Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-01
MILE IN LESS THAN MINUTE
Charles N. Murphy, Paced by . Rail-
way Locomotive

way Lutuuiutitu
COVERS THE DISTANCE IN FIFTY
SEVEN AND FoUR.FIFTHS SEC
ONDS-THE WHEELMAN RODE,
INSIDE A HOOD AT THE REAR
OF THE TRAIN, AND WAS LIFT
ED FROM HIS WHEEL WHEN
THE MILE WAS FINISHED-THE
TERRIFIC PACE UNSTRUNG
HIS NERVES FOR A FEW MIN
UTES, BUT HE SOON RECOVER
ED.
NEW YORK. June s0.-Charles NJ.
Murphy, of the Kings County Wheel
men, rode a mile on a bicycle, paced by
a locomotive. in 81 4-5 seconds, to-day.
His course was a two mile board track
on a siding of the Long Island Rail-
road. Murphy followed an engine aud
a day coach. the latter being provided
with a hood, which acted as a wind
shields for the rider. The board track
which was laid near haywood. Long Isl
land, and extended from that station
two miles east, was as nearly perfect
to a level as skill could make 1t. FrSIy
three thousand people saw Murphy
make his daring ride.
Engineer Sam Booth had his hand on
the throttle of engine "a. when tho
wcrd was given TO start, ten minutes
past five. The engine started at a
rapid rate. and before four hundred
yards had been trayersed. was running
at a rate of more than so miles an
hour. Murphy was keeping well within
the hood. As they neared the begin
ming of the mile stretch the pace was 4
mile a minute and a cloud of dust OBJ
scured the rider from the view OF the
spectators who lined the banks on eth
err side. Entering on the space which
would test his speed, Murphy In reply
to a query, shouted: I'm all right,
send her along but there was no me-
cessity for his remarks regarding
| speed, as the engineer was sending the
big steam flyer along at top speed.
| The quarter was reached in Is seconds
and the half in 90 2-5. The timers for
the three-quarters were Messrs. piegea
and Stoll, the former registering
and the latter 43 40. At the iinisl
of the watches showed 81 40.
81 3-5, another SIS, and the fifth
| which YVES held by Sheriff C
| The timers agreed that Muir
| covered the distance In 81 AS 81
Those on the back platform whd
| Murphy all through hsA wsnderi~
stated that the riders handle baf
knocked against the rubber buffer at
six timeg and eacn lime the eoncnz
sent1hIm back at least six feet, hut
PLY always had strength enough 70 rel
this distance, During the last quarter
a mile the rider covered tbe ground
the greater part fully a wheels length On
side OF the hood, but as he passed the ID
lsh he was close up. just then two Stron
men on board the train reeehed dawn an
seized the rider by either arm anu isfts
him aboard the car in safety. r cir aetIj
undoubtedly saved Murphy's Afe, becau
he was in such a weak condition thal5
he been allowed to remain on the W
would have been unable to contrq
a serious II not fatal accident mig
happened.
Murphy was carried to the n
the car and laid on a cot. WI
clan administered to him
five minutes the cyelist
verse with those around
might not co
Later on. howeFs - I'D notS
this, but said continually: 'B0yd
always felt that / could 60 this, No
l have done It 1 am satisfied. and
many others.
Before the train had reached y
Murphy had regained hts normal cor
Murphy rode a Zs-inch wheel. yea
10, ga crank hangers and the well
the machine was g9fx poande.