New-York tribune., 1906-08-26
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Nanhasset Hill Part of Neu0 Van-
derat Cup Course.

The inclusion Of Manhasset Hill in the Vanderbilt
Cup racecourse brings back to the memory Of
Brooklynites the part this stretch OF the North
Hampstead Turnpike played in the days of the
bicycle The hill-whch fortunately the automo-
biles are 10 ascend in the cOmpetition-is one OF
the highest Long Island It descends sharply
a half mile So the road turning and twisting.
ana, at the bottom OF the slope. striking off al
most at a right angle. Formerly there was little
muddy pool at the bottom Of the hill, separated
from the roadway by single bar OF wood. The
cyclists who were unfamiliar with the country
often tried TO coast the hill and few of tho ad-
venturers survived the attempt uninjured. Some
were killed.
a typical tnstarce Of coasting was that in which
George Geib. an East New Yorker. took the leading
role He was out with a party Of friends touring
the island. When the party reached Manhasset Hill
9eib was In advance. Although the others were
familiar with the hill, and he was not, they had
forgotten 20 warn him against attempting to coast
81 When he had passed over the brow the road
descending before him looked inviting and instead
OF oismounting, as the natives were accustomed to
do. he decided to coast and took his feet from the
pedals.
The force OF gravity carried him along with such
Eapioity that he shortly repented OF his rashness
but he could not regain the pedals Then he tried
10 get hs feet upon the coasters front forks
o1 MS wheel. but his speed so great and his
balance without foot support was so precar.ous
that he also failed in this. His companions got To
the brow OF the hill just in time to see him whirl
ing OUT OF sight around bend with his legs ex-
tended to the sides OF his wheel and his life in
Imminent danger. They jumped from their wheels
end rushed IN pursuit Of him.
BY some streak OF luck he managed to reach the
foot OF the hill without mishap speeding along at
the rate Of thirty forty miles an hour He could
not turn with the road. If ne had had the time
20 discover the bend before he reached it. He
smashed through the bar separating the pool
carrying with him about a yard OF timber and
plunged headforeulost into the water There his
friends found him, TOO stunned TO crawl TO dry
land. Although his bicycle had been broken and
bent into gnarl OF steel by the final crash, Geib
bad not scratch on his body.
One OF the most interesting festivals annually
celebrated by the great German population OF
Brooklyn is that OF the CannstaLteE, or Schwaben.
Observation-Disclosures the Schwaben Harvest Fest-
val This festival has been transplanted from the
fatherlsnd and Is celebrated under the auspices OF
the Schwaebischer Sangerbund. The harvest fes-
RidgeWood Park The institution Is similar in
EpiTtt at least 70 our Harvest Home celebrated
the manner Of the festival which has been held
each fall for generations the Wasen, near
Btuttgart. in WurteEnbeTg, Germany. AS at the
festival In the fatherland, the visitor the
.O0d coli1Tn huf I'M NJ the TrC51ce % +be fIoI5s
Horticultural and agricultural exhibits the Altwei-
teFmdhle, the mill IN which ancient danes are
EasenJagd, ia which rabbit the size OF a bear
turns 20 flight seven SWabiGns, who hunt 81 with a
mighty spear, and the Spinnstube, where charming
swabian girls spin garments from fax and receive
Another feature VIII be the supper Of German
dishes served IN German style. Nechsr wine, i'm
Sc on sale The proceeds from the festival go to
various charitable enterprises.