The San Francisco call., 1898-03-12
' ' ' ' ' ' ' v ' v FAMOUS CYCLER
 RETURNS FROM AUSTRALIA.
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 William Martin, a famous American long-dstance rider, who has earned the name of "Plugger" on account of his gritty, hanging-on qualities, arrived here Wednesday on the Moana from Australia via Honolulu, at which latter point he stopped off for a month, racing on the Cyclomere track there.
 In many ways Martin is a remarkable rider He belongs to the old school of long-distance champions, along with Morgan, Howell, Knapp, Ashinger and others. AS far back as ten years ago he was racing in siX-day contests on the high wheel, and won big event Of this kind in New York. With the advent of the safety he adopted that style of wheel, and later took to racing shorter distances, from five to twenty-five miles being his favorites. He travelled in Europe and won his way against some of the best men over there, and two years ago saw him landed in our Antipodes, one lone Amert- can against scores of native Australians, EngliShmen and riders of every other na- ton on earth almost
 It did not take the "Plugger' long to get accustomed to the grass tracks there and to their style of riding, and after he had won two or three of their principal championships and had annexed several S750 purses they were forced to the con-
  so worse" after all. Further, Martin has a style of fighting out his finishes to the very tape that won for him merited en- comiums, and he soon became very pop ular with the audiences and big draw ing card. He stayed there two years, consequently, and returns considerably enriched in purse and thinks he Is as last as ever.
 On the way up he stopped off at Homo lulu. He had had but little training, but the track management there offered him ind n the chance. The steamer got ln Ihurs- day and Martin rode Saturday, two days later. winning one race from the san FranciScans now there, Harry Terrlll and Allan Jones, and finishing second In the other: Altogether he started hye times, and won two tirsts, two seconds and one third, pretty good showing Tor man out of training.
 Martin would like to make a match race with any professional on the Paci1c Coast. riding under L. A. w. rules, for $500 side and whatever purse any track will offer, distance to be from two to five miles, unpaced, starting from opposite sides of the track. He is ready to post a forfeit with the cycling editor of The Call to bind such a match, and would particularly like to take on Bob Ter Till or Otto Ziegler Jr. If he cannot make a match here he will go to Denver next Tuesday night and try to arrange match with Hachenberger. Any one de- siring to take up Martins def can com municate with the writer.
 Martin says all the racing men in Aus
 
 that they are considered the superiors Of any make in the world, being lighter, stronger and better made He says he has seen as many thirty thousand peo- pie at a race meeting in Melbourne, and that with such an immense gate 1t Is easy for the promoters to give the big purses they are noted for hanging up.
 The prospects of an indoor tournament at the Mechanics Pavilion this spring are about given, up by those in the know. Powers and Brady. representing the Racing Association, talked about bringing out Michael and other attractions, but hearing of the an gets crooked manager, decided not to make the venture. None of the local promoters care to take up the matter on account of the apathy of the local deal CTS toward a tournament or show.
 B. w. Bernhard of the Olympic Club Wheelmen, familiarly known as "Sproek- climbers in the club, will leave for the Klondike on the next trip of the Hum boldt, accompanied by his brother.
 Outing and San Francisco Road clubs, now of Chico, has been in the city for the past week on visit; MT, .Peiser has become leader in Chicos cycling affairs, as he was when residing in this city.
 c. M: c'Bunt'C Smith of the Garden of the Olympic Club Wheelmen of this city have been matched for a ten-mile paced race at the Elmhurst track on April 3. Each man will furnish his own
 
 one of the best matches ever arranged out here and should attract big crowd.
 The Bay City Wheelmen will have run to South San Francisco tomorrow under Captain Larkin, leaving the club house at g a. m. By special permission the members will be permitted to go through the slaughter and packing houses of the Western Meat Company.
 On March 20 the Bay CityS will hold a flve-mile handicap road race at San Le andro. The club members are looking forward with considerable joy to the an nual Blithedale run in April.
 The Olympic Club Wheelmen will pro- mote a five-mile road race at San Lean dro tomorrow. It will be a sealed handi- cap; that is, each man will start two min utes apart from the others and ride the distance to the best of his ability un- paced. without knowledge of his handi- cap, which will be kept a secret by the captain. The result should be interesting.
 The games of the Cycle Baseball League tomorrow will be as follows: San Francisco Road Club vs. Reliance Club Wheelmen; Olympic Cyclers vs. Turn Verein Cycers; California Cycling Club vs. Bay City Wheemen.
 The long-delayed road book of the Cali fornia Associated Cycling Clubs will go to the printer the first of next week and should be in the hands of the members within a fortnight.
 The attraction at the Elmhurst track tomorrow will be a pursuit team race by riders from the Acme and Reliance clubs of Oakland. The Acme men will be: Galindo, Burke, Schleuter, Lefevre Bolte. Reliance: Deacon. Rosenheim Bacon. Wyman and Gooch. A trophy is offered by the management. to be won twice before a club gets poSsessory title. so the event may take two three Sun days to decide. The distance will be five miles. H. w. SPALDING.