The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-06-22
BY
LOCOMOTIVE
Murphy's Marvellous Mile on the
Long Island Railroad.
A MINUTE AND FIVE SECONDS

The Daring Cyclist WIN Make an At
tempt on June 80 to Cover the Dis
tance In One Minute, aud Is Con-
ndent of Success.
New York. June 22.-Chsrles Muir
ply. paced by a locomotive. rode a
mile on a bicycle in 1 minute and
seconds. near haywood, l.. l., yestsr-
day. The ride was a practice sprint.
On June 30 he will endeavor to cover
the mile in one minute Between the
rails of the Long Island Railroad com
pany for two miles has been laid
pine flooring Half a mile is allowed
for getting up speed and half a mile
for slowing down. The pacing loco
motive is one Of the biggest owned by
the Long Island railroad which is
taking an active interest in Murphy's
attempt
Murphy seemed to have no troubls
in following the pace. Although his
wheel was geared up TO 112 his feet
we're travelling so fast on the pedals II
was scarcely possible to follow them
with the eye. His eyes we're set on
broad white perpendicular stripe
painted In the center OF a dark red
shield. His face was drawn and
anxious, but he never faltered The
tire of his wheel almost touched a
little rubber buffer rail, and at no time
during the mile did he get further
away from it than three or four inches
nor at any time during the mile did
Murphy leave the center board, which
is only ten inches, so perfect was his
pace following.
The two preparatory flags flashed by
almost unseen Then came the red
flag, which marked the beginning OF
the mile, and the thrilling race against
time was begun. Almost before the
silent spectators on the rear platform
looked for the first quarter flag It had
flashed by.
The watches tallied 16 2-5 seconds.
The next quarter was a fifth OF a sec
ond slower, and the half was passed in
SO seconds. The three-quarter was
slightly faster. and the watches tai
lied 49 1-5 seconds. Murphy mean
while was pedaling like mad, losing
not an inch. There seemed very little
motion to his body above the hip.
Nothing now but an accident could
mar the trial, for Murphy showed that
he could ride as fast and faster than
the train could carry him. The engine
was warmed up as it flew into the last
quarter, and it was finished in 10 AS
seconds, or minute and FIVE seconds
for the entire mile.
Then came the most dangerous part
OF the ride, and It was an unexpected
difficulty. Murphy was unable to hear
the long whistle which was to notify
him OF the finish. In fact, he heard
nothing. Fullerton reached down and
Nyu fr
eyes. For a moment Murphy mistook
this for a signal 20 come on but dis
covered his mistake almost instantly.
and prepared to slow down. But his
hOadway was so great that be could
not stop. He did not dare to back
pedal, for that would throw him and
kill him. So he quietly steadied his
wheel and let It run.
The train jumped away from him.
but he still came tearing on from the
dead air that followed the train. A
second later he had reached the end
Of the vacuum, and found himself In
whirlwind of dust. The train had
given the air a rotary motion back Of
the vacuum, and It attacked Murphy
from both sides furiously, rocking his
wheel. He was in serious danger, and
nothing but his marvellous control Of
his wheel and his wrists of steel saved
him from going down
For an eighth of a mile he staggered
from side TO side of the narrow track,
making no attempt to back pedal. but
dsvoting all OF his energy In a super
human effort to keep on the hard sur
face and save his life. It was an un-
happy few seconds for the cyclist and
his anxious watchers, but Murphy's
courage saved him. He got his wheel
stSadisd and began to cautiously
back pedal, but his impetus was SO
great that he was unabls TO stop with
In the limits of the board track, al
though he had slackened consider
ably. When he reached the end Of the
boards he took his only chance and
Jumped in to the cinders, landing on
his feet unhurt
Ths engine sped for a mile or more
and then returned Every one was
simply amazed at the success Of the
trial, and no one more so than Muir
ply, and he expressed his confidence
to follow any pace an engine could
set for him.
Murphy's time of 65 seconds does
not constitute an official record. He
will make an official trial Sunday. and
possibly another before June 80.