The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-03
Riders Off In Big Six
 Day Grind i
Teams Get Away at Midnight Opening Sprints Thrill - aPul Sutr of Walthour-Suter Combination WithdraWs on Being Tapped Twice.

New York. Dec. 3-One of the IS teams entered in the six-day bicycle race which began at midnight last night in Madison Square Garden, dropped out during the early hours today. Paul Suter of the Walthour- Suter team quit the contest after the pair had lost two laps during sprints.
 Thirteen teams pedalling more than IS miles behind the record were tied at a. m., each having covered I'll miles and 6 laps. Madonna-BelIo pair was one lap behind.
 During the early morning hours sprints for prizes featured the racing. The Spencer brothers of Toronto won eight of these.
 The Spencer boys received word from Canada that their father died there last night. It was announced that they would continue in the race
 At 10:2O o'clock Walthour and suter were officially declared out of the race.
 Two minutes past the witching hour of midnight, as chronicled by ne trusted timepiece of Promoter Bill Wellman, reputed to be as staid and steady as the old town clock, Ray mond Hitchcock, acting in the role of official starter, pulled the trigger on his trusty CA" and the twenty fifth annual Madison Square Garden six day bike race was on.
 A whirr of wheels and a. buzzing of pedals that sounded like the rise of huge flock of water fowl and the IS riders that started for their respec- tive teams were off on the long IA hour whirl around the wooden saucer. minutes of midnight next Saturday. The purr of the wheels quickly was drowned out in the roarlof the exult- ing fans, a gathering which, though perhaps not so large as in former. years, certainly held it's own in noise making propensities. @ First to the fore in the opening dash was Charlie Piercey of the Gren- da-Piercey team, but he hadn't gone half a lap before Corry, who, teamed with Madden, won this years Boston race, and the veteran Frank Kramer, | both passed him. They took their | turns at making pace and then were relieved by Goullet.
 Many Changes in Pace Setters. The field did not settle down to the going for several miles. In that time the changes in the field were kaleido- scopic, first one and then another rider taking his turn at breaking trail. A brisk pace was kept up and the in- termittent speed bursts as rider after | rider cut loose to relieve the pace maker thrilled the fans. If the riders continue to display the pep and rival ry they showed in the first hours rac- | ing the Garden grind of 1917 will be a, recor,d breaker.
 The first rider to appear on the track last night for a warm up was young George Chapman, the 19-year- old Newark lad, who is making his professional debut in the present race. Chapman is the "baby" of the race. His appearance last night gave the fans the chance for their first cheer. It was rather a weak and anaemie one. They were reserving their ap- plause for the race tested champions among the veterans.
 Frank Kramer, Eddie Root, Al Brenda, Eddie Madden, Oscar Egg, Fred Hill, Arthur Spencer and the perennially young Bobby Walthour all were loudly applauded as they came upon the track. Referee Tex Rickard and Starter Raymond Hitchcock, also were wildly greeted