The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-19
TO ENJOIN HANSEN
Farmers Would Prevent Him From
Going After Records.
WILL ALSO CLAIM DAMAGES
Rainmaker Held Responsible for
Havoc Wrought on Farms by
II Storm Tuesday Night.

not be allowed to complete his third at
tempt to establish motor cycle 1000-
mile record. Farmers around Minneapo-
lis are reported to have practically de-
cided to enter suit: Ia the courts against
Hansen, and also to ask an Injunction
forbidding Hansen from attempting any
more record rides =
It, has been we'll known fact for years
that whenever Hansen started after a
record, Jupiter Pluvius would turn loose
all the moisture he had in stock. Hitherto.
however, it has not been deemed neces-
sary to take any measures against Han
sen because such showers as he brought
on were usually harmless in character,
and very often came in dry spells, when
they helped out the farmers materially
The storm of Tuesday night, however,
coming Just after Hansen had started on
his l,000-mils ride, has awakened the state
authorities, to the necessity Of taking
measures to restrain the veteran cyclist.
That storm did great damage to- crops
around Leke Minnetonka, and also
wrought havoc at various points all
through the state. s,..5S, .ss.l.> ~.
Farmers who read the announcement OF
Hansens s ride had taken. such measures
as they could to protect their grain and
fruits, but number were caught up-
aWares, and suffered considerable loss.
Now petition has been presented to the
attorney general, asking that some ac-
ton be taken to prevent recurrence OF
such disasters. A well known Minnetonka
farmer said to-day:4.
Protect the Farmers.
sThe farmers will certainly bring suit
against Hansen for damage done to crops
by Tuesday nights storm, and we shall
also ask for an injunction restraining
\, It'd aft ff,
break the record, and, In fact, from any
such attempts in the future, unless they
be made after all crops have been har-5
vested. 1t is serious matter when q
cycIist impelled solely by a desire for
glory, can wilfully imperil the. little for
tunes of the farmers of the state. When
Hansen first started in the business OF
breaking records be usually only gen.
Grated little innocuous shower, and as
those were frequently productive of more
good than harm, 1t was not thought nee
essary to take action against the rider.
when it d. comes to generating hall
storms, and floods which wash out whole
sections of roadbed, however, the case
is different. Such state of affairs can-
purpose did our forefathers fight, bleed
and die in s1776 if our property and lives
are to be placed at the mercy of any
man who wants to go: out and shatter
few records for the sake Of little
newspaper notoriety? This cannot con-
tinue and it shall not be allowed to con-
! tinue. I feel confident that the courts
will see the justice of our case and grant
our request. for an Injunction. Already
the price of farms about Minneapolis has
dropped 10 per cent following the am
nouncement that Hansen would make q
third try at the record :
Has a Cloudy Record.
The history of Hansen's record rides
is cloudy one, broken at times by
thunderstorms and foods. It was in 1884
that the "Rainmaker" first came into
prominence as long distance rider and
generator of cloudbursts. At that time
he broke the American 24-hour. bicycle
record, covering 376 miles over the Min
nehaha track. It rained intermittently
all through that ride, but not to an Iex-
tent which prevented Hansen from con-
tinuing. When he tried to better his
work few. weeks later, however, the
For seven hours Hansen plugged alons
over a muddy track and through drench-
ing rain until finally when the track was
ankle deep in mud, and the water up to
the hubs of his wheel, he was forced to
desist. = .st.z.. -ss--...,s
In 1895. riding over the Lake Harriet
boulevard, Hansen established record
by riding twenty-four hours without
starting food. He barely got under the
wire, however, for hardly had he com
pleted his ride, covering 375 miles, when
the gates were opened and the rain came
down In torrents S.4S's.==@-a4-st
Since that time Hansen has never con-
pleted record :. ride without bringing
down shower During his ], 1,00o-mtle
single wheel ride, three years ago, when
he established his ninety-two hour rec
ord, a shower began one night, but rHan-
sen only smiled a large smile into his
cuff. -s:o s,s3 |jz:Sss7@s
Fooled the Weather Man.
II have to get some sleep some time,
any way" he said. = Wake me UP when
it stops,'' and he slept the sleep OF the
broke and he continued on his way.
The storm that Hansen evoked last
Tuesday night, however, was the worst In
the history of his career as rainmaker,
and demonstrated his ability to produce
| lightning, or any other atmospheric OF
meteoris disturbance, out of clear sky.
When the veteran started Tuesday after
noon the sky was perfectly clear. and e
northwest wind gave promise of con-
| tinued fair weather.
| Within less than twelve hours, however.
came on a storm Of such violence that II
washed out deep gullies in the cycle path,
while the lightnfng actually blinded Han
sen so that he more than once ran on
1.-The path.
At one point gully some six feet wide
and seven feet deep was cut out OF the
path by the torrents Of rain. II have
| had some pretty fierce storms during my
| rides said Hansen, "but this Is the first
| time ever had the road washed out from
under me-"
In the tent near the Calhoun boulevard,
| where Hansen had established his head
quarters, the water finally came up to
| the knees OF the checkers and timers who
1 were posted there, and the party was
/ forced to seek shelter on the porch of q
/ schoolhouse, where they were partially
protected from the hail and rain. Even
! them" said Hansen, eve actually. thought
/ for while that the schoolhouse would DO
! washed out from under our feet
Hansen is only waiting for the Mtnne-
1tonka path to- be repaired before ne
starts on his third trial for the 1.000-nliie
record provided the courts do not eajoin
/ him.
Many New Tracks.
The N. C. A. circuit this year includes .
| number Of tracks that were not In existence
Edurirg 1902. Most important is the one OF
/ Pittsburg, which Is under the management
i of Tim Hurst, the former baseball umpire.
/ Atlantic City and its saucer-like track is an
j other city to be added oithe grand circuit
/ Cyclists in Fine Form.
The return of liver Lawson and Major Tay.
/ lor from Europe, the wonderful speed shown
by Frank L. Kramer during the spring and
i the excellent work OF John T. Fisher and
,Edd;o pold cuara n tea that fAA dnShft,