Evening Star Newspaper, March 26, 1898, Page 20

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MAROH 26, 1898-24 PAGES, CLUB GOSSIP. While things are being rapidly pushed to the front in the club circles, the racing game is obliged to wait for further de- velopments. Heretofore the opening race meet of the season has been held on Dec- oration day, but this year the prospects are that one or two races will be given before that date. It is likely that at least one meet will be given before the holiday date arrives, everything, of course, depending mainly on the weather. The improvements at the International Athletic Park will be commenced the fore part of next month, and everything is expected to.be in readi- ness by May 1. This arrangement will not in any wis2 interfere with the present pro- gram of affairs. Capital Bicycle Club. The reception tendered the members of the Capital Bicycle Club by the lady friends of the club was an occurrence which the clubmen will long remember. As a sign of the patriotism imbued by the spirit of cur- rent events, the fair entertainers conceived the idea of decorating the entire interior of the club house with ene flags. The aid of club member W. licited, and under hi ienced direction the entire hou was transfcrmed into one grand patriotic bower of stars and stripes. Several musical numbers were given by a female quart Mrs. Eugene A. Byrnes p present with well-chosen Miss Pechin gave ncing In the parlors ception, and card indulged in in the hments and ices were Hoeke was s0- Refre the entire evening. The fol- 5 the many. compli- ve received for making the such a succ J. L. Wirt, R W. D. y Taylor, Clark, ~ and Coleman and t cs Dodge h and Ma The fi Houston, Howard, nd a number of will be christened. Aeme Cycle and Social Club. Captain Watts led the boys to Ashton unday. The boys reached their us With only one accident, and that was be ot the front chain of the tan- dem rid by Goodwin. Those on the run were Richard Dugan, William Sparshott, Grimes, Fletcher, Watts, captain, Goodwin. “Mr. Frank Moore and a pre tive members of the club, >mpanied the boys on this run. Captain Watts has called a run for to- morrow to Suitland Park. Mr. Chas. H. Fletcher, Arthur Grimes and Wm. Sparshott will attempt a century on_short ri ght hours. The run to will be calle oelock from M streets. tings cont hip four applications were é quarters tendered the club Wm. Payne are all that the boys submi by Mr. requ and during the past week a com- mittee has been at work furnishing the room. The club recm is always open and a house committee has been appointed. Arlington Wheelmen. In spite of the threatening weatser last a morning a dozen enthusiastic arers of the Winged A responded to Cap- tain Murphy's card designating a run to Brookville, Md. The party consisted of Captain Murphy, E. B. Terry, G. Rein- hardt, T. Utz, A. Christman, Lou Harding, John and Harry Walker, W. Dikeman, F. Potts, John Miller and J. Whitson. The roads were in an excellent condition and the ride was a most enjoyable one. After dinner, prepared by Mrs. Miller, who had n notified of the intention of the club to make a run to her home, and seeing the points of interest In the village and listen- ing to a few of Murphy's interesung anec- dotes, the homeward trip was begun. Under Captain Murphy's practice of call- ing runs, viz: alternating the runs, an all- day and a short run, the latter is in order for tomorrow, and he has selected Falls Church, The start will be from 14th and New York avenue at 10 o'clock. Centary Cyele Club. The Centurions made their initial long run of the s m Sunday to Baltimore. The start made during a drizzling rain from the club house shortly after 7 o'clock, with ¢ 2 Byrnes in command and the line: Coons, Kauft- »penhaver, Abell, Tom O'Connor, Hadger, Fister, Williams, Stephenson, . the Dimmick brothers, . Dodd, Fields, Barghausen, 1, Barnhartt and Farquhar. J. Crandall and Lewis John- sen were invited and also participated in the run. The boys were carried over at a clipping pac: Messrs. Fister, Williams, jaleski, who also acted as Pacemakers on the return trip. The boys spent a pleasant afternoon and the start for home was made shortly after 2 o'clock, reaching home about dusk. The trip was ull of incidents and several accidents were arrowly averted. Lieut. Wm. O'Connor, who was among » last to leave the club house, picked natl several miles out and was obliged ‘ait some time until Tom Reed caught the bunch and obtained a pump to Ww up the “injured” tire in order to start i The two hit up a “hot” y caught the bunch and nt ranks when the club rode following members man, Fisk, Griffith, Reed, Denn) oe yle, Volkm: Joe Benner, pace were in the through the slippery streets of the monu- and fi mental city. On the return trip Salkeld broke his chain twelve miles outside of Bal- timore. A stop was made and a new link put in and riveted by several of the boy On trips of this kind the boys carry every small part necessary in repairing a wheel in case of a breakdown. Among the mem- bers are several who are experts in this line and are always on hand in case of an emergency. Boyle and Sparrow refused to turn a pedal until they had an interview with a nearby farmer in reference to get- ting a sample of his spring chicken and some milk. After this they worked to- gether very nicely. Ray Salkeld, one of the new members, rode In good shape last Sunday and will make a fine addition to the first bunch pluggers in the club. He left Washington half an hour late and caught up with the first bunch as they were going into Balti- More. Maher was also riding in fine shape howed some of the boys his back for several miles. “Tony” Galeski, terrible Swede,” rode in the front bunch. With his upturned bars, he assist- ed the pacemakers on the return trip and = the first man to pull into Washing- on. At a meeting of the club Monday night & committee, composed of Captain Byrnes, Sam Barnhartt and Tony Galeski, was ap- pointed to select uniforms for the club. The committee will report at the next regular meeting. Tomorrow the club will take a run to Surrattsville, Md.. leaving thé club house at 9:20 sharp. The club will be joined by the Levant Wheelmen on Capitol Hill and make a joint run. It is expected that in all there will be about sixty riders in line. Arrangements have been made for cinncr at Wheatley’s Hotel and a good time will be had by all who participate in this run. The captains of the two clubs, Messrs. Byrnes and Norris, will set the pace on this run and will be assisted by the several Hieutenants. Levant Wheelmen. The Levant Wheelmen made a run to Ashton last Sunday, carrying out eighteen riders, under Captain Norris. There was a strong head wind and a sprinkiing rain to gontend against, but the wheelmen kept on. Tew and Lee Herrell, and Brearley and Rhine on tandems, were members of th= party. The first named tandem team met with several mishaps, a puncture and a brokea chain necessitating the abandon- ment of the machine at Siigo, Md., and the taking of an electric car for the city. The riders before taking the electric car were forced to walk from Burnt Mills to Sligo. Entwisle will be one of the star road riders this season, and Captain Norris is ranging a series of runs, in which he can display his speed ability. One of the fast pro men of town, while at the headquarters of the Levants recentl; in speaking of his ability to ride som thing like circles around the fastest mem- bers of the club, fell into a match race with one of the members up Capitol Hill. The race came off. The club man sprinted up the steep hill from the very beginning, and the pro rider was not at any time in the race. He not only lost the race, but he also lost something more substantial. It is rot regarded as necessary to mention names. The club will take a run Sunday to Sur- rattsville, Md., as the guests of the Cen- tury Cycle Club. The start will be made from the club house at 10 o'clock sharp. RACING RULES CHANGES The coming season will witness greater changes in the racing rules than haye ever before been attempted in one year by the League of American Wheelmen. The changes are made, of course,with the idea in view of purifying the sport and bringing it up as near as poss fection, though it may perhaps be an ex- tremely difficult matter to reach the ideal. The importance of the changes 1s evi- dently realized by the chairman of the rac- ing board, who, it is announced, has placed an order for 100,000 copies of the rules for gratuitous distribution during the year. The first batch of the pamphlets have been printed, and as soon as a suffi- cient number have been received the dis- tribution will be more general. The changes in some instances are so radical as to re- quire special study by the racing men. Some of the changes made, the most im- portant are briefly outlined in the follow- ipnecaraine the manner of determining the national champion, growing out of the con- troversy over the matter in the past, the following section 1s inserted in the new rules, upon the recommendation of the chairman of the racing board: The professional national championship shall be determined by points won in the national championship races run on the nd- tional circuit. At least one national cham- pionship race (subject to the approval of the chairman) shall be run on each day of ional circuit meet (and as many others desired by the promoter) at any of the stances named in paragraph 1. ‘The first prize must not be less than $150. Not more than $1 entry fee shall be charg- ed (or nothing at the discretion of the pro- moter), and no one shall be allowed to start whose regular entry, made out on the proper blank, has not been filed with the premoter, in compliance with the rules. When there are more than five entries trial heats shall be run until the contestants are reduced to not more than five for the firal. The first to finish in the final shall count six in-the championship table, the next four, the next three, the next two and the next one; except at the national meet, when the first to finish shall count sixty, the next forty, the next thirty, the next twenty and the next ten. Should any of the championship races for any of the dis- tances be omitted at the national meet, the omitted races will be assigned to the national circuit and the count will be Scored as if they were run at the national meet. The points to the credit of each contest- ant shall be published in the bulletin of the chairman, gnd the contestant having the greatest nifmber at all distances at the end of the national circuit shall be declared the champion. No excessive time limits shall be placed on these races, and they shall be open to the world. In the trial heats of these races pace- makers shall not qualify for the final, and no one shall be allowed to compete in the final for any other reason than winning one of the qualifying positions. If there is a dead heat between any two or more, those making the dead heat may run it over or decide by lot, at the discretion of the ref- eree. The amateur national champfonship races all be run at the national meet. The winners of first and second positions in the finals of the quarter, third, half, two-mile and five-mile (or any of them) shall qual- ify for the one-mile, and the winner of the one-mile shall be declared the champion. The tropkies for amateur national cham- pienships shall be medals, to cost in no case more than $50 per set of three, gold, silver and bronze, respectively, to be struck from dies owned by the league. The registration rule is also another de- parture, whereby professional riders are re- quired to pay §2 per annum each. The rules provide that every member of the rac- ing board has charge of the district he rep- resents, and, under the direction of the chairman, has power to accept the registra- tion feea. While the racing board does not act as a collector for entry fees, yet provi- sions are made where fines may be collect- ed in lieu of suspensions upon professional riders, track owners and race meet pro- moters. A legal entry is one which “can- vot be rejected by the promoter. One which complies with the racing rules ani is accompanied by the fee required for all entries for that meet.” The following is an entire new section, and a radical de- parture: When a professional makes an entry on the regular blank seven days prior to date of contests, and thus enables the promoter to advertise his attractions, the profes- sional may insert in the entry the name of the wheel or tires he rides, and the proms- ter must then insert the same, opposite his name, on the score card or program. Pro- moters are prohibited from inserting name of wheel or tires of amateurs, or of late entries. Regarding sancticns new clauses are in- serted as follows: Sanctions and special permits will be is- ‘sued in duplicate, and one copy shall be posted near the tape, in convenient view of the starters when lined up. Any racing man starting when such sanction is not in view will not be allowed the plea of ig- norance for starting in uns&nctioned races, er starting or exhibiting in an event for which a special permit is required. Sanctions will be refused those promoters who do not provide proper accommodations for racing men, trainers and managers, both in training quarters and a convenient Place to witness the races. Promoters must send the member grant- ing the sanction one copy of the entry blank immediately upon its being printed. Applications for national circuit meets must contain a statement that at least one professional national champlonship raco will be run, in which the first prize will be not less than $150. National circuft sanc- tions shall carry with them authority to exceed the prize limit in professional events, and authority to run match races, exhibitions and those other special events for which a permit is necessary at an open meet, except multicycle pacing. It ie not.a rule, but it is recommended t! at least one cless race be run at nati clreuit meets, and promoters will find it to their advantage to do so. e To prevent league clubs trading sanetions which are granted to them free, all applications of such clubs must be signed by the president and tary, cer- ‘fying that the club itself {s to conduct the meet and receive all profits. sy meet Promoters will have to pay a fee of $5 to permit them to offer above the regular prize ble to a standard of per-j limit. At national circuit meets no fee 1s required to exceed the prize limits. In appfying for a sanction the name of the track at which the meet is to be held must be given, and also a certificate show- ing that an application for use of the track has been made for the date given. A spe- clal guarantee of $100 in exceptional cases Will be required from applicants for sanc- tions, to be forfeited if the meet is aban- Coned. This is to prevent the granting of sancticns to irresponsible parties. The board reserves the right to waive the rule regarding confliction of sanctions on any holiday, and also to revoke any sanction “where trickery, subterfuge or evasions are attempted, or sufficient reason exists in the judgment of the chairman or member who issued the sanction.” Short tracks are covered in the section which states: Unfair dealing includes, among other things, any “faking” of the public, such as knowingly having a short track, the length of which fs announced; exaggerating purses and prizes, including alleged side bets, or sny fictions or deceptions to mislead the public or racing men. Every prize of every me2t, match race, exhibition or perform- ance must appear on the score card or be announced to spectators before the start. Race meet promoters are given power to employ teams in th2 following language of a new section: Promoters desiring to form teams for in- tercity races or for pacemaking will be per- mitted by the chairman, at his discretion, to employ a Itmited number of professional racing men for a s2rles of months, upon written contracts submitted for approval, one copy of which is to be filed with the board. The registration number of every profes- sional rider must appear on the entry biank. Relative to the number of starters in a race a new section states: Promoters may make it a condition that a certain number must start to make a Tace; but in that case to make it a contract, the entry blank must contain a clause simi- lar to the followin “In scratch races there must be four starters or they will not be run, and in handicaps there must be six starters or they will not be run.”’ If this clause is not inserted, every race on the entry blank for which there are starters must be run Th2 duties of the referee are clearly de- fined, and somewhat different from the old rule: Referees will report on meets direct to the member granting th sanction all protests, foul riding, false entries, attempts of un- registered men to ride, unexcused non- starters and such other matters upon which he receives instructions from tim2 to time. In national circuit meets the referee shall at once report the number of points won by each contestant in the championship races. The r2pert shall be accompanied by score curd. The referee may permit an un- registered rider to start provided th2 rider deposits the fee of $2 with the referee to be sent to the member for the trict, to- gether with the full name and address of the rider. An amateur sacrifices his standing by ac- ceptin pe gift or loan of wheel or tire: from a manufacturer or dealer, or if a rac ing suit, robe, or sweater or any other ar- ticle of track wearing apparel is worn with any advertising dzvice of any description. The official handicappers are required to immediately send a copy of their work, after completion, to the member of the rac- ing board granting the sanction. The re- port must contain the nam2s and house ad- dress of ul! entrants. Records made with the assistance of other than recognized cycling machines will be recorded separately. This is designed to. cover the use of electric pacing machines, or other pacemaking devices of an auto- matic character, While the scorer of the n.eet is supposed to signal at the bell lap, the riders must keep tap of the laps them- selves. A list of handicap records will also be kept, and When a record {s broken from scratch in a handicap race it shall be pub- lis-ed as a record, together with the name of the handicapper assigning the mark. Only winners of positions in trial heats shell compete in the final. No one shall be allewed in a final heat because of a foul or accident in a@ trial heat. An addition to the rule giving a legal definition of the lability of a rider is as follows: The start of a man in any event of a sanctioned meet shall constitute a con- tract, by all parties concerned, that the event and meet is under the jurisdiction of the racing board, and that all disputes, prizes, jurisdiction of officials, and every question whatever connected with the event of meet, is subject to the decision of the board. In the rules defining races an addition is made rroviding tor heat races, best two out of three, and providing that in scoring such races it is necessary for a rider to win two heats to win the race; and that the other prizes shall be decided by points, *he winner of a heat to be placed before these having won lesser positions. The concluding heat shall also decide in case of a tle for any place. A distance limit of 150 yards is also fixed, and if a rider fails to win one heat in three he is out of the race. In pursuit races and middle distance Teces the conditions must be printed on the programs. Handicaps must also ap- pear and riders must start from the marks assigned, and no others. ‘The ages of riders in boys’ races must appear on the score cards. No match or special race can be run without a special permit, and no prize can exceed $100 without a special ermit, except as national circuit meets. ace promoters are prohibited from offer- ing and racing men from accepting bonus money or anything in excess of advertised prizes. No prizes can be offered in a trial heat, nor more than four prizes in an open race or six in a handicap, without special permit. L. A. W. GOSSIP. It should be noticeable that in granting the dates for the circuit races to this city Chairman Mott of the racing board has named as the holders of the sanction the District of Columbia division of the league. This means that the local division has de- cided to run the two big meets. Under the new rules the division would hardly be per- mitted to take the national circuit dates and barter them off to any individual or organization. This being the case it now appears as though the officials of the local division have decided to embark into the racing game. So far as known nothing has been done in the matter. The dates as- signed will have to be accepted before April 1, before anything definite can be deter- mined upon. During the past fortnight the membership of the local division increased copsiderably, more through the renewal of old member, ships rather than through the numbers of the new members. While only seven new names have been recorded, there have been forty-five renewals, which brings the total up to 951 members. The new members are follows: . E. Irwin, 2108 18th street northwest. W. H. Ward, bureau of navigation. ie R. Williams, 73 New York avenue. . W. Mockabeo, Levant Wheelmen, 415 6th street southeast. 8. D. Cowden, 926 Massachusetts avenue “Die Hina h, 1104 East Ca . ireth, pitol street. F. Wynne, 915: Rhode Island avenue. The registration of professional rid under the new racing rules, has ERS and the first rider to enrolled is Frank et ae ES nen Min well known in this city. .CCO! Lo the ‘country is divided into districts, eee which the mem! ft the have con! of and in . district a round, Rurbers. Waller in Son York district, and his Testatresion ‘number 1g 1,000, Two other fessjonal riders are also as Ww. W. Hamilton and ceaneyreeiiors of B, whose numbers are 6,000 and ay respectively. ™ the bulletin of Chairran Mott for the past week it is that a sanction has been granted to H. A. French of Balti- more for May 80. This evidently means that French will haye charge of the race meet. ‘He is tht rider who was somewhat indisposed to accept the reply to his broad challenge which was filed by A.C. Moran of this city for a match race. While French accepted the challenge of Henry Smith for a _twenty-four-hour™ race. Moran made terms for a 2%5-mile match race with W. G. LeCompte. In view of the faet that French has secured the sanction for the Decoration day tace!at Baltimore, it looks now as though the match race between Moran and LeCompte will not come off on May 30, at Baltimore, as originally in- tended. { Chief Consul Conway W. Sams of the Maryland division is hustling things along in his bailiwick, Ho has urged nearly all of the members. of the division personally to vote for the good roads bill now before the legislature, and now he comes out with the following characteristic letter: “The members of this division will re- member that but a short time remains be- fore the general assembly adjourns, there- fore it is absolutely necessary to get a move on us. Have you written to the mem- bers of the legislature from your county or city asking them to vote for and work for the road bills? If you have not, do not let this week pass before you have done so. Tell them in no uncertain terms that you want the bills introduced by the Hon. Ash- ley M. Gould into the house passed, and tell them that Senator Williams has introduced the same bill in the Senate. Do not fail to take enough interest in this work to spare enough time to write these letters or to see the members versonally. “By the end of this month the scheme of prizes for obtaining new members will be announced. All applications received from the Ist of April will begin to be counted. These premiums of prizes are going to be worth getting. Look out for them. SOME CYCLE CHAT Two circuit dates have been assigned to this city on the national circuit, and both dates will probably be accepted. These dates are in addition to what are termed the grand circuit dates, which occur June 23 and October 6. While the compilation of the national circuit dates has not been entirely arranged, enough dates are on hand to give the chairman of the racing board an idea of what he will do. Accord- ing to the schedule promulgated by Chair- man Alpert Mott, a number of circuit dates have been assigned on applications so far received, which, if not accepted by April 1, will be reassigned to any additional appli- cants. The national circuit will open April 4 at Atlanta, Ga., according to the advance list, and will close October 15 at St. Louis, Mo. From the opening at Atlanta the riders will go to Chattanooga, Ten: Ma thence to Louisville, Ky., for May 6 and 7; St. Louis, Mo., for May 14; Louisville, Ky., May 1 and Washington, D. C., May 19. From this city the circuit will run up north, taking in most of the leading cities, and then come back again, the second national circuit date being arranged for August 26. In the list given out by Chairman Mott the national circuit dates and the grand circuit dates are run in together, so as to make the re- sult practically one big circuit. A study of it is interesting. In the first place, Baltimore is not counted in either for a national or grand circuit date. An- other thing is the length of the two cir- cuits. The farthest place west that will be reached is St. Louis. The racing will not extend as far as California or the coast this season, as formerly. New England is well represented the dates of the cir- cuit, most all of the tracks in that section of the country having secured recognition. With the four circuit dates this city has as good a representation as any other city in the country, and if the four big mects are held they will undoubtedly prove good drawing cards. The proposed Intercity race series, be- tween the riders of this city and Baltimore, may take the form of a series of pursuit races. The differenpe between the two races is this: In an‘intercity race, which 1s for the championship, only resident rid- ers of this city can participate, those who claim Washington tobe their home. In a pursuit race ary rider in the clty can par- ticipate without any valid objection to his riding. M. F. Carter of Baltimore, who has engineered the Moran-LeCompte match race, is the medium through whom the proposed pursuit racés will be run. The names of Schade, Moran, Halstead, Wilson and Dannemiller have been submitted to him with the suggestion that he find an equal number of Baltimore riders who will be willing to enter into a pursuit race with the local riders. While nothing definite has been accomplished, it is proposed to hold a series of three races, possibly more, to be equally divided between the two cities, and in case of an uneven number the location of the odd race to be decided by a toss-up. Such a race would be welcomed by a num. ber of local people, who firmly believe that Washington could easily defeat the Balti- moreans. It is announced that Henry Smith will meke an attempt against the twenty-four hour record on the Century Cycle Club's shell road course at Baltimore, commenc- ing April 17, weather permitting. The an- ncuncement states that the record is at Present held by Elmer C. Davis, who has scmething like 816 miles to his credit. Smith {s a well known long distance rider of the Maryland metropolis, and on May 9 of last year rode something like 314 miles within the twenty-four hours, his record being subsequently broken by Davis. Smith 1s a native of Baltimore, twenty-three years of age, weighs 142 pounds and is five feet nine and a half inches in height. He has been riding a bicycle for about five years. He 1s given the credit of rid- ing over 160 miles of rough mountainous country, remaining in the saddle for twen- ty-one consecutive hours. He also rode a icuble century, over a fifty-mile course, & seventeen hours and forty-four min- utes. Smith holds the following state records for the road: Five miles, 13:213- ten miles, 28:191-2; fifteen miles, 4% twenty miles, 1:03:21 1-2; twen 1:21:33 1-2; fifty miles, 2:43:29 1-5 seventy- five miles, 4:17:121-2. In his twenty-four hour attempt for the record last May, in which he was successful, he made the fol- lcwing time for the distances given: Ten miles, 30:30; twenty miles, 1:07:25; fifty miles, 2:58. He still holds the medal given him for breaking the record. A new industry seems to have sprung up whereby young America is able to earn a few more pennies. Incidentally the popu- larity of the bicycle is responsible. If one dismounts and leaves his wheel in front of some business house while he goes inside he is likely to be accosted by a boy willing to watch, clean and protect the wheel for 5 cents or even less. Doubtless during the course of a day they earn erlough money to buy a stock of evening papers to sell. This seems to be carried on mainly in the heart of the city. Last Sunday at the navy, yard a large number of boys made monéy by looking after the bicycles of those who were anxious to make an in- spection of the Vesuvius, All of the leading department stores have come to recognize the wheel as an im- portant factor for the shopping expedi- tions of their customers, and have racks at convenient placés and employ boys to Watch them and’ keep away thieves. The boys are able to. earn something extra by cleaning the wheels.“ One of the boys re- marked to a Star peponieee “The wimmen are rather skimpy with their change.” The local cycliats suffered several rebuffs during the week. tarough the decision of the Commissioners. «In the first instance the board of Commissioners determined to abide by the opinion of the attorney for the District’in the matter of issuing permits to club, captains to use handle bars with more: tham a four-inch drop on regularly calledc! runs. The Commis- sicners recently’ seémed to favor such a plan, and so informed the representatives of the Levant eelmen and Century Cy- cle Club. "A doubt was expressed regard- ing the legality of such a step, and the matter was referred to the attorney for the District, who returned the opinion that the Commissioners could not issue such permits. The applications of the two club captains were accordingly refused. forcement of a regulation compelling all vehicles to carry lights after dark, was So anxious to secure such a law that they were willing to make certain sacrifices. They represented the wheelmen of the city to be practically in favor of the four- inch drop regulation, designed to stop scorching and reckless riding, if the Com- missioners would frame a regulation re- quiring lights on vehicles. Now while the regulation affecting vehicles has been re- voked, the regulation regarding the four- inch drop remains. ——— FOREIGN CYCLE NOTES The physicians to the poor in Paris are the only class of cyclists who are exempt from paying the annual cycle tax of $2 per year, which is required of all riders in the country. The introduction of the American bicycle into Nicaragua is said to b2 responsible for a good roads movement which has been started in that portion of Central America. The republic has no roads worthy of the name, and the riding afforded in the cities is none of the best. According to a cycle paper thsre are only 10,000 cyclists in St. Petersburg, with four race tracks. The smallness of the number need not be wondered at when the extreme latitude of the city is taken Into considera- tion. Two racers who abused the decision of the judges of a race meet at Hyers were arrested and prompily committed to jail for their insulting conduct. Platts-Betts, the English crack, who has be2n touring Australia, is expected to shortly return to England and enter the coming outdoor. races. A new woman's club has been formed at Berlin. It is called the Deminnie Cycling Club. Its members belong to society, and the obj2cts are to encourage the cycle spirit and get up excursions. The club is also said to contemplate holding races. If the International Cycling Association agrees the meets for determining the world’s championships will be held at the Prater track, in Vienna on Sunday, Sep- tember 4; Thursday, September 8, and Sun- day, September 11. The Italian bersaglieri_ regiments are about to have a company of cyclists formed by five riders attached to cach of thz six- teen companies. They will be used mainly for courier duty. ‘The condition of the Crystal Palace track, at London, a famous course, over which a number ef world’s records have be2n e tablished, is said to be bad. The past win- ter has damaged the track considerably. — A British cycling pap s that J. W. Stocks, the crack English rider and holde ef the world’s hour record, has been offer- ed a fabulous sum to appear in Americ: this season, but the long-headed Yorksh: man refused all overtures. THE NEW BOARD TRACK The past week has brought with it fur- ther action on the part of the Park Cycle Club. The plans of the new board track were perfected last Monday, the good points obtained from the inspection and examination of the Willow Grove track at Philadelphia being retained and several unique features being added by the en- gineer in charge of the construction. Every source of information was exhausted to ob- tain points to make the local track a record on Proposals were called for during tho week and the contract for constructing the will probably be signed Monday or The specifications call for the commencement of the work by April 1. A slight delay will be caused at first by a nge in making the floor boards two hes wide instead of three inches. This will necessitate getting the wood properly trimmed to the required width in Georgia, as there is none to be obtained in the city, In the meantime, however, the frame work and foundation sills and posts will be set and the force of workingmen increased as soon as the flccring arrives. The track, when completed, will be thirty feet wide on the home stretch, and grad- uate to sixteen on the curves. ‘The curves will be banked to seven feet in the sixteen- feet width, so as to allow the fast machines of the National Cycle Track Asso: which will be here during the se go a mile in as high as 1.30. These bank- ings will be made to hold a 2.15 g: Sills will be laid longitudinaily on framework, with joists across these every sixteen inches. On the joists the flooring will be laid, and a solid structure will be formed. The surface on the stretches will be dressed smooth, while on the curves the lumber will be undressed, to assist the wheel in holding. The specifications call for bids to contemplate the very best lumber obtain- able, and give the engineer in charge, Mr. F. H. Stier, absolute power to reject any material not conferming to that descrip- tion. The plans of the new track can be seen at the office of Mr. Stier, 937 D street. Clinton R. Coulter, who is to represent the National Track Association team in all unpaced work this year, is one of the most remarkable unpaced riders in the country. His world’s record, made two years ago at Denver, still remains untouched. It w ridden in 1.59 2-5, amd no less than fifty at- 2-5, tempts have been made since that time to break this record, but without avail. Coul- ter was one of the secessionists in Cali- fornia the beginning of last year, but was reinstated by the racing board ‘and h since that time, been one of the strong. supporters of the L. A. W. and its admir- able control of racing. Eddie McDuffee, who is to ride under the colors of the National Track Association this year, is one of the greatest racers the world has ever seen. In his last trial against time for the world’s mile record, which he made at Philadelphia, last fall, he rode three separate miles within fifteen minutes of each other, and each one was within a few fifths of a second of the world’s record, now held by Stocks. His last effort resulted in 1.35 2-5, tying the record of Stocks. This is a feat that has never been performed by any other rider in the world, and in training at Charles River Park track in Cambridge he is show- ing better form than he displayed at any time during the last year. When the entire National Track Associa- tion team is seen on the track in uniform it will be a sight that has never before been witnessed on a race track in this country. The uniforms will be of blue, and there will be, including trainers and helpers, over fifty men, making a small sized army. All representatives of this association when on the track will be in unlform, and the National Track Association team will be easily distinguished thereby. STOLEN WHEELS. The record of stolen wheels for thé past week has reached the number of ten, ac- cording to the report of the police depart- tment. This does not include the lamps that have been putrloired during the same period. Fortunately in the latter class only one report has been filed. The vic- tims are as follows: B: H. Reed of Baltimore reported to the police that his Columbia bicycle was stolen from in front of 1915 Pennsylvania avenue. W. P. Mangum, 2502 M street east, his Eclipse bicycle from the corner of 9th and E streets northwest. Burgess Bayton, 1118 23d street, reports the loss by theft of his Tinkham bicycle. The wheel was stolen by some one probably too weary to walk from in front of 1813 8 street. 'T. B. Snoddy, 1414 H street, informs the Police that his Ferris bicycle, No. 18,374, was stolen from his residence. Daniel Freeman, 15th and M streets, has asked the police to locate his Elgin bicy- cle, No. 1,802, which he rented to a colored youth several days ago and which he failed to return. Charles N. Thomas, delivery clerk, House of Reprecenatives, reports the theft of his Arriston bicycle from the area of 1344 Ver- mont avenue. ‘ Fred. Banks, }112 M street, has !- formed the police that his Trinity bicyole was stolen from in front of his residence. ANOTHER STRIKE ON Local Ball Players Holding Off for More Money. WAGNER DISINCLINED 0 YIELD Minor Leaguers Should First Show Their Merit. NOTES OF THE PLAYERS The refusad of Jack Doyle, Snyder, Din- neen and Wagner to sign contracts with the Washington Base Ball Club is about the only thing that mars the complete en- thusiasm of the local “fan.” There ts nothing new to cite in the case of Jack Doyle. He has refused to sign a contract sent him by Mr. Wagner, but gives the only reason for not doing so his decision to quit the national game for the coming sea- son at least. The figures offered Jack were the same he received in Baltimore, and it is understood that his salary does not stand in the way of his signing. The only way the case can be sized up is from the friends of the recalcitrant player. All those that have been interviewed express the opinton that Jack will play with the Weshington club when he fs convinced that Mr. Wagner meant what he said when he made the statement that Doyle would play in this city or nowhere, and when all possible ad- vertisement has been made out of the case. Doyle likes to see his name in the papers and believes im the value of printers’ ink as much as an actor or a man in business. He claims that it and he is probabl What the local ly right. “fans” desire is for Jack Doyle to come down off of his high perch and indulg kalf an hour's t with Earl Wa Doyle has nm instruc’ to keep away Mr. Wagner as the ad- visers of-the former know .too well that shoul! Jack run across the Washington magnate their hopes would go up in smok« before the hand denoting the hour on the clock would complete cir This business of ng with a p is a serious matter, az it would be a good thing for base ball could the aggrieved magnate secure positive evidence against the Chicago president and manager. in er. Albert Selbach, Left Fielder. ‘The other three players, Snyder, Dinneen and Wagner, want more money than they received for playing in the Eastern League last year. Their side of the argument is that in any other line of business when a n is promoted an adyance in salary gen- pes with the promotion. Bat the rants should remember that e totally different from any mess under the sun, It is simp ing together that the m: tinue successfully all, a one of the contracts signed b; would not hold a minute in court player who is not sa und seeks legal redress might as well take up some other line of work and not wait on the court’s verdict, as hi of ever again wearing a profe er’s uniform would be very slim. Wagner's standpoint the argument is ad- vaneed that he not know what the three young aspirants for base can do in the National League, and not be business for him to’ pay ry to a man who m: when he steps into the @ Park. “Let these players who are holding out for more money. id Mr. Wagner recent- ly to a Star reporter, “com> to Washing- ton 2nd demonstrate that they can play ball and th will have no trouble with me Tam not 2 man to get along with, as any of ny players will tell you, but I have been in the game too long to put out biz money for 2 1aan ihat may prove wortaless to the club. When DeMontreville first played fur me he was a cheap man, but he played great ball, and In three years had reached the limit. That is a pretty good advance, and it seems to me that Dinneen, Wagner and Snyder would be using only geod common sense if they decide at once to sign a Washington contract and get down to business. I know a good player without consulting percentages and the man that works fer me energetically and Proves to be a good one will not g>t left when it comes to looking after his financial future.” Other club owners are having their trou- bles also with players, and Mr. Wagner is doubtless following out a line agreed upon by all the magnates at th2 late meeting in St. Louis. Very few clubs made money of any considerable amount last year, and for this reason the extra games were tacked to the schedule. Of course the hold-outs could almost ruin the clubs they belong to by refusing to play, as in the case of Nichols of Boston and Kelley, Keeler, Jen- nings and Corbett cf Baltimore, but in puil- ing down their employ:rs it would resolve itself into a case of biting off one's nose to spite his face. The players cannot do with- out the magnates any more than the mag- nates ‘can Co without the players, but there is a happy medium which it is hop2d may be struck, not only for the good of the ate directly concerned, but for the game The average base ball reader finds it a trifle strange that some of the players who have never been suspected of a fondness for records should show so much feeling because of the change in the scoring of stolen bases. Of course it would not do to charge these men with being record play- ers, for many of them are not, but they should have thought a little more about what they were saying before laying them- selves open to a suspicion for display in the records. As an instance, Capt. can be cited as protesting against the new rule on earned runs, but he fails to give anything new. H2 simply repeats what others have said, that a runner should be credited with a siolen base, even should the battery make an error to insure the runner's safety. It would have been more to the point if these players who are pro- testing should have told us why the run- ner should be given the stolen base when he didn’t steal. When the base runner gets safely to second or third, aided by a bat. error, he has secured the fruits of a stolen base, even if technically deprived of his good intention in the summary, but he has not stolen a base. So far as the result of the game {fs concerned, or as to the base can con- any contract wouki i f z i El a H a & rule, unless his captain an: sleep during the game this s. his manager on. It would be a pleasant and probably exciting sight to see a pla T stand at first iike a wooden. man after his captain has tipped him off to make a try for sec The owners of the club want games won, and they don't a continental how they are by the errors of the other is the easiest way, or by suy of their own team) They arc and if the players propos and go to sleep because rules there is going to be Versations between these ‘ managers. The record player i nation in the sight of t cranks and live managers. yers get their credit for good w salaries and in the support of the r is glory enough, without crying over the little point of a siolen base now hen. The real base runners will s s many ases this season as b 5 other may suffer, but it doesn’t make much difference when it comes to the question of winning games. The idea of taking an indifferent player and making him captain of the team for the purpose of shaking him out of his ca less condition is an experiment in expecta- tions which is not going to give heavy ro- turns on the investment to the Chicago club. The team has two men, both fine players, who have been from time to time accused of indifference. Both these men were discussed as the most available candi- dates for captain of the club during the season of 1898, and one has been cnosen. Jimmy Ryan is one, and Billy Dahien, now Captain Dahlen, is the other. On the face of the transaction it looks lke throwing to the cold winds of the league some of the chances which the Chicagos might have for a good place in the first division. If an indifferent player, and Dahlen is said to be perfect tn his indifference, is the best man for a team leader, then all the other clubs have been making mistakes year after year in selecting the active, hustling, energetic men for captains. But the chances are that the Chicago team will have another captain before the season is many months old. It was intimated toward the close of last season that the faction op- posed to Capt. Anson was headed by Ryan, and while the latter was willing to have the question settled by the votes of the players as to who would be captain this season, he has already entered a kick against the selection of Dahlen. Kyan says that his objections to Dahlen will not make him play any the less harder, but at the same time he says that he thinks he should have been selected, as he was che oldest man on the team. Reing old is an offense in the eyes of the Chicago base ball pat- rons, and for this reason Capt. Anson was ousted from his position as the leader of the Colts. To place another man almost his equal as to age in the leadership of the Chicago club would not speak well for the new manager or for the pl themselves, Center Fielder Lange ts conceded by all the players to have been the r man for tus place, but William has grown wise in his generation, and, seeing the factional clouds arising on the Chicago base ball horizon, decided to keep out of the squabble and let Dahlen and Ryan fight {t out. Mr. Wagner claims that as a result of three years’ hard werk and an investment of many thousahds cf dollars, he has de- veleped only two first-class players—Mer- cer and Selbach. But where is w base ball fan that will not vouch the opinion that this pair is as good as a pair of aces to draw to in a game of poker? Al. Bel- bech reached his twenty-sixth birthday the past week and Mr. Wa © will be puliing in interest on his investm) the German Senator for many y: come. To many spectators at National Pork Selbach fooks like an’ old. while in reality the coming season will be only the fourth year in the big | . It was in the middle of June, 18%, when the late Manager Schmelz telegraphed Al at his home in Ohio to com ttanoog: Tenn., at once and join the club repr senting that city. Selb: cialty then Wes catching, and he finished the season with the Chattanooga club in the pos tion. At the opening of the season of 184 Selbach was one of th ayers brought to this city by Manager Schmelz, but the club had about six ¢ the pay roil the stocky little shifted to left field and his e has kept him there ever since. As a batter Selbach has always persisted in keeping in the .300 class since he joined the Wash- ington club, his average last year being B17. as his companions call him, ongs to that class of players who will tehers on erman was cellent work be! do almost anything to win a game of ball, but with his pugnacious trait is one of the casiest men in the base ball profession to get along with. Outside of a preper, Selbach is a thrifty g base ball bats, and ho weak point b s turned man exception: y an honest penny select- ly good sticks for a ma- jerity of the Senators and for many play- ers with other clubs. One of the sensa- tions of the past winter in base ball cir- cles wes the offer of Manager Ewing of incinnati, to trade six of his players for Selbach, from which it can be surmised that the German § abie ball player. nator is quite a valu- ie of the Philadel- phia club are conceded to be the hardest Litters in the National League. Both play- ers are not to be considered in the same ciess with Keeler, Burkett and Clarke, when ft comes down to place hitting or bunting, but for real slugging this pair is without its equal in professional base ball. Of the two, Delehanty is slightly the better, owing to his experience, but it is predicted that the Frenchman wiil fcrge to the front the coming season. It Delehanty ard Laj is interesting to note how effective the star twirlers of the big 1 re last . © two following table was com- piled from the different scores of games in which the Philadelphia club partici- Delebanty. Lajoie. + 868 20 Next Saturday the Senators will line up for their first regular game with an outside organization. The Georgetown University team will be their opponents and an inter- esting game is expected. The other exhibi- tien dates are: April 6, Catholic Univer- sity; April 7, Rochester; April 8 and 9, Mon- treal; April 12, Mt. St. Mary's College; April 33 and 14, Toronto. On April 11 the Sena- tors will play in Richmon The revolt in the Baltimore team seems to be bringing about a crisis among the ex- champions. And the affair locks to be just a shade retributive in — light of = eg 4 that dropped Jack Doyle's name from the Oriole roster and transferred him to this city. For % long time before the deal was made it was an open s2cret that the disaf- fection, of whom the now kicking members were a part, was caused by Jack, and that one of its objects was the removal of the great first baseman. History has recorded the result of their plans so far as Doyle is concerned, but it might be inferred from latest movements that the players in ques- tion have adopted the notion that they are the whole thing, the real Baltimore team, about all there is to it, and they are not Pink Hawley, if it did not give him all he asked for. A letter written from the Reds’ training at San Antonio, was receiv- ed by one of the Pirates , and in it was @ strong intimation that Emerson did not lose anything by holding out. “If Pink is satisfied, as this letter indi- i