The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-05
Followed Mrs.
Allen
IN HER ATTEMPT.
She Gave Up at Palmer 0w-
ing to a Sprained Foot.

y
the New York Boston road record.
Mrs. Allen did not ride over the entire
course, abandoning the trip at Palmer,
and returning to Worcester by train.
Failure to place the record to her own
credit again came not through lack Of
speed nor stamina. In fact the wheel
woman showed far more grit and bull
dog determination than would have
been manifested by many a rider of
the sterner sex under equally trying
circumstances.
Accidents and misfortunes over which
Mrs Allen had no control, We're alone
responsible. A half hours delay early
in the morning caused by a broken
wheel was followed by a fall that Mrs.
Allen experienced midway between
Hartford and Springfield. The fall
caused Mrs. Allen to faint, but after
a few minutes rest she pluckily resum-
doubleday have been the read queen
were it not for a second bad tumble,
just after leaving Springfield.
In this second fall Mrs. Allen gave the
foot that has troubled her more or less
during the past two years, another Sc
we're wrench. She realized at once that
there was no longer any chance for her
to break the record. However, encour-
aged by her pace-makers, she mounted
her wheel again, and using only one
foot pedalled along to Palmer. Arriv-
ing there it became physical impossi-
bility to continue, and she accordingly
gave up her trip
Mrs. Allen took the first train for
Worcester. accompanied by her hus-
band, and arrived at the union station
at $40 o'clock. The accident and her ex-
pected arrival by train had been bulle-
tined by The Spy, and in consequence
a number Of wheelmen were at the sta
ton when she reached the city. Mrs.
Allen alighted from the train unas-
sisted There was however, a very no
ticeable limp in her walk. She got her
wheel from the baggage car and lit
tie later was riding up Front street
with her husband, bound for her home
on Chandler street.
1t was at her home that Spy man
saw her later in the evening She was
able to walk about the house, but her
foot was baudaged, Otherwise Mrs.
Allen seemed to show but little effects
from her sixteen hours Of continuous
riding. OF course she was greatly dis
appointed, but said. with a smile,
There is no branch of sport that is
not without its disappointments. |
tried hard to do the trick, and failed
because of accidents"
In relating in detail her ride, Mrs.
Allen said:
we started promptly at IL o'clock
There was no moon and it looked as
though 1t might rain at any minute.
Paul Thomas of New York and W. A
Raymond and Fred Crendon of the
Alpha club of New York paced me
from New York with Mr. Allen
Thomas dropped off at Portchester.
Mr.. Raymond picked up nail and
sprung his frame just west of SIAM
ford. 1t delayed him for While, but
finally an exchange of wheels was eff
fected and we went on to New Haven
There was something over anihour lost
here.
We made splendid time and got into
New Haven at 735 o'clock The Mer>
iden club riders, Allen and Underwood
picked me up there and paced me to
Meriden and we picked up about 10
or IL members Of the Meriden club In
those % miles. The first 16 miles from
New Haven to Meriden were made in
40 minutes, and it took only an hour
and seven minutes to make the 22
miles, which is the record time be-
tween the two cities.
Then Captain Fidler and A. G. Cur
tbs of Meriden picked me up at Meri-
den and took me to Hartford. The
road Is very good along there, but
there are several fair sized hills, and
1 lost quite a little between Meriden
and Hartford. The pace here was not
fast enough and / kent mrrying them
up. I got to Hartford at just IL o'clock,
which was an hour ahead of my for
mer time. Up to Hartford l was Just
on my schedule riding time with the
exception of the half hour to the loss
of my Norwalk pace.
The Hartford Wheel club took me
from Hartford to Springfield and the
roads were something fearful on ac-
count of the sand and condition.
got my first fall in this stretch, just
before Windsor Locks was reached. l
hurt my foot enough so that it made
me sick at the stomach and | had to
lay off for few minutes While the
boys went to a house and got me some
coffee.
l lost few minutes here. We struck
rain about miles out Of Springfield.
1t was a sharp shower and did not last
long, but it was enough to wet us.
was an hour and twenty minutes late
in Springfield, but 40 minutes ahead of
Taylor. I was there until half-past two
o'clock I had something to eat and put
my foot to soak. After dinner I felt tip
top; the pain had left my foot and
could bear my whole weight upon it.
Everything went lovely until about
two miles east of Winchester park
got bad fall there and it was entirely
owing to the crowd of wheelmen that
followed me out Of Springfield. There
were from 20 to 30, and it is very pleas
ant and makes 1t nice to have the peo-
pie turn out and appreciate my efforts
mi ~ 8 I. I
one side or the other would be all right
but they deliberately cut in between the
pace and myself,
We made quite a sharp swing from
one side of the track to the other and
as 1 swung I saw that / was going to
hit mans tire, l pulled back sharply
to avoid hitting him, and in so doing l
hit somebody else's tire, and down I
went. 1t was about 20-mile pace when
the accident happened. When went
down doubled my lame foot under me
and I struck on my side. When I
picked myself up my foot was hurt
That settled the record then and there
But / mounted my wheel again and
made up my mind that / would have
the record as far as Palmer From
there into Palmer / pushed with one
foot. could not get off my wheel alone
and when l got off somebody had to
help me. l was an hour and 20 minutes
going from Springfield to Palmer and
that same distance before l made in SIS
minutes. [ got to Palmer. My Spring
field pace was Harry Newhall Of
Springfield and Herbert Gazette of the
Century Cycle Club of Worcester. When
we got to Palmer they were very anx-
ious that should try and keep on as
far as Worcester. anyway. I attempted
to get as far as Worcester, but | had
frf nP 1.1fr T a. 49,
uselessness of it, and gave it up and
took the train. And here l am
viii you make another try, Mrs.
Allen?" said the Spy man.
I doubt if I do this year. 1t is too late