The Washington herald., 1917-03-11
When Johnny Nelson "Cashed."


When Johnny Nelson "Cashed."
Say. boss. Of all tn many athletes
you've saw in your time, which one
do you think showed tn greatest amount
OF gameness when put to tn test7"
Well. Lon, that's a hard question TO
answer. I've saw many a game lad
in tn different branches of sport, an
to pick any one out in particular is
a mighty tough job. I've saw Jockeys
with broken limbs ride their races to
finish. football players cry like kids
when took from a game, balIplayers
knocked senseless then fight to get back.
one runner drop dead after winnin' a
big race, fighters an wrestlers too nu-
merous to mention, an over in Henley.
England, in 1896 I seen four husky Yale
oarsmen fall fiat on their faces after
they'd pulled up a poor second to tn
cracks Of that country. but for real
downright gameness, with grim death
starin' him bang in tn eye. think ill.,
Swede bicycle rider, named Johnny Nell
son. had 'em all beat.
TIL incident I refer to took place up
in Moo York along in tn late sVs. Jim
my Michael was then king of all motor
paced bicycle riders an Johnny Nelson
had challenged him for tn champion
ship honors.
Th' sport was at its height in them
days, Broadway approved tn match, al
lowed that Nelson had earned tn right
to challenge tn champion. tn press
boosted 1t to tn skies, an in conse-
quence old Madison Square Garden was
packed to a overflow on tn night Of
tn race
Az rener,her tb' dtst,,oo VIA. e. 10
twenty-five miles for purse, winner
take all, an tn championship Of Amert-
ca. an as every bug" present knowed
tn race was for blood, an dead on tn
level. it's needless to say that every seat
was filled long before 10 O'Clock, tn
hour set for tn feature event, an when
Champion Frank Kraemer had finished
his exhibition mile race against time, tn
big crowd give a sigh of relief, settled
In their seats an prepared for tn star
number.
There amt no way o. describin' tn
scene that took place when at $50 John
ny Nelson's big chuSgin' motor appeared
on tn track close followed by Michaers, 5,
an "a few minutes later when both riders
showed up. surrounded by young army
of trainers, rubbcrs, hangers-on an root
ers, pandemonium broke loose, an for two
or three minutes you couldn't hear your
self think.
Then. after a mess O. argufyin'. speech
maxim, introducin' an such like. TIL two
lii speed marvels hoped on their wheels,
took couple O turns OF tn oval caught
Up with their PAGERS. a shooter" was
fired, an tn big race was on.
No doubt, lad, you've often heard tn
expression, "here they came an there
they 60" Well. to this day I've always
believed 1t originated with them indoor
motor-paced bicycle races, an how them
ll5-pound kiddies ever kept pace with tn
fast goin' machinery is way beyond me.
l don't quite recall how many miles
had been covered, but Michael had grad
ually forged his way to tn front for
nearly full lap, which would give a
late arrival tn impression that Nelson
was leadin' as they madly dashed around
tn Fourth avenue end of tn Garden both
riders heads showed far out over the
handle bars nearly touchin' tn rear
wheels OF their PAGERS ahead, Johnny put
tin every ounce of his makeup into his
sturdy III pedalers, an Jimmy hangin'
hard to him only a few yards away,
when, Just as they turned into tn Twen-
ty-sevcnth street side Of tn basin. Fang
went a noise. an a Shrek pierced the
air.
I never did know exactly what hap
ncned. but Nelson's big motor slackened
for tn millionth Of a second. tn lil'
riders wheel Crazed It, an over he went.
|, In an instant tn big crowd jumped to
its feet. only TO see Michaers oncomin'
tandem dash hcad-on into tn wreck, but
by nothin' more'n a miracle Nelson was
tn only one hurt. for OWN to tn clev-
crest piece O. headwork I've ever saw IN
my life, Jimmy Michael steered clear OF
his PAGER an went on his way.
Johnny's leg was tore all to pieces when
tn two motors crashed. an strong men
turned aside as TIL poor Ill fellow slid
down tn incline to tn even floor below.
O. course, hundreds of willing hands
rushed to tn aid Of tn injured rider. who
set there bolt upright like nothin' had
happened. Blood was all over everything.
but never once did he whimper.
Twas only a matter of a few minutes
when tn ambulance from Bellevue Hos
pital da shed into tn Garden TO take care
few dry eyes in all that vast throng that
watched it drive out on what proved tc
be Johnny Nelson's next to last ride.
Never have l saw such a down-hearted
crowd as wended its way home from
Madison Square that night. an tn whole
scene had such a deep effect on a very
well-known sportin' man, who occupied
seat in tn same box with me. that
next day he called up an asked II
wouldn't accompany MIN 10 Bellevue tC
see tn hurt rider.
We arrived at tn hospital about 2:3o ir
tn afternoon. an was ushered up into g
big ward where there was a mess O. other
sick an wounded. an whether you wanta
believe it or not, there, on a lii white cot
in th' center Of tn room, was TIL same
Johnny Nelson tn very life of TIL party
On learnin' why we'd come he tosset
out a thank you." an shown over q
pretty bunch o. pink roses, he begged III
to take a Whit, as his liz Josie had JUS
sent them. Then, when we asked him 4
he felt any better, his big blue eyei
frightened a slight color came into hi
faded cheeks. his purplish lips trembled
as he smilingly answered. "Oh, I'll pull
through this o. X. These guys say
might have to lose one of my pins bu
they don't know Johnny Nelson. car
beat Jimmy Michael. an woulda done 4
last night II my PAGER hadn't skidded.
got kid brother who can beat him
too, but wanta get tn 'rarebit' first
Then takin' q slant at tn bundle undel
TIL sheets that used to be a leg, he give
a slight vince, an fell back on his pillow
Just about then a doctor hove in sight
an after takin' TIL kids "beater" HI
motioned us to get, which we done, bu
promised to return tn next day to SCI
how he was doin.'
Thora na~t dow 70 q - %