Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-17
WHEN ENTRIES CLOSE
Final Preparations for Coli
scum Meet Wednesday Next.
THREE PRIZES OFFERED
THERE WILL BE A LARGE AT
TENDANCE BY FAIR FANS.
Freeman's Anxiety to Meet Fem and
the Likelihood of a Great Race
Second Meet May %.
THREE PRIZES OFFERED

Every detail that is necessary to the sue
cessful opening of the great Coliseum, at
18th and East Capitol streets, on Wednes-
day night has been attended to by the local
management, and there is now every rea-
son to expect a mountaineering crowd for
the occasion. Tickets that have been on
sale at the downtown offices, Tappan's
on f street and Stevens on Pennsylvania
avenue, have been selling very rapidly. The
demand for the box seats has been most
steady. In order to meet the call for them
he had to have extra box seats built.
A noticeable feature of the sale during
the past week is the large number of ladies
who have purchased seats. With the fair
sex cycling was always a craze, but the
racing game fairly transports them into the
OBSTACLES of fandom. Their naturally deli
cate nervous arrangement doesn't require
whole lot of stimulation like their more
vigorous brother, man, and the fast speed
ing motors convert them into the most pro-
nounced enthusiasts
w. 8. Fem, the midget speed merchant
from New Haven, who is slated to meet
Howard Freeman of Portland, Ore, in
match heat race on opening night, will ar
rive in Washington this evening. He will
be accompanied by his managers, Messrs.
Spooner and Wells, under whose direction
he is to ride this season. Reports from At
lantic City are to the effect that the little
fellow is in the best possible condition and
riding like a streak. His early spring work
established his claim to supremacy at the
pa acct following game He will continue to
work out over the local saucer and prom
ises to mount in the very best possible con-
dition. AS a Splinter the midget knew no
superiors and few equals. AS a follower OF
the rafting motors this spring has failed
to develop a faster rider than he. He will
be accompanied to this city by a whole
army of riders and attendants. His racing
outfit alone comprises ten men, including
the four pace-makers and rubbers and
trainers.
Freeman's Reasons.
Howard Freeman has decided not to come
to Washington until the night before the
day of the race. There is reason in this
change of plans. Freeman and Fem are
rivals of previous season. Both men were
in the sprinting division last year and on
the tracks of the country they fought it
out to a finish and Fem won. This spirit
Of rivalry has been continued over from the
sprintS to the paced races and when the
two come together Wednesday night
it's dollars to doughnuts that it will be for
blood all the way. Freeman has arrived
at the Baltimore cycle track, where he will
continue his training. He will leave there
Tuesday afternoon for Washington. At
PENDANTS at the Oriole track say that Free
man is cutting out fast pace and will be
right on edge when he begins his race with
Fem.
Much interest in the amateur events has
been manifested by the local riders. All
the clubs in the city will be represented in
the two events. Entries for the races will
close Tuesday night at o'clock. The man.
agement will give three prizes in the anna
teur mile event. The first prize will be Of
$15 merchandise, the second of SO and the
third IS. In the novice half mile sprint
handsome gold prize medal, inscribed with
the winners name will be awarded to the
first man to cross the tape winner.
May % Meet.
Manager Osgood has been fortunate in
securing the contract Of two Of the best
pace followers of the game. Nat Butler, the
slender youth from Chelsea. Mass, and
George Leander, the stout boy from Chi
cago, as competitors in the professional
race on the night of May % at the Great
Coliseum. Leander is a very clever rider
and perhaps weighs more than any other
man in the business. Butler, on the other
hand, is the thinnest product OF the wheel,
but he has the speed that counts. as wit
ness his two thrilling defeats of Bobby
Walthour and his great win over big
field at the Patriots day race on the
Charles River Park track in Boston, when
such a flyer as Albert Champion was
forced to trail him. A race between these
two fellows will be a swell card for the
second meet, and it is more than likely
that the winner will be held over for the
meet of Memorial day night, when a three
cofnered race is to BE booked.
The death of Archie McEachern. the bull
dog of the game, during the past week.
was a source Of universal sorrow among
riders, to whom Archie was a friend. His
great, big, generous nature, his wholesouled
disposition and quiet unobtrusive ways had
won for him a place in the hearts of man
ayers and riders alike. Indeed, there is lit
tie doubt but that he was the most popular
man among riders in the game today. Ey-
erybody liked Archie. and his untimely
death carried shaft of pain to the hearts
of all who knew him.
His death recalls that other sad accident
that occurred in Madison Square Garden
last August, when little Johnny Nelson was
thrown from his wheel by a bursting tire,
and fell in front of the Empire state ex-
press as Jimmy Michaefs powerful motor
was known, which tore his leg into shreds.
This accident resulted in Johnny's death at
the Flower Hospital in New ork. Like Nc
Eachern Nelson was most popular. The
Attle expatriated Swede was liked by all
and was one Of the few game men of the
business. The race in which he met his
death was the only one on which he baked.
He tried to get out Of it in every way pos
sible. His contract held him. and his man