The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-26
HARD TO PICK WINNER
CLAW, ANDERSON AND LIZETTE DIS
PLAY GREAT SPEED.
Women's Race Is Being Desperately
Contested-GIaw Won Two
First Positions Yesterday,

Inc bicycle race Tor the international
twelve-hour championship started in
Tomlinson Hall yesterday afternoon, and
the race promises to be the most exciting
event of the kind that was ever held in
Indianapolis and probably in any other
city at the conclusion OF the four hours
riding last night Lizzie Claw. Tillie An
derson and Mile. Lisette had displayed to
the large crowd that they will be in condi-
ton the remainder of the week to give the
best race they have ever ridden.
The first two hours were ridden yesterday
afternoon. and the second two hours were
ridden last night. The riders reeled OFF
mile after mile at record-brealing speed
The time limit provided that the riders
should cover twenty miles an hour, but the
leaders set such terrific pace that they
rode much faster than the limit. The race
was started at 2:4S yesterday afternoon,
Claw having the pole, Anderson second,
Lisette third, Mollie La Tour fourth and
Edna La Tour fifth. When Referee Krauss
fired the revolver for the start the riders
displayed burst of speed that would have
been sufficient for a one-mile race instead
of two hours steady grind. The pace
was so fast that Edna La Tour, who had
been suffering with a cold and was not In
fit condition TO ride at such a fast speed,
soon began losing laps, and after covering
a little over six miles she left the track.
She was not able to resume riding in the
evening, and because she was thrown so
far behind she will not be in the race the
remainder of the week.
Mollie La Tour, the smallest rider in the
list of starters and who was made IA
vorite from the time she went on the track,
showed great pluck and endurance while
being handicapped, by riding during the
last ten minutes in the afternoon with the
saddle of her wheel lose. When the des-
To- vsraT do fnr ffn fr1ioh
La Tour lost two laps but showed she was
fast rider. In the evening she suffered
more i'll luck, her wheel gave out and she
was forced to mount her reserve wheel
which was not of the same gear and the
other riders gained several laps ON her
She was taken off the track five minutes
before the finish last night in order to al
low Claw, Anderson and LiSette TO hight
for the finish, but La Tour was credited
with the number of laps ridden by the
others
The fight for the finish at night was
even more desperate than in the afternoon.
Claw won in the afternoon with Lisette
close second and Anderson third, short
length separating the three riders. Last
night the three riders showed that they are
all out to win first money and the cham
pionship and every foot of the way was
contested at rapid speed. Five minutes
before the finish Lisette jumped into the
lead and the pace increased. She sprinted
for two minutes when Anderson took the
pace. Then the three leaders rode abreast
on the track for minute, fighting for po-
sition. Lisette, who is unfamiliar with the
English language. misunderstood the time
called for the remainder Of the two hours
and she sprinted again. When CLAW showed
a burst of speed Anderson and Lisette were
unable to tack to her rear wheel and she
pulled away from them for few feet.
Referee krauss fired the revolver for the
last three laps and on the last lap the
revolver would not explode the cartridge
and the riders rode two more laps than
they should have done. CLAW, however.
won first, with Lisette second and An
derson third. Anderson's friends claim she
will show more speed the remainder Of the
week while Lisette is considered one Of
the speediest riders ever seen here and one
who will make both CLAW and Anderson
do their best to beat her across the tape.
Several times during the evening the
three leaders tried to gain laps on each
other, but the riders were always on the
| alert and when one would show a burst of
speed the others quickly closed UP the
gap that had been opened. The race so
far has been so exciting that men and
| women stood up nearly the entire two hours
| instead of occupying their seats, inter-
ested were they in the riding. Bicycle men
who have seen many such races and who
are now here managing the riders say the
riders have taken more desperate chances
| in this race than thcy have ever seen
| them do before.
The score for the two hours yesterday
afternoon was as follows: CLAW, Anderson
and Iisette, AZ miles and laps: Mollie
La Tour, AZ miles and laps; Edna La
Tour, miles and laps. At the conclusion
of the four hours the score showed: CLAW,
Lisette and Anderson, So miles and 16 laps;
| Mollie La Tour, 81 miles and laps. This is
the fastest riding that has ever been ac-
| complished by women riders in Indianap-
| Oils The race will continue tonight at
| $50, and every night throughout the week,
| two hours each night.