New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-09
Oscar Egg Causes Heaps
of Trouble for Rivals
Is. by His Sprints.
GRENDA GETS $40
FROM TOM JONES
Plucky Work of Madonna Wins
the Approval of Big Crowd
In the Garden.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

series Of sprints that set the 5000
spectators in Madison Square Garden
on edge marked the six-day bicycle
race last night, between the hours Of
o'clock and midnight. Some Of the
teams already in the rear lost more
ground, as the gruelling pace tod on
them, and at midnight there were only
fifteen teams on the track. WohlraD
and Kopsky dropped out in the morn
ing. and Piercey, who had been weaken
ing all day, withdrew about 9:40 O'CLOCK
y. m, after crashing TO the track dur
ing "jam." Gordon Walker, his part
ner, had four hours in which 70 get
new partner.
The irrepressible Egg was the cause
Of all the trouble this time. The Swiss
rider started q desperate sprint and
vas taken up in order by Hill, Dupuy
nd Hanley.
The riders were strung out for al
lost the entire length 90 the track,
ith Spears. Eaton and Rudi-Russe
alf lap TO the bad. Just when 1t
oked as though these three would be
pped. Piercey's wheel slipped on the
Twenty-seventh Street side and he shot
over the handle bars.
The bell was rung and the sprint
stopped, giving the trailers the oppor-
tunity of catching up with the leaders
again.
The offering Of many prizes for five
zap sprints kept the riders continually
on the jump, and the records were bet
tered at every mile, until, at 10 o'clock.
they had covered 1,446 miles, II miles
and laps ahead Of the record.
Madonna's plucky riding was largely
responsible for this. For mile after
mile Vincenzo whirled around the track
at better than twenty-five miles an
hour. The other riders had to sweep
along with the Italian, and, much as
.hey disliked II, were forced TO bend
their backs to the task.
AT 1O:3O O'Clock Madonna won his
first sprint prize, and his achievement
was greeted with cheers by the crowd,
which has come TO appreciate the little
foreigners gameness.
The good nature Of Hill and the
others allowed Madonna 70 get home
in front. as the field, led by Hill held
back all the way.
The spectators were stunned Tor
several seconds at II o'clock, when
Pete Prunty announced that Tom
Jones, manager Of Jess Willard, ofered
$50 for fve-lap sprint.
Most of those who heard the an
nouncement refused to believe story
II any such recklessness on the part
of the Kewanee barber. but after some
body said that two men had firm
grip on both of Jones's arms, the race
was on.
Grenda went out on the last lap and
showed his wheel over the line Just
ahead of Drobach. The crowd casped
when Grenda actually received the
money.
Evidence that the grind is beginning
TO have its effect upon the nerves Of
the riders was shown several times
during the afternoon and evening. Ma
donna. who has aroused the spectators
10 intermittent cheering by his wild
sprints TO make up lost ground, figured
in one Of these incidents.
Suter was on the track at $3.50
o'clock and developed a nosebleed,
making it necessary for him TO leave
the race for few minutes.
When the trainers tried to persuade
Madonna to relieve his partner the
Italian refused. and neither he nor
Suter was on the track until the rest