The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-15
GOOD RACING AT
COLISEUM TRACK
Ped Hickman Wins Match Race
from Biddle.
TIME WAS VERY SLOW
The Races Were Exciting, Notwith-
standing Slow Time Made-With
Exception of Few Accidents
Meet Was Successful

The crowd was large and the racing good.
At least 200 people watched the riders
they sped around the coliseum track last
night.
Barring a few accidents, the second meet
of the Birmingham Cycle Racing associa-
ton was pulled off in great style. With
the exception of one or two races the time
was very slow. In fact, one of the heats
was so slow that the crowd accused the
riders of vagrancy. The most exciting con-
test of the night was the one-mle match
between Ped Hickman and Joe Biddle.
Three heats were to have been run, but as
Hickman won the first two the third was
declared Off In the first heat between the
two cracks, Biddle and Hickman, a break
neck speed was maintained and they
crossed the tape in 2:08, tying the southern
record made by Joe Biddle in tae last meet.
The programme consisted of four races
of two and three heats, one-mile novice
amateur, a two-mile 2:25 class amateur,
one-mile open and the match race between
Biddle and Hickman completed the nights
performance. The one-mile novice was won
by NJ. Simmons; c. Gustin second; and IL.
Hawkins, third. Time, 1927 rs. The two
mile 2:25 class was won by Cooper; Rob
erts, second; Ware, third. Time, 4:S7. The
result of the one-mie open was: Roberts,
first; Spencer, second; Cooper, third. Time,
21S.
Just before the second event on the pro-
gramme ten or twelve newsboys, ranging
in age from to Il, were lined up and
started for an one-eighth of a mile foot
race. This race was probably enjoy ed as
much any on the list. The boys were
handicapped according to size, tine little
fellows having a slight advantage. One of
the diminutive sprinters was given 20-foot
handicap, but the crowd on the scratch
began yelling fraud and that he was
'!crackerjack," and he was moved back ten
feet
AT the crack of the pistol the boys
started, the crowd hugely enjoying the
sight of a dozen newsboys all scrambling
for the lead. One little fellow finally got
the lead and kept 1t all the way, with the
next man sprinting hard at the finish.
George Liner got first prize, Joe White the
second and, Whince Cox, the smallest boy
in the bunch, third.
The one mile novice was the first race
run. The entries in the first heat were C.
Gustin, E. Collins and H. Hawkins An
even start was made, but Hawkins made a
short squirt and took the lead. The riders
fell in behind and Gustn forged ahead in
the third lap, Hawkins dropping behind.
Collins then took the initiative on the fifth
lap which he kept for two laps, when the
squirting began. Hawkins, who had been
trailing, turned loose some of his squirting
ability and fairly ran away from the others
coming in at least twenty feet ahead of
Gustin, who got second place. Time, 2:26
49,
In the second heat Simmons Moxie, Luns-
ford and Street lined up. This heat was
somewhat slower than the first. and the
second man failed to get a place in the
final. On the seventh lap Moxie and Street
collided, both tumbling over each other to
the ground. They were badly bruised. but
neither was seriously hurt.
The men took it time about leading until
the eighth lap, when Simmons steamed up
and left the others far in his wake Time,
2:31 There were only two heats in this
race and Hawkins, Gustin and Simmons
qualified for the final.
The second event. a two mile final. was
run in three heats of one mile each. In
the first heat the riders were Tom Per-
kins. Allie Gess. H. B. Ware and II. Har-
ris. The men started at a lively clip, with
Perkins pacing. In the third lap he dropped
back giving the lead to Harris. The two
men ran steady until the last lap, when
Geiss, who was behind. forged ahead I'M
til he was up with the second man. He
dropped behind. however, on the last half
of the lap and Perkins shot in ahead, with
Harris close second. Time, 2:25. In the
second heat there were only two entries
H. Hawkins and Jack Cooper. Both men
took their time going around the track
Cooper letting Hawkins keep the lead I'M
til the last lap, when he spurted ahead of
him and won by several lengths Time,
2:93
Spencer, II. Roberts and Christenberry
entered for the third heat. Christenberry
started off at a lively gait in front of the
bunch On the second lap Spencer jumped
in and took the lead away from Christen-
berry. The men seesawed on the lead
question for six laps, when the race be-
came exciting. Roberts, who had been