis brushed
| up along side. A man on the rear
| platform stretched his hand towards
| the road rider Curtis grabbed it, and
! by this means of locomotion was car
ried the full length of the flats and a
| good portion of Sumner hill Curtis
| pulled away from the car, and his
/ friend on the platform just before the
| car reached the center Of the town. The
/ car and Curtis went along the remain
! ing distance side by side, and reached
the center at practically the same mo-
ment. Mr.. Heffernan is unable to give
/ the name of the man who proffered his
/ hand 20 Curtis, but says he has often
( seen him in his visits to Worcester
! If these statements are given the
/ stamp of authenticity by the road club
/ officials, Curtis win never become a
champion in the eyes of the club. The
! record win then go to Casey, whose
/ time was 10 hours, So minutes.