The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-22
PACED BY LOCOMOTIVE
Murphy's Marvellous Mile on tho
~,,- Long Island Railroad. !
MINUTE AND FIVE SECONDS
The Daring Cyclist VIII Make an ATT
tempt on June 80 to Cover the Dis
tance in One Minute, and Is Con-
fident OF Success.

Iuo Daring CycIisb VIII Mhho hu nv
tempt on June 80 to Cover the Dis.
tance in One Minute, and Is Com
fident OF Success.
New York, June 22.-Charles Muir.
ply, paced by locomotive. rode 9
mile on bicycle In ! minute and 5
seconds. near haywood, L. l., yester.
day. The ride was q practice sprint.
On June 80 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 q
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. sta4I
Murphy seemed to have no trouble
in following the pace. Although his
wheel was geared up to liz, his feet
were travelling so fast on the pedals IL
was scarcely possible to follow them
with the eye. His eyes were set ON
broad white perpendicular stripe
painted In the center Of dark red
shield. His face was drawn and
anxious, but he never faltered. The
tire of his wheel almost touched
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 1t had
flashed by.
The watches tailed 16 2-5 seconds.
The next quarter was fifth of Sec
ond slower, and the half was passed in
80 seconds The three-quarter was
slightly faster. and the watches tall
lied 49 1-5 seconds. Murphy mean
while was pedaling like mad, losing
not an inch There seemed very little
motion 10 his body above the bip.
Nothing now but an accident could
mar the trial. for Murphy shov ed that
he could ride as fast and faster than
the train could carry him. The engine
was warmed up as it few into The last
quarter, and it was finished In 10 40
seconds, or a minute and five seconds
for the entire mile
Then came the most danger Gus part
of the ride, and it was an un expected
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
waved his cap in front of Murphy's
eyes, For a moment Murphy mistook
this for signal 70 come or but dis
covered his mistake almost instantly,
and prepared to slow down. But his
headway was so great that he 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 fl 4 him.
but he still came tearing on from the
dead air that followed Il train. A
second later he had reac, ed the end
of the vacuum. and found himself in q
whirlwind OF dust. The train had
given the air rotary mot on back Of
the vacuum, and 1t attack ID Murphy
from both sides furiously. rocking his
wheel He was in serious langer, 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 n; rrow track.
making no attempt to bac pedal, but
devoting all Of his energy in a super
human effort to keep on Il hard sur
face and save his life. It vas an un-
happy few seconds for the cyclist and
his anxious watchers, but Murphy'st
courage saved him. He sot his wheel
steadied and began to cautiously
back pedal. but his impe ls was SD
great that he was unable Il stop with
In the limits of the board track. al
though he had slackened consider
ably When he reached the end of tho
boards he took his only chance and
jumped In to the cinders, landing on
his feet unhurt.
The engine sped for mile or moro
and then returned. e, sry one was
simply amazed at the lccess 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.
Murphys time OF 65 seconds does
not constitute an official record He
will make an official trial Sunday, and
possibly another before June 80.