Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-17
AN EXCITING FINISH.
The Six Day Race Won By Bikes and
 Mcfarland.


 Mcfarland.
 In q sational finish that brought | twelve thousand - wildly applauding spectators to their feet in Madison Square Garden Saturday night, Floyd | Mcfarland, q Californian cycling giant, won for his team by inches from Burns Pierce, . Canadian, the race that had been in progress there for 1-l2 hours.
 It was a most remarkable finish to one of the most remarkable cycle con tests ever held. Only one lap Separ- ated the three leading teams at the tape. and that one had been lost by the French riders through a punctured tire Oh the second day of the competi- ton.
 That a different result might have been effected had it not been for that unfortunate puncture is certain. Jean Gougoltz, to whom the misfortune oc- cured, had demonstrated time and again that he was the speediest man on the track, and in the sprint to the finish he beat out, Mcfarland by all most the same margin as the latter held over Pierce.
 Pierce and Mcfarland, almost at the last moment, were selected by their managers to make the concluding sprint, though earlier it had been an nounced that Bikes and McEachern would be the finishers for their teams.
 The Californian pleaded that he be given the last oportunity to prove to his friends that he was not in the con- dition of collapse ,ascribed to him. His 1 request was granted.
 Gougoltz led when the last lap was called, with Mcfarland taking his pace and Pierce trailing the latter. The Frenchman lowered his head and sprinted the whole distance.
 Entering the last turn Mcfarland drew rapidly alongside the leader and straightened into the homestretch less than half lap back. Pierce, in turn, was at the Californian's rear wheel.
 To the tape the three men, all giants in size and speed, pedalled as if they might have been one piece of mechan- ism. No one had the strength to galu appreciably on the others. and the thre crossed the line with their wheels practically Tapped. GOugoltz's adyan- tage was less than two feet. while Pierce was only q yard behind McF'ar- land. '-,
 The events that led up to it were as sensational as the finish. An hour be- fore the end came Bikes fell, just after relieving Mcfarland.
 Immediately the vast crowd was in an uproar McEachern and Gougoltz began sprint together. They passed Elkes before he had got fairly into mo- ton. Then they caught and passed him again. The spectators were al most wild with excitement.
 When some semblance of quiet had , heen restored the announcer requested silence. His next words were almos1 drowned by tumbltuous cheering be fore he had finished uttering them
 To, will hn Elkes,' was the announcement. Il was easily apparent that Bikes was the idol of the throng. McEacherr l and GougoltZ however, were scarcely ) behind in popularity. |. la the hour ending at 9 o'clock the : leaders had covered twenty-oDe miles : When it is taken into consideration - that few cyclists in the best of forn : can ride so far in sixty minutes th'
 wonderfnl DrowcsS of the six-day meI V will be bettaer understood. f - Two hours before the end of the fac' r aH the surviving contestants were eN t aminpl by Dr T. F. Naouley of Eas d Thirty-fisrt street. He reported tha :. all the men were physically fit to finisl $ their task.
 L Among those who witnessed the fin d ish was Charles Turville, who had jus c come from Bellevue hospital. where h.
 had been taken aS the result of an ac
 ci,ient on the third day of the race e Oscar Aaronson. who was injured il } the same accident, Is still in the Nev :. York hospital.
 :, How They Finished. Mileage. Win < Teams NJ. L. nings r H. D. Bikes ..:...... 9 Gos ' S1 5O g Floyd Mcfarland .... ,e Burns Pierce ........ 9 coo = m D Archie McEachern =,
 N Jean Gougoltz ....... 9 eos c =