The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-07
RIDERS
LEFT TRACK
IN ANGER

New York. Dec. 7--Angry because they
believed the race was being unfairly con-
Quoted and because methods which they
sllege 10 be wrong allowed other riders
to gain a lap upon them. five teams In the
six-day bicycle race al Madison Square
Garden, including some OF the best OF the
riders competing In the event. quit the
race early today.
The five teams which quit were: Wal
thour and Munroe, Bedell Brothers, Maya
and Newkirk. Mclean and Boyler and
Butler and Moran. All OF them were
among the best In the contest and among
those most heavily backed to win the
highest prize.
The trouble was precipitated by the
most exciting period OF riding which the
race had thus far given, when Root ana
Dorlon. followed later by Sto and Van
derstuyft succeeded In gaining a lap on
their opponents. Walthour. who acted as
spokesman for the five dissatisfied teams,
declared that the members Of those teams
relieved each other at intervals not allow
ed by the rules especially In the case OF
Stol and Vanderstuyft.
The trouble began shortly after
o'clock. There was 10 be a general re-
lief OF partners about that time but Dor
10 leave the track. did not go. He had
been riding slowly back OF the bunch
for hours. merely keeping on even terms
with the rest and did not appear at all
wearied. Just as the change OF riders
was being made Dorlon started n sprint
at a pace which eclpsed anything the
race heretofore produced.
For two miles Dorlon kept up his sprint
and by that time had gained half lap
~.
second Root jumped i'm and being fresh
began a sprint which was even more
heartbreaking than Doron's had been. He
kept II uS for 20 minutes with the other
riders trying desperately 10 overtake him,
but at the end OF that time he had gained
thelap he and his partner coveted
Walthour was on the track throughout
thes print and riding little ahead Of the
rest. When Root was making his meteoric
dash half n lap ahead or the rest. little
Stol. the Belgian rider who had just re-
lieved Vanderstuypt, stole up past Wal
thour and began sprint to catch Root.
In " laps he had done what he tried for
and WalthoT had been too much taken
by surprise 10 catch him.
Then the partners I'm the FIVE teams
named. who were not then on the track
made their complaint and declared their
intention OF Withdrawing Their part
ners then riding left the tracks and ait
10 riders Immediately surrounded the Off
cials and demanded that the lost distance
be restored TO them. Walthour. as spokes-
man for the dissatisfied riders, argued
that Stol had not properly relieved
Vanderstuyft and that the lap was gained
unfairly. After trying I'm vain 10 placate
the angry riders the officials gave it up
and sent for Z. r. Powers. promoter OF
the race. When he had heard both sides
OF the dispute he told Walthour and the
others that they had no right to leave the
track as they had done
Early in the forenoon the five dssatis-
fed riders had not returned to the track
The riders who quit the race remained
about the garden and from appearance
some of them were sorry later that they
had decided so suddenly TO stop riding.
They asked a further conference with
Powers. The request met with a refusal
and during the forenoon Powers issued a
statement i'm which he claimed that the
Vanderstuyft-Stol and Root-Dorlon
teams won their lap fairly and that the
withdrawal OF the five other teams was
not justified.
After a conference between President
A. c. Batcheder of the National Cycling
club and r. w. Kency, chairman OF the
board OF control, Walthour and the nine
other riders. who withdrew from the race
were indefinitely suspended
The cases will not be disposed Of until
the regular annual meeting of the asso-
citation in February. Meanwhile they can
not ride on any track In the United States
Walthour has engagements to ride In
Europe inthe early spring. but II the sus-
pension is not lifted he will not be al
lowed to ride on any track in the world
nor will any Of the other suspended men.
Chairman elcey i'm speakingg OF the men
said: 81 intend TO make an example OF
these fellows"
He would say nothing further.