The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-07
Conn Baker, Now Citizen Of Column
bus, Ohio, Started Feat OF
Looping Loop on
Bicycle.
WELL REMEMBERED ACT
Young ohloan Only Rider Who Es
capped Without Injury
Wanted Money to Study
Painting.

In modest nome In tAASI MOT WIN
T, avenue, Columbus, Ohio, lives
bicycle celebrity He doesn't suspect
| that he is a celebrity-neyer has
suspected it. in fact-and this of it
self adds its share of unique interest
But no other bicycle racer OF a couple
of decades ago ever accomplished
more desperate feats, or drew to him
self more genuine admirers for clean
and honorable sport Let this then
introduce the famous Diavolo of the
nineties. perfecter of looping the
! loop thrills, and winner OF countless
racing laurels-Conn Baker.
Baker is a living denial OF the
belief that one man can't do more
than one thing we'll. Before he en-
tered the racing field in the early
nineties, he was an artist OF more
than ordinary ability. His scenic and
animal paintings were attracting wide
attention. But he wanted money to
study the greatest masters.
Then suddenly a new and daring
Diavolo appeared in the circus
world. Behorned, and bedecked In
flaring hues, he would sweep down
long incline and loop around the
circle OF death" like a flash of light
ming, while the circus throngs gasp
ed. One single nervous moment, a
single unsteady move and-well,
everybody could imagine the rest.
But this new devil OF the tented
arena seemed to have no nerves." to
know no fear. Day after day, month
after month he shot like a rifle bull
let through the air, swung headlong
around the inside of the hinge arc.
head down, and then shot away again
out of the arc and to safety. In the
circus world this man was known as
j. c. Garter.
One day the Columbus townspeople
rubbed their eyes in blinking aston
Iishment The reckless daredevil
was none other than their friend, the
modest animal painter, Conn Baker.
After travelling through the United
Estates, Mr.. Baker appeared and won
praise for his daring in practically
every part of the world. Princes and
potentates sflowered him with gifts
and compliments. He came to know
personally many men whose names
have since been on every tongue.
King Edward of England, then prince
of Wales, Lord Kitchener, General
EChristian DeWet and Zulu Chief
Silwani were among them. Baker
Log Cabin near his home in Co
lumbus is filled with mementos from
| famous men.
In a recent interview, Mr.. Baker
spoke Interestingly Of the past. He
considers Arthur Augustus thinner
man to have been the greatest OF all
cyclists. Next to him he classes
Sanger, then Bald, Tyler. Windle,
Johnson, Cooper. etc.
'T have beaten them all except
Zimmerman" Mr.. Baker admitted
| IF
the greatest moments of my life was
when / ran second to 'Zim.' i do not
mean to say that I classed as high as
Sanger, Bald and some Of the others.
But / always managed to win in my
home state (Ohio). / followed the
national circuit during its best years
and YOU can bet the game was hot.
You had to ride against 40 to so OF
the best in the world, all trained to
the minute.
IT was best IN fast finishes and on
indoor tracks I was practically un-
defeated. Largely to- this training do
II attribute my success in looping
the loop on a bicycle. I am the only
one who ever came through this
without serious or fatal injury"
Mr.. Baker, during his circus en-
sagements in South Africa and the
far east, received besides large
weekly salary a percentage OF the
general circus receipts. His ride
required only 2-5 seconds, and in
proportion to actual time OF service
he undoubtedly then was the highest
salaried person in the world.
This year will see a general re.
vival Of cycling and bicycle racing
and properly understood and kept
clean, it is the greatest sport in the
world" he says.