The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-12

By Al Reeves.
Eddie Cannon Bald, former butcher boy,
champion professional bicycle rider for the
past three years and coming actor who
halls from Buffalo, won his way into the
hearts of the four thousand people who at
tended the second days racing of the
tional meet of the l.. A. w. at Newly
Oval Yesterday. when he crossed the tape
first in the half-mile championship of Amer
ica. The Bison has not been riding fast
Of late and his return to form was we'll
received by the people, who have always
looked upon him as the real representative
of this country Another who struck the
popular fancy was Frank Costello, who
captured the great American handicap,
turning professional for the occasion. The
! plumber boy of St. Louis was given a lib
eral mark and by making the most of it,
managed to land the big race, and of course
the $500 purse which was the winners re-
ward. Bald twice lowered the existing hand
leap record in this race, out failed to get
a share of the money.
There were five starters in the final of
the half-mile professional championship,
and Eaton was put in as pacemaker, carry
ing the men the first lap. Gardiner claimed
to have been fouled by Mcfarland, which
\
and he was out of the running. When the
bell rang announcing the last lap Cooper
went to the front in preparation for his eff
fort, and the one which might be considered
a criterion of his speed for the match with
Bald tonight. Bald took to his rear wheel
and the drug clerk, now stakeholder. from
Detroit carried him down to the last turn
at a good gait. When the banking was
reached the Bison" went around on the
outside and started his sprint, which was
like one of those of old, when he was vir-
tually unbeatable. The crowd was on its
feet in minute, and cries of Bald, Bald,
Bald showed who was favorite in the con-
test. His famous w1bble came into play
as he neared the tape, and the crossing of
that, line showed him a full length in adj
vance of Mcfarland. who beat Freeman for
the place by almost the same distance.
Cooper was fourth. Ralds win was a popu
lar one, and his style shows that the Bald
of 1895 and 1896 might not be lost forever,
as it looked in the early part of the season.
Bald now leads in the championship race,
with 129 points, Cooper second. with IS
points. and Gardiner thru. with 70.
Bald was the only scratch man in the
final of the big handicap, in which there
were fourteen starters. He went out from
the gum and with Freeman, Eaton and
Cooper soon had the middle markers. Then
came loaf with no one to chase Hall, Maya
and Costello. who were working together
in, front, with excellent chances of winning.
just before the bell the back bunch started
for the others. but although wearied, the
lone three struggled gamely on, with Wis
ions of $500 purses before tnem
Costello had just turned professional for
the race, and the thought of winning big
prize in his first contest among the money
chasers urged him on. When the turn was
reached "Sheridan's find came from be-
hind Maya and, amid wild enthusiasm,
reached the goal a length in advance of
Maya, who led Hall, all out, by the same
distance. Martin was fourth beating out
the others in a hot finish with Bald fifth
in record time of 4:09. was a great race
and showed the folly of low mark men
waiting for one another to set pace Cos
tello qualified for the five-mile amateur
championship in the morning, but was ex-
cused from starting in order that he might
turn professional and ride in the big race.
And Mound City representative has at last
won a race.
f. THE RACES IN DETAIL.
Kramer and Schofield, two Fasteners.
won their heats in the semi-inals of the
quarter-mile amateur championship, which
opened the game in the afternoon.
kimble the champion of the day before
was shut out of the first semi-final of the
half-mile championship, having made his ef-
fort bit too late. The finish was of the
proverbial blanker order. Mcfarland win
ming by inches from Tom Cooper, with
Taylor third. Becker fell after crossing the
tape. Maya was the pacemaker. The second
trial saw Walsh making the running, with
Freeman on his wheel AT the bell the men
scattered, ard Freeman started his sprint
down the back stretch. Coming around the
turn Bald went out and had no trouble in
taking the lead, Gardiner following him.
and finishing a bit in advance of Freeman
AS the heat was the fastest. however, the
latter started in the final. the colored lad
being shut out.
The sprint began at the crack of the gun
in the final of the quarter. mile champion
ship for the amateurs Little Kramer took
the lead. but was not strong enough to hold
1t. and on the last turn the ,brown-legged
lad from New England, known as Collect
who took both the big events the day be-
fore. went to the front and showed he was
yards faster than any other man in the
race His side partner Hausman, who, to
date, has been considered the better of the
two, was second. with Llewellyn third. Col
lett mas the quarter, half and two-mile
championships TO his credit and his riding
will bear watching in the future as he
seems TO have both speed and staying pow
ers.
Bald. Mcfarland. Gardiner. Cooper and
Freeman was the order of the starters from
the pole in the final of the half-me ma
tionai championship. Jay Eaton was put in
to pace the first lap. There was the usual
scramble for the pacemaker. and when the
line straightened out It was found that
Cooper had secured the pace with Bald
Mcfarland and Freeman following For
some unknown reason Gardiner had ios- the
string and was out of the race although he
stuck to his task of trying TO catch them
At the bell, Cooper went out, with Bald On
his wheel. and coming into the turn the
Bison went TO the front and proved he was
a length from Mcfarland, with Freeman
third and Cooper fourth. Gardiner claimed
that Mcfarland fouled him. which was the
reason for his losing the bunch. but Chair
man Mott could do nothing in the matter