The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-14
Clouds of Dust Blinded the Racers, But $500
People Enjoyed the Events.
c. AS First Race Meet By Electric Light Was Very Sue
cessful-Mong of Massillon, Takes County Champion
ship Away From CantOn-.GoOd Contests.

II just came in from Galveston" said a
wheelman, as he came Off the home
stretch, at the fair grounds about 10
o'clock last night. 1t did seem con-
siderably like Galveston down along the
stretch. The wind was blowing a
genuine gale, right in the teeth Of the
racers as they came up toward the
wire. Great clouds Of dust at times
completely obscured the racers. 1t was
one Of the worst experiences the cyclers
who rode at the Y. M. c. A. meet last
night ever had on any track.
The postponed Labor Day meet, Of the
Y. NJ. C. A., which took place Tuesday
evening by electric light at the fair
grounds, was attended by fully $500
people. Bicycle races by electric light
are a novely to Canton people, though
they have long been popular In the
east. Had it not been for the terrific
wind from the southwest, the evening
would have been an ideal one. The
temperature was comfortable, notwith-
standing the Texan zephyr which shook
the grand stand and at times almost
blew the wheelmen from the course.
The sky was brilliant, beautiful, at
times almost cloudless. A great yellow
full moon hung over in the east. The
race track itself was one blaze of light.
Many arcs and smaller Welsbach gaso-
line lamps threw a glare over the en-
tire course. Every figure along the
stretch stood out sharply and the
scene was indeed a novel one to the per-
son who was seeing his first race meet
by electric light.
The sports, as usual, crowded over the
track at first and were only kept back
after repeated efforts. The first few
heats run were delayed to an exasperat-
ing extent by the slowness of the riders
themselves and misunderstanding
among the track officials. By the time
the third race was announced, however,
everything was running satisfactorily.
But the delay made the events very
late in closing. The last race was finish
ed at HIPS, though by that time all but
the game ones" had taken run
through the wind for their cars and
done a little homestretch work them
selves.
The crowd was not very enthusiastic
the evening-except, of
course, when Mong, of Massillon, won
the Stark county championship, when
the Massillon and Canton contingents
broke loose. BY the volume of noise each
made, they seemed to be about evenly
divided. There were shouts for Mas
sillon and counter shouts for Canton.
The demonstration Mong received on
the track was very noisy. Just as the
crowd was subsiding to listen to An
nouncer Day, a small boy, who was
out at the top small pole
out at the top of a tall pole
with:
"Mebbe youse think you can play
ball?"
The remark was scarcely relevant,
but 1t started laugh.
Ed. L. Monnot was referee, and Will
Hug, starter. The clerk of course was
Will Oberly; the judges, G. w. Schooley,
If Alliance; Charles w. Oberly, Of Can
on, and E. ]. Heffelman, of Canton. The
liners, Walter Double and Will J.
Lester, of Canton, and Bert Coleman, Of
Massillon. Will Day was the an
,ouncer, and was whole megaphone In |
himself. He made himself heard |
the grand stand.