The sun., 1904-12-06

formed at once II any fall is suspicio,is and
requires investigation and tho number OF
the rider suspected Ia also signalled.
In view OF all the forces conspning against
Walthour and Monroe their clances as
favorites seem to be not 40 fine as they
are in the form dope Walthour is in
his usual superb condition, and only an
injury Or loss of ground by his partner
can be expected to defeat him. Monroe
the sprint nor Judgment Of Walthour.
Steady plugging would wear down almost
any of the others before Monroe when
he is in condition, but long sprint
Is always a menace to him. Mohroe has
year. but he worked hard for couple OF
months before the race and appears to
be in fair condition.
Mrs. Walthour, who was feature Of the
race last year, because of her constant at
tendance at the race and her, passionate
hand this year She is at the Walthour
home in Atlanta, Ga, where a visit from
the stork IL expected. Walthour Is now
the father Of three children.
The first change in the score OF the race
occurred at POI o'clock yesterday morn
ing, when King and Rossino, the team
reckoned TO be the weakest at the start
OF the race, were Tapped. King was reliev-
ing Rossino and they made slow work X OF it
sprint was started and though King
made hard fight Of 1t he could not hold
the bunch.
This rider was the companion Of Samuel
son two years ago, when they beat their
way from Salt Lake City to New York to
go in the race. This year King rode his
bicycle all the way from Salt Lake City to
getting snowbound that distance away.
His idea was that a couple Of thousand
miles on the road would season him for
the race.
The result Of IL was that he was in splen-
did condition for long, slow, plugging
when It cane to a sprint Rossno never
gave evidence OF having much heart and
he did little toward helping King. After
losing the first lap the team lost one in
nearly every sprint, and shortly after Q
O'Clock in the morning Rossino announced
that they were out for good
The race began its record Of falls by the
riders early, this year. and the spills were
frequent throughout the first day. After
the big upset OF half dozen men in the
third mile and the couple OF minor falls
during the first hour of the race, there was
Citement of this sort.
There is excitement attached to every
fall quite apart from the likelihood Of in
juries to the favorites in the betting, for
there is no more sympathy in the contest
than there is in a friendly poker game.
As soon as the riders at the front Of the
string hear the crash Of fall behind them
they quicken their pace in the hope that some
of the riders behind, who are hindered by
the fallen ones in front Of them may be
Tapped. and hoping also that the possible
unfortunates are the men whom they most
fear.
The most serious fall Of the first half day
occurred at 845 in the morning, when
keegan sustained a broken nose. Root
coming on the track after a nap started
int fhn oil nf
the top of the bank on the Fourth avenue
end and Keegan went over him. Rooko-
WITT went over Keegan and the pedal OF
Rockowitz's wheel hit Keegan on the nose
hard enough to break II and at the same
time cut a cash over the Irish lads eye.
stitched up and the nose set in plaster.
After little rest Keegan went out on the
track and rode for awhile. Had an ambu.-
lance been called it is probable he would
not have been allowed to return.
The second change in the positions Of
the men occurred at $50 o'cl lock in the
morning. Limberg was tagging at the
end Of the line and the string started a
sprint in the hope TO make him lose lap.
The effort was a success and no sooner was
Limberg Tapped than Monroe fell and New
dirk and Breton went over him.
There was suspicion attached to Mon
roe's fall at first, but 1t was discovered
that n tire on his wheel had pulled loose
There was the usdal sprint at the sound Of
the fall. Walthour relieved Monroe and
the partners Of Newkirk and Breton re-
leved them.
Caldwell, Krebs and Sulldns had been
hindered by the fall and we're somewhat
behind the main bunch. The sprint was
long and furious. Caldwell had to do all
the pacemeking for the struggling three,
sequence was all !ost lap. Imherg lost
another half zap white the other three were
losing their fateful tenth Of q mile, but his
partner. Hardy Downing, relieved him
apd garnely closed the gap that threatened
to put them two laps to the bad.
During the afternoon ", g. Fem rode an
lnpaced half mile in 81 seconds and Frank
Kramer rode an unpaced quarter Of a mile
in ~ AS seconds, equalling the worlds
record.