The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-20

Mrs James McIlrath yesterday accom-
plished the first Womans century of the
year in Minnesota, completing the stand
ard Minnetonka course IN twelve hours
and ten minutes. Mrs. McIlrath's feat
adds new laurels to her bicycle record
and gives her an additional century, bar
breaking the unhappy spell of No. '13. -
which she has won since last fall when
she completed her thirteenth century
with her husband over the Mortified
course. However, the number does not
seem TO have been an omen Of i'll success,
as Mrs. McIlraths century duplicates
that of her husband of a week ago in
thirty minutes better time, but under
somewhat more favorable circum-
stances.
The start was made from the Bucking-
ham, Smith avenue and Ninth street,
at $50 a. m, and she was checked by
Fred Anselment, the elvator man. Mrs.
McIlrath was unpaced and unaccom-
panied and never once despaired of COM
pleting the distance, which, considering
the fact that she set her own pace and
travelled over some bad roads, is very
Creditable showing.
From the Buckingham she rode to Fort
at Lake Minnetonka. Just the other side
-of AIinnetonka Mills, between the lake,
the road was very poor and for a short
distance Mrs. McIlrath was compelled
to walk The dairymen living in the vi
cinity had allowed their cattle to run
over the path and had evidently driven
over it with their teams. Hotel ST.
Louis was reached between and 10
o'clock, and the return was made by the
same route, bringing her to the Bucking-
ham at shortly before l o'clock.
In the afternoon Mrs. McIlrath rode
over the same course again, but this
time was accompanied part of the way by
her son, Cuthbert, who distinguished
himself last fall by riding century, be-
ing the first boy in Minnesota under fif-
teen to finish within the limit.
The rules of the Century Road Club
of America require that century riders
shall be checked by some reputable per-
son every twenty-five miles. Mrs. Nc
Ilrath was checked twice by each of the
following on her two trips over the
course: Fren Anselment, Buckingham
John Wachto, Fort Smelling; G. Mong,
Lake Calhoun, Mrs. Woodford, Wood
ford inn; S. Baker, Calhoun; Mrs. Har-
ris. Fort Smelling; w. S. Frear, Mime
tonlla Mills.
Mrs. McIlrath returned from her
arduous ride but little worse forthe effort,
ana was quite enthusiastic over the trip.
She will make application Immediately
for another century bar for her chain.
She commenced riding three years ago,
and during the season of 1898 she rode a
double century in twenty-three hours.
Mr.. McIirath's whole family are wheel
men and are familiar on the cycle paths
The couple and the two boys, Cuthbert
and Jimmie, the latter who is no larger
than brownie, but can ride circles
around his "a thar f0 he
ment of Mr.. McIlrath, are well known
in wheeling circles. Mr.. McIlrath Is one
of the local centurions of the Century
club, and is an enthusiastic wheelman.
The two first centuries made by the
Mcllraths are beginning of what prom
fses to be a lively season of road riding
among the members of the Century Road
Club of America. There are several score
wheelmen in both cities that will go
after some kind of record or other, and
at present there are several Twin City
men entered in the national mileage COM
petition