The Washington herald., 1906-12-15
Police Called In to Protect
the Spectators.
SPORT LOOKS LIKE HUGE FAKE
Pat Powers Claims II IL Being Prop
erly Conducted, but the Numerous
Spills Are Thought TO Have Been
Observation-Disclosures Appeals TO the
TenderlOin CIass-Tenms Bunehed.

race, Whicn started IN Madison Square
Garden last Monday morning. will end to
morrow night During the week some
twenty-four to thirty racers have been
toiling around a track. and thousands Of
spectators have cheered or ho0ted them
at their pleasure. The law Of the State
will not allow rider to race more than
twelve hours a day. and so racers are
made I'D in teams of two and each mem
Der of this team Is supposed to ride only
twelve hours. But Notwithstanding the
law. there is no check on the hours each
may ride, and it Is a fact that one member
of the team win ride fer sixteen or eight
cen hours each day. and the other member
be reserved for the sDrinting. For this
work the management offers a first prize
of $500, and the total amount Of prize
money offered IS $500
As a race the affair is a misnomer. as a
spectacle it is demoralizing, and as an at
traction IL has been successful In drawing
the largest collection of crooks. thugs. and
gentry ever seen under one
roof Madison Square Garden has
this week been the center of an exhibition
that has appealed only TO the lowest dregs
of society in this city The women that
have gathered there are the crowd whose
type is well known in the Tenderloin.
Contest Farce.
There is nothing In a race Of this kind
10 appeal to the true sportsman. The one
time six-day races. when RowelI and Lit
tlewoOd used to go "as you please" and
Charles Miller could ride twenty-four
hours out Of twenty-four hours. We're
tests Of endurance, but now the rules are
such that the contest Is farce
This afternoon. because OF the many
complaints that have been made about
the race, Deputy Commissioner Of Police
Mathot. at the request of Commissioner
Bingham. visited the Garden. and for
half an hour watched the riders. He de-
clined TO say what he thought OF il as a
sport but in the evening several plain
clothes men circulated among the crowd.
and things were ii little more orderly
than they have been during the week.
Manager Pat Powers is very indignant
about the stories that have been circu-
lated about the race. He says. THE
race is being run under the rules II the
National Cycling Association We have
no interest IN any rider. Certain prizes
have been offered, and will 20 10 those
who win them. and may the best man
win. The rules Of the National Cycling
Association stop the race when a rider
fails. and if a rider falls purposely to
prevent another gaining a lap then that
rider will be disqualified, and such dis
qualification goes all over the world. %
Twelve Teams Bunched.
With the last twenty-four hours Of the
race begun, nine out of the twelve teams
are tied for first place. Two others are
one lap behind. and another Is three
laps behind the leaders. During the even
ing several OF the riders tried 10 gain
lap, and so win the $50 offered for the
first rider to break the tie. As rider
woGTd dart out to the front the crowd
would stand up and howl. and then give
vent to groans Of disappointment when
he would fall back in the ruck again.
WalthoUr and Bedell are the favorites
and these riders are constantly eheered
II is not thought. though that they will
be able to make up their disadvantage:
but il they do it, IL will be early tO-mor-
row morning. Fogler is the most un-
popular rider, because he was unfortu-
nate enough 10 fall and spoil one OF
Walthours sprints. If it gets down to the
lnal mile. each team has a good chance
10 win, but the most favored in popular
opinion are Root and Rutt The riders
deny that there is any col
fusion.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Root and Mac
Farland shot out In front in another
Effort to steal a lap. WalthOur was soon
after them, and for some minutes they
went round the track al top speed. Sew
eral changes were made In the teams.
and when they stopped riding Calvin and
Wiley had lost another lap and were
'Our laps behind the leaders. and the tie
]f nine for first place had been broken.
Vanderstuyft and Stol having been lap
ped This leaves eight tied for first place.
Spills on the Track.
Three or four times during the day
'ider tried to gain a lap. and just when
he had apparently succeeded down would
90 one Of the men who had been beaten
md the efforts of the sprinter were of
10 avail
The first sprint and spill occurred
shortly after o'clock in the morning.
Johnnie BedeH started the fun by sprint
ng just as Walthour, his partner, ap-
oeared on the track TO relieve him Be
lell went out in 'front.' and the other
iders followed In hot chase but BedeH
gained, and it looked for a time as if
he would be successful and make the
ap.
EOlger was following after Bedell, with
Root next, and then came Vanderstuyft.
The latter just hit FOlgers rear wheel
md caused Folger to crash into an up
light. an dseveral riders went down in a
heap. This stopped the race, and the
men were untangled and time taken for
'epairs. Hopper was bruised about the
read and body, Logan hurt his hand,
md Walthour. too, who was on the track. |
vent down in the muss, and he was badly
shaken. Vanderstuyft was injured the
most. His face was scraped, and there
we're several cuts on his head Emils |
IeOrget, too had bad shaking up |
These men were unable to mount their |
wheels, and their trainers took their |
places and leisurely rode around the |
rack while repairs were made to the |
all. which was smashed, and the cuts |
# the riders attended to.
Challenge by Fendau Cadets. II
The FendaH Cadets would like to ar
ange a basketball schedule for January. |
The Cadets average 10 pounds Address J. !
<eane, 2S07 Olive avenue northwest.