Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-07-03
UNDER RECORD TIME.
Edwin Simonds Rides from Hartford
to Augusta.


uoy HooI dt IHoi o CLOCK, after q hard
ride OF 3O5 1-2 miles from Hartford
which he accomplished in 90 minutes
under the record time. Thus he holds
the record for the 3OO-m miles road riding
mark.
Mr.. Simonds attempted to break the
record FOR this event. in the summer OF
1898. but was prevented by a hard rain
that stopped him in Portland. He de-
termined to try again. this year, and he
now has the satisfaction of knowing
that he can ride the distance and that
he also holds the record. AS a COM
parlson OF the feat he accomplished
over that of the former holder of the
record, Fred Taylor of New Haven,
Conn.,, it can be said that Taylor rode
exactly 300 miles, over the good roads
of Massachusetts and New York, in ex-
actly 30 hours. while Mr. Simonds rode
305 IL miles over the roads between
Hartford. Conn, and Augusta, Maine,
in 20 hours and 81 minutes.
| Mr.. SimOndS started from Hartford
Conn, at exactly Z o'clock, Saturday
morning, July /. He was accompanied
by tandem as a pacemaking team
and by two other riders. one of whom
was to drop out in case Mr.. Smonds'
wheel gave out. Mr.. Simonds was rid
| ing his Eclipse wheel, that he has rid
den two seasons, and it was not known
whether it would stand the test.
He made the run of 126 miles to Bos-
ton in 10 hours and 20 minutes. From
| there he telegraphed the Journal that
he was in fair condition and to be sure
and have Harry Gross at Portland to
| pick him up.
He made stop of three quarters of
| an hour in Boston, when he again
started. accompanied by two fresh
| pacemakers. for Portland. While in
Boston he was rubbed down and fed.
His next place to procure food was at
Old Orchard. early Sunday morning
He arrived in Portland al about $50
o'clock, and stopped at the Preble
house for refreshments and rest. when
at G.15, he started out again on his ride
This time he was accompanied by Har-
ry Gross of Augusta, as pacemaker.
Their ride went all right until they
reached Bowdoinham. where, about
mile or more this side of the
village one of the tires on Gross wheel
was punctured by a tack. Mr. Simonds
stopped several minutes to help him
mend it, but nothing could be done
with the puncture, so Mr.. Smonds
rode on alone. He was picked up by
Charles Dickson of Augusta. little
distance below South Gardiner. and
along the route boys began to drop in
line for the finish. Between South
Gardiner and Augusta two stops of brief
duration We're made. but they could
not have been long. as the last 19 miles
We're made in less than two hours
An Augusta forerider announced at
about 1890. that Simonds was coming |
and great crowd gathered at the
City hotel to greet him. Every prepa-
ration was made for his reception, !
some of the local riders having the hot |
bath ready for him. and DR.. H. j. |
Frederick being present.
Smonds' wheel was the first one seen |
coming around the turn from Grove |
street to Rines hill. and he came down |
over the hill coasting with the wheel |
going at fun speed, with Dickson close !
behind. They rode quickly to the hotel |
where now that the feat was accom- |
plished and the strain was over, Mr.. |
Simonds came near collapsing and |
would have done so but for the many
kind hands who caught him and bore
Iliiii " tilN llOtGl NHtlt Ht W as dtHtu,
rubbed down and placed in bed Dick
son also fell exhausted from the heat
and the hard ride, and had to have a
like treatment.
Dr. Frederick said that Simonds was
in excellent form, even though he had
been through hard strain. He
showed that he had been carefully
trained and was in the best of condi-
np ha |
through as well as he did.
At the time of his arrival, his pulse
was 132. while his temperature was but
99A. In 90 minutes Simonds pulse
dropped to 80 and his temperature to
nearly normal, under the hot
water bath and massage treatment
He was sparingly nourished through
out the afternoon, receiving many call
ers from his admiring fellow wheelmen.
When he arrived there was a haggard
expression upon his face. with a wild
stare of the eyes. In fact his eyes
showed the hard work more plainly
than did anything else.
He was very fortunate, having re-
ceived but one fall and that during the
night. His front tire was punctured
during the early part of the ride,
Dul IL WIS quickly Inenueu ana ne
made his entire ride on the one wheel
After he left Brunswick the left pedal
began to tear away leaving nothing but
a bar for the foot to rest upon, so much
Of the work had to be done with the
right leg.
Il am feeling remarkably we'll after
having so long a ride he said to the
Journal. late Sunday afternoon. land
my wheel is in good shape. l feel very
much gratified to know that have ac-
my object"
Were you greatly exhausted on any
part of the trip?"
Not until the heat of the day came
upon me. today. I was feeling remark
ably fine, last night, and my pacemak-
ers held me back, thinking 1 would
overdo. but I thought if l could only
gain in the night a few miles, 1 could
the easier make the finish.'
Mr.. SimOnds will remain in Augusta
the rest of the week.
Stone street is being Dreparad for