Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-13
M'FARLAND WINS
RACE FOR TEAM
RECORD MADE IN SIx-DAY
BICYCLE CONTEST
VETERAN CALIFORNIAN HAS
ONLY FIVE FOOT MARGIN
First Three Pairs of Riders Cover
2737 Miles, One Lap, and Two
Winning Cyclists viii
Receive $500

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN Dec.
12.-Floyd MacFarland, the veteran BIZ
cycle racer of California, won the six
teenth international siX-day race for
the team of MacFarland and Moran at
Madison Square Garden tonight, and
set a new distance record.
Rutt of the Rutt-Stol German-Hol-
land team finished second, and De-
mara of the Demara-Hill combination,
the former of California and the latter
of Boston, was third.
The final sprint of the mile was be-
tween the representatives of these
three teams, which were on equal terms
as to distance covered, the others with
drawing to give them a clear track.
The three teams that took part IN
the final dash covered 2737 miles and
one lap in 142 hours, which is three
miles seven laps ahead of the record
set by Miller and Walter in 1899.
Following is the standing of the eight
teams that finished the race, in the
order named
MacFarIand- Moran. 2737 miles, lap;
Rutt-Stol 2737 miles, 1 lap; Hill-De-
mara, 2737 miles, l lap; Walthour- Root,
27S7 miles, 1 lap; Collins Mltten, ZiSo
miles. 8 laps; Calvin Wiley, 2736 miles,
laps: Anderson anoni, 1886 miles,
laps; Palmer-Drobach, 272S miles,
laps.
Former record, 273 miles, 4 laps.
All the riders except MacFarland,
Rutt and Demara left the track at 10
o'clock,a and one minute later the three
riders who had led the others by one
or more laps for the past three days
began the decisive mile. They started
at a good clip and sprinted desperately
for the last three laps. MacFarland
got the lead and finished scarcely five
feet ahead of Rutt, who was the same
distance ahead of Demara.
The money prizes that went to the
surviving teams were divided as 1ol-
lows: -oo
fourth $500; fifth, $500; sixth, $3.50;
Early in the evening an enormous
crowd gathered in the big amphitheater
to witness the final hours of one OF the
most keenly contested bicycle races
held in the ten years history OF six
day contests. Probably 10000 persons
watched the ellipse around which the
riders of the eight teams steadily rode
until the bell sounded for the hnal
sprint between the leaders.
AS the score stood when the night
crowds began to gather, 1t was vir-
tual certainty that the teams repre-
scented in the last desperate dash of a
mile that would decide the race ana
determine the 1908 championship would
be the Rutt-Stol, observation-disclosures
and Hill-Demara combinations. Atten-
tion was largely centered upon these
teams. who were tied for the lead, as
they wound around the course, YEARLY
watching each other lest signs at an
attempt to gain a lap might appear. AT
the same time the three leaders were
constantly on the alert to prevent their
nearest rivals, the Walthour- Root
team. from gaining the short tenth OF
"a mile that meant the addition of an
other man to the list of starters in the
| deciding mile rush.
There were many short sprints dur
ing the evening, under the inspiration
of an enthusiastic crowd, but all proved
fruitless, as there was not a change IN
the relative positions. During hard
snrint by Moran, Walthour collided
with Demara and both fell, but neither
was injured and no one gained or lost
In consequence.
The pace was fast from the opening
TODAY. Throughout the week almost
every hour showed new records over
those exhibited by Miller and Walter
in 1899, and Elzes and MacFarland In
1900.
The pace was too fast for several of
the teams and they were forced to
drop out under the pressure. For the
last four days, however the leaoers
were those of the closing hours.
All three pairs showed remarkable
STAYING powers, Rutt and Stol, last
years winners. being picked on form
| by many from the start to close In the
| lead and win out In the sprint. The
veteran MacFarland, on previous
! winning team, grinding with the steady
| going Moran, was another strong fa-
yorite. Hill and Demara, hitherto UNI
known to the six-day racing enthusi-
asts. won popular approval by their
clever and game riding. Walthour and
Root lost lap in midweek, and for the
| last three days they logged the heels
of the leading teams with steady per-
sistence, using every trick of the cycle
track to get upon even terms with the
| leaders.
An interesting feature was the weight
| OF the men, which was taken at noon