The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-20
THE BIC ROAD RACE.
Local Riders Wonder
Whether They
Won or Not.
THINK THEY DID.
Finish at Dedham Was a
Wild Scramble Of Jost-
ling Riders.

Half Worcester was aWheel yesterday.
Nature was all smiles in the early hours
of the morning, and the army of bicy-
clists that has been confined within the
city limits on macadam roads and pave
ments swept out into the country like an
invading host
1t was the real opening of the season.
Thousands of wheels were on parade on
the avenue, and in all the old familiar
haunts of the craft 1t was an ideal day
for the sport. To be sure, a strong wind
made riding none too easy, and toyed
with new style skirts of the lady enthu-
siasts. but all in all the day awheel was
one to enjoy.
Trips for mayflowers were the rule, and
the country roads were lined with search
ers for the scarce-opened trailer. In the
early morning travel was from Worces-
ter, and the returning procession came in
with immense punches of the incompara-
BILE arbutus dangling from handle-bars
and forks.
For the clubs all roads led to Dedham,
and the big road race was the Mecca of
the speeding brigade. Worcester men
were well up in the prize contingent. H.
C. Aldrich of the Newports landed in
sixth position; F. H. Sibley and c. NJ.
Walls Of the same club finished in 18th
and 23d places, respectively; William
Krafve and R. A. Carni of the Centuries
were within the charmed circle of % prize
men, although their positions are in doubt
until the final announcement is made by
the referee. One hundred and fifteen men
lined up for the word, and the race was a
Ii s-t,
was a muddle, and protests were flying as
thickly as swallows in spring.
The difficulty. as in former Worcester
races, arose from the impossibility of ac-
cuFateiy registering the men as they
crossed the finish line. Then, toe, three
of the contestants maintained their right
to pace, and with high-geared machines
fell in behind tandems trips and quads.
Among the proteStants were the Worces-
ter riders all of whom registered Yigor-
Gus kick with the referee.
All of the Worcester clubs were in evil
dence at the race, although the Century
Cycle Club and the Newport Bicycle Club
We're the only two who had an interest in
the big race w. r. Hines and j. b. Fin
neran, James Keane and John Kinniery,
William F. Day and j. j. Conlin, on tan
demS, cut out a merry pace for John Ma
han, Louis DUDE and Eddie j. Cross, leaV-
ing the Vernon club rooms at o. clock for
the trip over the road TO Dedham. The
party returned by train after the race,
Other squads of the Vernons sought may
flowers, while a party of dozen riders
scorched it out 70 Millbury and back in the
afternoon.
The club rooms of the Worcester Cycle
Club were deserted throughout the day
and the spacious quarters could have
been rented for the day without incon-
veniencing a member. Everybody was on
the road A. N. Wiggin, o. ". Currie,
Harry Fl W. Richards RpTdIs' william Jones' o" F. NJ
Scudds and George Williams took in the
big road race, making the long trip by
way of Concord and Lexington. The start
was from the club rooms, at $50 o'clock,
and the schedule arranged included the
uniting with the Hudson Cycle Club al
Westboro, but the Hudson men failed to
appear, notifying the Worcester men that
the course as planned without delay
Olin Bemis, Ralph A White. George Har-
ris. B. w. Smith and A. p. Snow jour
neyed out of town in search of amuse-
ment not to be found in the city A. r,
Garland, A. w. Chase, Fred Smith, Wax
ter b. Jones, +. E. Burdette, Fred DAM
rel, John c. Ware and Arthur Boyd went
on an all-day shoot at Whitinsville The
party carried guns and threw targets in
a quiet spot in the woods just over the
Millbury line, returning to, Worcester
when the commissary general announced
the complete exhaustion of the visible
supply of cartridges.
The club run of the Stearns Bicycle
Club was to Millbury and return. A party
of dozen scorchers cut out merry clip
over Indifferent roads and returned after
dinner, with coating of the genuine
variety of real thing in the line of dust
that resembled the finish of a hot ride in
the Sahara desert. G. r. Hovey and
Walter Brown of the club went to Ded-
ham over the road, returning after the
race by train.
The Newports turned out en- masse for
the Dedham road race. Five men of the
club donned racing rig, and of the num-
Der three landed within the prize contin-
#Fa1a y II ~
Walls, E. p. Rice and j. n. Lawrence
went on an early train to Wellesley Hills.
riding from that place to Dedham by way
of a warmer for the race. Rice and Law
remarkably fast race, and although out
side the awards were well up in the bunch
of jostling and elbowing scorchers. J. l..
Harrison, w. w. Lewis. Kimball F.
Smith, Frank Wray. Harry Walsh, John
W. st. John, Charles L. Curtis and G. W.
Morse left Worcester on the o'clock
train for South tramlngham, riding over
the road from there to Boston. Dinner
was taken at the United States Hotel and
the party rode to Dedham. After the race
the squad divided. Part remained in Bos-
ton until late hour; others rode over
the road to WestbOrO or Worcester, ar
irving in struggling lots. In the after
noon the club rooms of the NewPorts
were like a vacant house.
A squad of a half-dOzen riders went In
Providence for a conference with c. S.
Boiling of the club, who viii wear the
Newport cOlors in the coming ten-mlle
road race. MayfioWer parties were nu-
merous and the club rooms were fragrant
with the blossoms last night.
L. C.-Hinehfey, J. J. Grady and George
Hepworth of the Century went to Ded-
ham to see Krafve and Carni carry the
club colors well to the front in the big
event All the Century men returned last
night, however. in doubt as to the posi-
lions won by Krafve and Carni, and the
two riders themselves, although satisfied
that they were we'll within the limit are
not sure where they landed after it was
all over and appear content to await the
official announcement of the winners. A
SQUAD of 20 Century riders pursued the
seductive and seclusive mayflower in the
vicinity of Holden. Poor roads were en-
countered and the proposed scorch back
to town was abandoned. A squad of
half-dozen members of the club lined out
on the road to Webster and return, pros
pecting for the club run to the same town
Sunday.