The New York herald., 1920-12-07

By HENRY v. KING.
Never in the history of six day bicycle
riding in this country has there been
sucn a wild scene as that which attended
the long grind In Madison Square Gar
den last night. From o'clock until after
midnight there was one continuous
sprint on the track, while more than
10000 excited and enthusiastic fans acted
like so many maniacs. The afternoon
was replete with sensational sprints.
too, and as a result OF the days wild
riding the teams are strung out in
three divisions. Frank Kramer and
Willie Spencer, the American team, were
forced to quit. Anthony Young of New
ark also was compelled to withdraw.
Maurice Brocco. the italian Idol. and
Willie Coburn of Newark did the most
sensational work seen in contest In
this country since 1909, when Rutt and
Clark gained two laps on the field IN
one day. They gained lap in the after
noon and came back shortly before mid
night and gained another.
An hour earlier Cesar Debaets and
Alois Persyn, forming the Belgian No. !
team gave a sensational exhibition OF
sprinting and gained full lap on the
entire field
When the riot of noise and terrific
riding had subsided after midnight
Brocco and CGburn were one lap ahead
Of Debaets and Persyn and two laps
ahead Of the remainder OF the field, with
the exception of Young and Grim and
the Suter brothers, who were three laps
behind.
During the jams in which Brocco
and Coburn gained their second lap
Henry Suter and Debaets did not ride
their best in the opinion of the officials
and each was fined s25 The teams OK
Verri and Belloni and Piani and Leene
were fined $50 each for poor pickups.
Pace Too Fast for Kramer.
After his withdrawal Kramer frankly
admitted that the pace was too much
for him; that he had never been in such
wild contest before, and that the wild
sprints had sapped all of his speed and
made him drunk on his wheel.
Young retired because of slight In
jury he received in the afternoon.
Although tho sprinting was almost
continuous and furious there were ex-
ceptionally few spills; those that did
occur were mild and no one was even
seriously scratched or bruised.
In an effort to regain the ap Brocco
and Coburn stole on them shortly after
midday the other fourteen teams sprinted
almost day and night, time and again
some one gained lot of ground. but
majority of times the speedy Italian and
veteran Newarkite caught up with them.
The lam" In which Brocco and Co.
burn gained their first lap lasted more
than twenty minutes.
Henri Vanderbergh OF the Belgium
team No. 2, started the trouble while
his opponents were pedalllng along at a
slow. stealthy pace. he darted away
and quickly opened up gap of quar-
ter OF a length. Then Vanhevel. his
partner, relieved him and gained another
quarter. With this advantage they sped
around at a whirlwind pace for two
miles. They gave UP everything they
possessed. but that was not good enough
for their opponents held them safe.
Finally the Belgians cracked and were
quickly overhauled.
Scarcely had they "come back" than
Jules Dossche OF the Belgium team No.
3 tried to steal away. He gained fif-
teen or twenty yards. but Peter Van
divelve. his partner. was unable to hold
IL With all OF the riders showing signs
Of distress from these Jams" Brocco
darted down the Fourth avenue em-
bankment and before his opponents
could get going at their best speed
he was nearly half a lap I'm front. Then
followed a wild scramble in which ali
thirty riders were on the track. Brocco
and Coburn relieved each other every
few laps and each gained n little
ground.
Brocco and Partner Lap Field.
After one of the most exciting series
Of sprints seen In the old Garden in
several years. Brocco and Coburn Tapped
the field. There we're several yretched
picl-ups during the "jam," and as a
result there we're several protests. Three
or four teams claimed they were not
Tapped. and perhaps they weren't, but
their pick-ups were so bad that the
officials decided that only Brocco and
Coburn we're entitled TO the coveted
ground. A few hours later Vanhevel
started another wild sprint. He rode
like a demon and gained almost a full
lap
At one time he was at the rear wheel
Of the rider trailing the f. Id. But his
great squirt had sapped his strength and
he was unable to 20 around the field.
And after a chase of about three miles
he was gradually overhauled.
The official sprints at night brought
about plenty OF fine riding and much en-
thusiastic cheering The first heat went
10 Coburn because he was on the track
and a lap ahead.
Egg Displays Speed.
Brocco was on the tr~ ok In the second
and was credited with the winning
points. Egg displayed great burst OF
speed and beat home his opponents by
.wo lengths AID was awarded second
po'r's CO ~r an Brocco then alter
mated as the riders and received all OF
the winning points a though they traile !
the tielu In almost every heat. Nc
Namara led home the field In the third.
Vcrri was best in the fourth Piani
showed tho way home In the fifth. Egg
outrode his opponents In the sixth and
u otifrn hnnf tho flnIn N Tho nnvnnih