The age-herald., 1899-09-24
PEABODY LEFT
 FOR CHICAGO
Has Good Words for Hickman,
 Birmingham's Wonder.
THINKS HE HAS A FUTURE
Chicago Star Will Likely Leave the L. A. w. and Go to National Cycling Association-New CIV Organiza-
 ton Will Invade South

Earl W. Peabody left at noon yesterday for his home in Chicago. On Tuesday next he will ride several match races with Leander, a rider who also halls from the Windy City. Deander has never defeated the great amateur, and it is predicted that he will have no better success in the com ing meet
 Mir Peabody expressed himself as being greatly pleased witt, the hospitable treat ment accorded him during the recent meet.
 T was greatly surprised at the wonder ful showing made by Ped Hickman," con- tinued the ChicaGoan. "but I have no ex- cuse whatever to efeer for my two de- feats. Hickman is q great little rider, and is destined to te a star of the first water. I know nothing Of his future movements, but am in hopes he will again enter some of the eastern meets. With little coach- ing he should be able to win at least half of his races"
 The recent meet will probably close the season at the coliseum track. The atmos- phere at night has already become quite chilly in the open air grand stands, and 1t will be difficult to hold another success ftl meet until next spring.
 The last races were of the highest order, and very few tricks of the trade were resorted to by tic various riders. Only orc l%an got spill" curing the meet, and this was entirely his own fault. He at tempted to swing too high on the turn and ran into another wLeel Not a single in- stance of chewing or pocketng was seen by the judges. Though all of the finals were exceedingly close, not a kick on the official decisions was feard.
 Shortly after pcahoay left Birmingham yesterday q rumor became current that the Chicago rider would leave the l.. A w. and join the National Cycling association The following from the Chicago Record is responsible TOT the report:
 Will Join \. (. A.
 "Earl Peabody, who has won amateur races of the l.. A. w. kind all over the country, will ride in the National Cycling association meets scheduled for Tattersals, beginning Wednesday next
 Peabody has climbed as far up the anna teur ladder of sprinters as any man he has met, and his records of frsts gave him the title of Amateur Zimmerman" He has ridden in the National League of American Wheelmen meets since 1896, and in his pot hunting has always picked win or two. He formerly rode under the colors of the Chicago Cycling club. but not wears the sweater of the Woodlawns
 "Peabody's standing as an amateur threw former Chairman of the Racing Board AL bert Mott into mysteries, and the struggle for his reinstatement took up much of the time of the last league assembly. Chairman Gerach permitted his appearance in the
  national meets last August, and since then Peabody has warmed up occasionally on the track
 Most of the leading professionals have already left the l.. A. w., and though Chairman Gerlach of the racing board has made desperate effort to retain control of the great riders, the organization is grad ually declining. The N. C. A. now has con- trol of many of the eastern tracks and will attempt to establish a circuit in the south during next season.
 If it be true that the L. A. w loses Pea body the organization will have suffered another disastrous stroke. The amateurs have been it's mainstay, and If Peabody leaves many prominent riders in his class will likely follow.
 It was intimated on the streets yesterday that if the N. c. A. continued to gain strength that the Birmingham track would likely be put in it's southern circuit.
 Will Enter the south
 The southern extension of the N. C. A. circuit starts from Wa shngton the middle of October, and comes through Charlotte. N. C.; Augusta, Savannah, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Nashville New Orleans and on 10 Mexico for the winter.
 Besides the usual short distance races, middle distance events with motor tandem pace will be pulled off. All the big riders including Cooper Riser. Kimlole, McFar- land Stevens, Wathem and Eaton will contest. Bikes, the middle diEance cham pion; Miller, the siX-day wonder, and Burns Pierce, the noted long distance man from Boston, will complete the team. w. H. Pickens, the promoter Of the recent sol- iseum meet, is looking up other cities for Chairman Batehelder of the N. C. A. rac- ing board, and will figure to have the local track association pull off a circuit meet during the fair dates. Mr. Pickens who, of course. is very close to Peabody, says the star will turn N. C. A. if the Tatter- sails meet is under the new associa- ticn's sanction. To those on the inside it appears that a forced relnquishment of