The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-07-05
CHARLES MURpHY's BIG RIDE.
uu. a, Les. that Fifty-Ei9ht Sec
ond. on q Bicycie-A VAR
row Escape.

New York, July I.-Charles NJ. Muir
Inv. OF the Kings county wheeimen,
rode mile on bicycle, paced 10y To-
connective, in 0:57 As yesterday. His
course was a two-mile board track on
a siding of the Long Island railroad.
Murphy followed an engine and day
coach. the latter being provided with
n hood. which acted as a wind shield
fcr the rider.
The board track was laid near May
wood. l.. l.. and extended from that
station two miles east, and was as
-, orIv perfect to a level as skill could
make it,
started at High speed.
Engineer Sam Booth had his hand
on the throttle of engine "A. when the
word was given to start. ten minutes
past five. The engine started at
rapid rate and before 400 yards had
been travcrsed. was running at rate
OF more than fifty miles an hour. MUIR
rb, was keeping well within the hood.
As they ncarcd the beginning of the
mile stretch the pace was mile
minute and q cloud of dust obscured
the rider from the view of the specta-
tors. who lined the banks on either
: de.
"I'm All Right; Send Her Aiong'
Entering on the space which would
test his speed. Murphy, in reply to a
QUERY. shouted: I'm all right. Send
her along" But there was no neces-
sity for his remarks regarding speed,
as the engineer was sending 'he big
steam flyer along at top speed. The
charter was reached in Is seconds and
the half in 30 2-5. The timers for the
threc-ouaIters were Messrs Bieges and
StoIl, the former registering A and the
latter Is As. At the finish, two OF the
watches showed 81 As. one 81 3-5 and
js and the fifth 81 81. which was held
b> Sheriff Dreamer. The timers agreed
that Murphy had covered the distance
in 81 Is seconds.
Frequently Ran Against the Car.
Those on the back platform who
watched Murphy through his wonder
ful ride stated that the riders handle
lar had knocked against the rubber
buffet at least six times and each time
tie conclusion sent him back fully six
feet. but Murphy always had strength
enough to regain this distance.
During the last quarter of mile
the rider covered the ground for the
greater part fully wheels length out
side OF the hood. but as he pasgcu the
finish he was close up.
saved From Probable Death.
Just then two strong men on board
the train reached down. and seized the
rider by either arm and lifted him
aboard the car in safety. Their action
undoubtedly saved Murphy's life be-
cause he was then in such weak Son-
diticn that had he been allowed to re-
main on the wheel he would have been
unable to control it and serious if
not fatal accident might have hap
pened.
Murphy was carried to the front
part of the car and laid on a cot. where
physician administered TO him and
in less than five minutes the cyclist
Was able to converse with those
around him.
Thought the PInnks were Torn Up.
Murphy seemed dazed at first and
said in answer to queries as to why
he fell back so many times: II did
that 50 that | might not come in con-
tact with the planks which were be-
ing torn up in front of me" Later on.
however, he did not refer to this, but
said continually:
boys, I've always felt that could
do this. Now that have done il | am
satisfied and so are many others"