Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-06
ROCK HILL RACES.

ROCK HILL RACES.
The bicycle races, under the auspi'
ces of the Rock Hill Athletic associa-
ton, came off on the associations IS
track on Monday afternoon, and bar
ring hindrances over which the asso-
citation had no control, were great
success.
The first hindrance was the failure
of as large an audience as had been
hoped for to materialize. This was
due to the fact that Gaffney and
Shelby both celebrated the "Glsrious
Fourth" and had advertised their re-
spective attractions literally along the
line OF the o. R. & G. railroad, and an
excursion train took many to those
towns who might otherwise have gone
to Rock Hill. There were about 400
present, who paid for admission to the
grand stand, and not less than 150
deadbeats occupied seats on the fence
which enclosed the track.
The second hindrance, and serious
one for the riders, was the bad condi-
ton of the track, due to inability OF
the association to make it hard and
firm by reason of the long continued
dry weather, and no means of getting
water on it. In one or two places the
wheels would sink in dry, soft dirt to
the depth of the tires.
There were Is entries-all from
South Carolina-as follows: Marion,
2; Chester, 4 Fort Mill, S; Rock Hill,
5; Lancaster, l ; Yorkville, 1.
The first event was half mile open,
and the following riders qualified: S.
R. Goza, Rock Hill; ]. D. Murchison,
Marion F. K. Spratt, Chester; S. l..
Meacham, Fort Mill ; w. Ben Ardrey,
Fort Mill. The riders were started
off in good shape, but when the turn
on the back stretch was reached, Coca,
who was in the rear, started to
make a squirt and was gaining on the
others, when his wheel ran into the
soft dirt, and caused him to lose con-
troll of it. He went on perhaps Is
yards, climbed up the embankment
and was thrown headlong against a
Negro laborer who had been engaged
in scraping the track, and Mr.. Goza,
the "coon" and the wheel, all went
down together, knocking the senses
out of the two former. Mr.. Coca was
unconscious for q few moments and
was so seriously bruised that he was
unable to take part in any of the sub
sequent races, much to the regret of
his many admirers. AS the remain
ing riders were getting down to their
work on the second lap, Meacham ran
into Spratt and both fell, sustaining
slight bruises and losing their chances
in the race.
Another important feature of the
races was the development of the fact
that John Ardrey, the county champi-
on, has a dangerous rival IN Sam
Meacham, and that from now on the
fight will be warm and close. AS will
be seen by the official summary, the
third race was won by Meacham with
Ardrey second, and the five mile han
dicap was won by Ardrey with Meach.
am second. In neither instance did
the winner have more than Is inches
lead.
Following is the summary: Race
No 1.-Half mile open. Starters
Goza, Murchison, F. X. Spratt, Meach-
am, w. Ben Ardrey. Won by Murchi'
son; Audrey, second. Time l.l4!.
Race No. 2.-One mile, York coun'
ty riders. Starters: White, McMur'
ray, J. f. Ardrey. Won .by Ardrey
White, second. Time, 2.53
Race No. 3.-One mile open. Start
ers: McMurray, Meacham, Gardner
J. +. Ardrey. Won by Meacham
Ardrey second. Time, 2.49l.
Race No. 4.-One, half mile, boys
Starters Hutchison, Harris, Patrick
Strait, McFadden. Won by Hutchi,
son; McFadden second. Time, 1.l62
Race No. 5.-One-fourth mile open
Starters: Corkill, Meacham, Murch.
ison, J. L. Ardrey, w. Ben Ardrey
Won by ]. Z. Ardrey Murchison sec,
ond. Time, 81.
Race No. Gone mile Especial Ches'
ter county,. Starters: Cree Spratt, F.
X. Spratt, w. A. Corkill. Won by
f. X. Spratt; Cree Spratt second.
Time, 2.44!.
Race No. 7.-One mile-tandem
Not run.
Race No. S.-Five mile handicap
Following qualified Cree Spratt, l5(
wards: S. L. Meacham, $50 yards