The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Howard Freeman and Will
lie Fem Signed to
Race Here.
JOE NELSON WILL BE A "PR0"
Bennie Munroe a Hard Worker-Elkes
Doing Well in France - Irwin's At
lantic City Track-Bobbie Walthour's
Challenges-Big New York Team.

night oil wednesday, May Il. MecnanlcS
are working to have everything in readi-
ness for the big event, and the manage
ment promises that the patrons Of the
weekly races will find every possible COM
fort. There will be plenty Of comfortable
chairs and benches. and music each race
night. and coming and going the car ser
vice, 1t is promised. will be OF the best.
Manager osgood has very wisely estab-
lished downtown ticket headquarters. so
that patrons Of the sport may secure their
tickets comfortably and avoid the crowds
at the gate. For all the meets during the
season, reserved and box seats will be on
sale at Tappan's. on F Street near Four
teenth, and at Stevens drug store. and
may be 'phoned for. The tickets will be
reserved until the day before the date of
each meet. The sale begins tomorrow
morning.
Fem and Freeman Signed.
The signing of two such speed mer-
chants as W. S. Fem. the midget pace
follower from the Nutmeg State and How
ard Freeman. the elongated son of the
Pacific Slope, are guarantees of the high
est class Of racing at the Coliseum.
Barring serious accident, they will give
a race the like of which does not occur
more than once in a season. In point of
speed and endurance. the two riders are
as evenly matched as two men can well
be. Both have had the benefit of long
seasons of hard campaigning. and each
will try to make the race a grueling one
Trained as they are to the hour, they
will cut out a pace that ought to come
very close to shattering the best records
over the local track. already famous for
new marks in various events.
Fem Is a Leader.
In a heat of ten miles. race in which |
speed cuts such a great figure, it would /
be impossible to secure two better men. I
Fem is today. perhaps, one of the |
fastest sprinters in the business. He /
clearly established his title to the rank |
Of leader by his work last year in the |
5printing division, when he finished third
10 Frank Kraemer's first and Major Tay-
ors second in the National Cycling AS
ISOLATION championships. This is all the
more remarkable, when it is recalled that
asst year was his first try in the profess
'ional game.
He came from the amateur last ye1C as
he champion amateur of the National
yelling Association. and was at once
Matched to ride Major Taylor. and the
printer appeared in three races, and
ost two, but showed the dusky rider that
lie was game.
This is the midget's first year at pace
ollowing. He wanted some time ago to
ackle the rattlers. but he was advised
o wait until now, when he is found to be
n great shape to pedal after the motors,
he most strenuous department OF the
yelling game He will ride May 20 at
Baltimore, May 81 at Washington. May
4 at Atlantic City, May 90 at Hartford,
iay 30 at Bridgeport. June 4 at Provi-
ence. and will be in New England until
he middle OF June, and then south OF New
'ork.
Freeman's Great Record. Ii
Freeman is a campaigner of several
easons, and is rider who knows the
anne from gun to tape, and who has fig
red in more races than majority of the
iders of the present day. He started in
s95 at Los Angeles, Cal, as an amateur. I
nd in the same year he turned profess |
ional and smashed all previous records ,
,r a handicap mile. putting up the new
lark of 1851 is. In 1898, at Ambrose
ark, in New York, he won the twentieth
entury trophy of $1,000 against one of
he fastest fields of the year. Two sea-
1ns ago he defeated Major Taylor. the I
usky cyclone. two yards back from the !
lpe at New Haven. and proved himself :
ien 4 wonderful rider.
Now a Middle Distance Man.
Freeman is. in many respects. much like 8
lloyd Mcfarland. the giant rider OF San
use, Cal, with whom Freeman teamed
II several seasons. The San Jose rider
recognized as the most versatile rider G
the game today. but Freeman falls lit I
c short of the giant. Freeman has taken I
s former team-mate into camp in COM {
,titive races, and was feared more by
ack than any other rider on the tracks ,
lille the Portland rider began his career Il
sprinter, and has made himself a r
,me in that line, his work behind the a
otors during the two past years has L
en one Of exceptionally good work. He C
Is met some OF the best middle distance
ders of this and foreign countries. and [
lids the laurel wreaths OF victory for +
ost of the times he was up. This season o
proposes devoting his time to pace fol- p
wing altogether. being firmly convinced
at it is the sport that the public wants
ID must have.
Freeman devotes much of his spare time y
art, and is considered a very capable | D
udent in the art schools of his native U
ate When not riding during the off, d
ason. he is working for the daily and a
lnthly periodicals OF his native State.
d attending the art schools OF Portland.
d thus earned the sobriquet of artist | .
clist."
MI. pa |
Toe Nelson, brother Of the late little :,
hnnie Nelson. the demon rider. will go ,,
10 the professional ranks in June The -
ominence of his late brother and the Il
It that Joe will be ready to make every a
ort to take Johnnie's place will make n
n n decided drawing card. He will be
IN here during the season :,
lie will continue his amateur record at "
npts all this month Last fall he low =
ID every amateur record from two miles !,
the hour inclusive. doing nearly thirty u
miles in the hour. and every competi- !.
n record from two miles to fifteen, ex- !,
ot the four and the five miles, marks .,
ch he will have before the close of the :;
nth. During May. he is open to meet
Y amateur rider at any distance. any Z,
lie. any place. and under any conditions. Al
* OF pace. nj
10 is rider full of grit and determina- is
n, plucky beyond compare. possessed OF js
usual stamina. small and wiry. youthful m
I taking with the people. pretty fol- ta
yer of pace, and he Is improving rapid 81
every day. Back of singles he has rid OF
q grandly. and for four weeks now win cC
l,I r.y~ - a.. II