The San Francisco call., 1899-01-29

him that [ learned how good the Ameri-
can riders were and how much harder
the game was in this country than in Eu-
rope. In 1896. when Johnson, Mcdonald
and Weinig visited Europe, l met them,
and 1t was then that l decided to come
to America.
On my leaving Europe Linton at once
started the report that had crossed the
pond to avoid meeting him. You can run
over my records of that year. | raced
records to the credit of the New Orleans
track After such q long strain of hard
work | thought | was entitled to q rest.
1t was just at this time that the six days
race, which was managed by Kennedy,
Brady and Powers began in New \ ork.
Linton, with Teddy Hale. the winner of
the race, and many other noted blcyclists,
came to this country under the manage
ment of Plummer to participate in the
race Well, just as bad luck would have
denly called there to appear in a case
which was in the courts at that time.
| had to go TO eXonerate friend OF mine
from damaging blame that had been laid
at his door as the result of an accident
to us while training with a trtplet on
road in England.
OF course, just as soon as I left Linton
at once began to say that he had driven
me from Europe and that he had also
driven me from America because l was
afraid to meet him. You can imagine
game he was playing. Just to show you
how he was blutting, Linton met defeat
at the hands of ]. f. Starbuck, the Phil
adelphia crack middle distance man. In
1887 Linton failed to show up in this coun-
try, but last year the desire again to
meet his old schoolmate was so strong in
him that he came to this country to meet
me. / met him and McDuffie. In the
race with the latter at Boston my ham
dle-bar broke, and, of course, ! was de-
feated. My hard luck kept with me. for
he won a victory. These two victories
were so hollow that another race was ue-
manded. which resulted in victory for
Now to sum up my story. for 1 am go
ing to tell you of the last final and great
race. You will understand what were my
feelings when ] entered the race. AS /
have said. / was to meet Linton at the
Manhattan Beach track. The conditions
of the race were of the hardest kind. To
begin with, you know the state of my
feelings. Now the Manhattan Beach
track is one of the most difficult on which
TO break records or follow pacemakers,
because of the sharp turns which will al
most unseat a rider. Then. again. there
is the stiff breeze from the ocean that
you have to ride against. This in Itself
is enough to discourage a man.
Well, we started from the opposite ends
of the track We were each to have un-
limited pacing, and let me tell you that
the machines used were quintets. You
can have some idea of the race from this
fact alone. 1t was hard race. At the
crack of the pistol records began to fall
by the wayside. Now taking the track
into consideration, 10 say nouHllE OF our
intense desire to defeat each other, you
can readily see how little it would take
to lose the race Owing to the immense
crowd that thronged the course I was
unable at any time to locate Linton. I
knew what TO do, so / got down to steady
riding in hurry. ! never once let my
self entirely out. This is a rule that |
always observe, for when your opponent
gets too close to you If you have not any
extra steam you are lost.
Well, we both went al ii determined to
do or die. Only once during the race did
Linton get within eighty yards of me. 1
won the race, and the victory was dear
and sweet. but / had to work for it, and
/ want to say right here that it was the
hardest race that | ever rode.
JAMES MICHAEL.