The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-13
Bike Champ!
Death of James Tango
Recalls Days When
He Was Greatest
Rid err This
Town Could
y Boast.
BY THE our EASTER

James Tango was buried Monday
In Calvary cemetery, after services
for the dead were read over his body
at the italian Roman Catholic
church OF Our Lady OF Lourdes.
We wonder II the many In attend
ance at the funeral really knew the
history OF this man, an early italian
resident OF Waterbury, who came
here from italy In his teens, and
who made q record for himself on
the track here In the middle nine
ties when bicycle riding was so
popular among the young Of the
land
Jimmy Lango"!
The name has been In our mind
since boyhood days. And 30 It has
been with the many others still liv-
Ing who can recall the days OF the
great bicycle meets In the old West
End track when many OF the crack
riders Of the country were brought
here TO compete, among them being
the popular colored rider, Major
Taylor.
Our memory is that Jimmy then
lived In Hamilton avenue, In and
around the old st. Joseph cemetery.
Like all Of the young fellows out
this way. he was employed at the
old spoon shop, besides owning O
bicycle repair shop on Union street,
where many Of the young rented O
bicycle for IS cents an hour In or.
der 10 adapt themselves to the
wheel. OF course II was an old blcy-
Gle, but II gave me O chance TO
learn, and II made little difference
II the wheel ran away and headed
for O tree or telegraph pole.
We recall the old bicycle clubs,
the bon-ton riders Of the day, the
Waterbury Wheel club, with q large
membership OF young active fellows
like the well known Ed Hart, Ned
Allen, Homer Russell, and others,
The Ramblers made UP another or
ganization, OF which Jack Broderick,
later O member Of the fire depart
ment, was one OF the members. Jack
was some rider, too, In those days,
and often competed at the track
meets held at the old driving club.
We can 90 back to the Fourth OF
July OF 1896 when there was q meet
at the Driving Park, In which Jim
my Tango won the mile champion
snip OF the city. His time was
2:Seh, with Homer Russell second,
and Jack Broderick third. Homer
Russell, on the same day, won the
mile novice race, with Charley
Hatch OF Danbury second.
And then on Sunday, July 70, 1896,
There was an excursion ride to New
York, the start being made from
the old Waterbury Wheel club quar-.
ters IN Leavenworth street, the first
squad leaving at 8 a. m. and the
second at $50 o. m. They made
New York by 8 p. M, returned by
boat 70 New Haven at midnight, and
rode home on their bicycles, and
were IN bright and early In their
place OF employment In the morn
Ing.
In jimmy Lango's premier DAYS
as bicycle rider, Waterbury had a
half-mile bicycle track at the old
West End Grounds, along with a
grandstand that seated several thou
sand people. The grounds were IL
Illuminated, and the night meets at
Cracted hundreds OF people from
waterbury and surrounding towns,
Bicycle riding was all the Ego" in
those days, especially among the
employees Of the old Waterbury
Watch company. Sunday found
hundreds Of young boys and girls
OUT Tor a ride through the dusty
country roads. In some cases Gin
der paths were provided. but onlv
on one or two state highways.
Jimmy Tango was tall and lanky,
as we remember him, smiling al
ways, good natured, friendly, and
made hosts OF friends. All Old Out
East pulled" for him In every race
IN which he participated. He ac-
cepted his laureIs gracefully, and