The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-26
THE MATINEE GIRL TALKS WITH
BUTLER AND CALDWELL ABOUT LOOP.

Not for a million" said bicycle rider
yesterday at the close OF the act OF Cul-
ver's Bicycle loop at Keiths theatre Bos-
ton. when asked by the Matinee Girl how
he would like to ride the loops which
Tom Butler and Frank Caldwell raced.
And in these brief but expressive words
he voiced the sentiments of everyone
who saw this thrilling performance.
After the performance there was not
a little discussion among those who saw
the feat. whether the bicyvle riders can
stand the strain OF riding the loop twice
a dav. Butler and Caldwell are thinking
Of a. too. for. although they have peen
riding the loop only week, they can
already feel the effects OF the terrlole
strain 10 which they are subjected lheS
have been carefully examined by com
petent physician, who has not been aole
10 discover ANYTHING out OF the normal
condition after the men ride, but the men
themselves feel that riding the loop al
fects their heart
The Matinee Girl was In Boston yes
terday afternoon with few leisure mo-
ments, and remembering that the pest
show I'm Boston IS always TO be found
nj Kcl,ns she went there TO spend the
the pleasure OF talking to both Mr.. But
ler and Mr.. Caldwell I'm the Green ROOM
before they went on TO do their act. Al
though they have been riding week ana
have met with continued successes, there
is on the part OF each man n nameless
dread before he goes TO the stage TO per
form the act. The men become serious
right away, and even though they are
fuIly aware of their ability 10 ride,
slight pallor can be detected in their
faces. A clever use OF cosmetics con-
ceals this from the spectators, but not
until the men have made successful
performance and escaped injury do they
feel right.
The riders say there is a rush OF blood
TO the head and a feeling OF oppression
=af,1,ttt-the heart =t#Ftt4+=H- Those fnel-
Ags depart as soon as the men stop
going around the loop. which is fortunate
for them. as each Is certain he could not
endure either feeling for more than
few seconds.
Speaking OF the feelings he has Butler
said: AT first I did not so all the way
around I rode IN the bottom OF the big
wheel. as we do when we are racing.
After getting accustomed To pedalins In
the circle, | began to apply the brake
to my bicycle. which caused the big
wheel 10 carry me up backward n few
feet M. Even tfcn ] experienced A sick
ening sensatio As increased the speed
OF the big wheel and was carried up far
ther. the 81, kness Increased. Even be-
fore ! ever made an attempt to make
"A complete turn OF tho circle, ] had all
tho feelings ~ n severe scasickncss from
being carried up by tho big wheel
"The first time I ever went around tho
biz. wheel T was sick 90 my stomach for
four hours. and couldn't ont anything
for tho remainder of the da. The feel
Ing when I was on the ton of the big
wheel Is impossible 90 deFcribc II ap-
peared 20 me a. n had not any think
ms power at al. and Isltnow I had no
control OF my muscles I didn't know
what was doing in fact J don't know
now that 7 do anything. But as 20 ac-
ually realizing what am doing when
I am al the top OF the wheel, ! don't
FOR DAYS ] could not allow my
thoughts 10 wander. II sat down and
nv attention was not occupied with
something or other. 7 experienced the
sensation OF being carried around the
loop The feeling would begin 10 AFFECT
my stomach. and u gave way % &c. 7
presume ! would have been as sick az
when actually riding
Most Of that feeling has departed. al
though N ! make n large number of rev
oIutions ] experience 20 90 a slight de-
gree. The only difficulty I nnd now Is
Il feeling os ~ Tho heart uds CroWlcl
and is trviuR to force its w1v out
through the walls ~ the chest"
Caldwell sad Yesterday. After man
masters the knack OF riding the cycle
whirl Il has no AFFECT whatsoever on him,
and after a time the hicyslist circles the
track as really as he docs the ordinary
race track But its different with this
loop cannot nd myself of a dread "
the machine. although ] suppose ! have
ridden 70 sufficiently 20 convince me that
II can be done without danger. IL a man