Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-04-17
HOW JIM 0

last fall.
ga bicycle race was a decided novelty
in Jayville. While the county weekly had
often chronicled similar events occurring
in the larger cities and commented upon
the immense crowds and the attendant
excitement the good people of the vicinity
had very indefinite ideas upon the subject
and were curious to know more. In con-
sequence the usual exhibits attracted very
little attention on this particular after
loon. The crowd began gathering early
in the day and long before the time for
the start the small grand stand was crowd
ed to OVERLOOKING with the farmers, their
wives and sweethearts, all exhibiting the
greatest interest in the preliminary spins.
These trial bursts of speed tended to
arouse still more excitement among the
spectators. They had never seen anything
like 1t in their lives, and the unanimous
verdict was that it was better hal a cir
Gus.
"When the bell rang, calling che riders
into line for the start, Is of them respond
ed. Each rider was accompanied by the
usual trainer, who makes it a point to
seem to care for the welfare of the rider
more than the latter does for himself. The
starter had stationed himself behind tho
riders and was calling the roll. When
this was finished, it was seen that all were
present with n exception. A call was
made for the missing man, but as no one
replied the starter was about to give tho
word go when a lone cyclist was seen to
ride through the gate near the quarter and
wave his hand, as though in warning.
n1o %I1y, ,nNI, cxr,tfk1ry ~, o1,I
the grand stand. AS there would be dan
ger Of collision if the start was made,
word was given to the riders to dismount
and wait for the lone wheelman. When
the latter came up to the racers, he awk-
wardly jumped from his wheel and asked:
"'Is this the bicycle racer
"When informed that it was, he ex-
pressed a desire to go along
"'Can't let you in. The entries are
closed was the brusque reply.
"'Oh, I entered more'n a month ago.
said the stranger, with a c~heerfully idiotic
smile. MY names JIM
with that he showed his receipt, which
proved him to be the n man missing.
Meanwhile the riders were becoming i'm
patient at the delay, and some of them
WCAO pnooAh6 SAA IA
directed at the mar who had kept them
waiting.
"'If you want to get in this race, you
won't have much time to get ready said
the judge. All the other boys are in po-
sition, and you'll have to get a move on
yourself
"'I don't want no time was Jim's
loconic reply. He pulled off his coat and
tied it to his handle bars.
meanwhile in the grand stand there
was considerable excitement and much
speculation as to the identity Of the stran-
ger. He was dressed in decidedly rural
attire, but no one knew him. His wheel
was an 1895 make and shabby looking.
The mau wore a blue shirt and a pair of
ordinary overalls, tied at the bottom with
a cord. On his head was a cap which was
pulled tightly down to his ears.
Having tied his coat to the handle
bars the newcomer announced that he was
ready and that the show could begin. He
was at the disadvantage of not having any
starter and had to mount by himself. The
riders were again in line up with Jim on
the outside. The pistol was fired and the
men were of. Jim got a bad start and
was not we'll under way until the others
had at, least 100 yards the best Of him.
Then he leaned over his wheel and COM
menced to pump. Before the quarter was
reached he was riding easily at the end OF
the string out. Round the riders came,
with no particular change as the half was
being finished. Jim was still at the end
and riding as though he had no interest
in the others in the bunch. Nearing the
~three-quarters there came an increase oil
speed. Each man was pushing around
the curve toward the finish to get the pole
for the finish. At this time Jim seemed
to wake up, and in q cloud of dust he
whirled along IN the outside. The fore
most riders saw him coming and tried
their best to hold their lead, but Jim was
riding like a flend, although his wheel
was in the rockiest portion of the track.
"It was an exciting moment, and the
people In the grand stand acted as though
possessed. Umbrellas and hats were waved
wildly In the air, and cries of encourage.
ment were shouted to the riders.
"About 100 yards from the finish the
racers spread out. The result appeared to
lie between the four then in the lead, the
others having dropped to the rear and
adopted q more leisurely pace. Nearer
came the riders through a cloud of dust
that almost obscured them from the view
of the spectators. Suddenly Jim's head
appeared between the two outer riders,
Rapidly he dashed to the front, looking
neither to the right nor left. The pole man
made a last desperate effort to maintain
his lead, but Jim had accumulated a fiend
ish speed, which seemed to increase will
each turn of the wheel. He fairly swep,
to the front, and amid the widest enthusi
asm he rode over the tape fully ten feet
ahead Of the second ma
tThe other riders gradually slackenet
speed and n by n came back to the
Judges stand. The crowd was yelling fol
Jim, but that peculiar individual paid M
attention to them. He had slowed up, un
tied his coat from the handle bars ant
with 1t under his arm was riding towart
the gate through which he first made hi
appearance. The crowd shouted for hin
to come back, but he logged along a.
though unmindful Of what had take1
place. A he passed through the gate HI
lifted his cap from his head and drew hi
sleeve across his brow, as If removing
lew D060s OF 4orSEAraClOn.
las no one knew who the winner was
the prize money was kept by the manage
ment and TO this day has never beef
called for.
"Yes, sir, = said the narrator as he light
ed another Cigar, THAT vas q race to re
member. You can't see one like it ever!
day. "-Minneapolis Tribune.
Points Of Resemblance.