The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 13, 1896, Page 8

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1896, WELLS WON FOR THE BAY CITYS, For the Second Time This Club Gets the Relay Cup. THE RECORD BROKEN, A Hundred Miles Covered by Wheelmen in Less Than Five Hours. MANY MISHAPS ON THE WAY. Great Excitement at the Finish, Which Was Stubbornly Contested by the Scorcher. It was a hot finish that carried Wells to wvictory and won the trophy of the 100-mile relay bicycle race for the Bay City Club yesterd The final struggle was a mag- nificent one. All. of tbe last relay men were noted for the fast pace they were able to set; some held records that the cracks of the world had gone up against and lost; several had themselves established marks that have never been outclassed. Therefore, it was 'vith much interest and an abiding faith in the speed and endur- ance of their favorite sprinter that the great crowd of wheelmen and wheelwomen waited and watched for the finish and speculated and gossiped as to the out- come. Central avenue, Alameda, which was the scene of the closing effort of the contest, was lined with people. The wheel- men fenced the avenue on either side with their machines, and thus kept the multi- tude in subjugation and left the stretch clear for the coursers. The start had been made at 10 o’clock in the morning from Market and Tenth streets, San Francisco, and running down the peninsula, the wheelmen returned on | the opposite side of the bay. The distance | covered was 100 miles, or ten relays of 10 miles each. The day was beautiful. A warm sun poured down its rays from a Venetian sky, while a refreshing breeze swept up from the sea. The scene at the finishline was | full of color and effect. The bicycle girl | was there. She wore bloomers, of course, rich and varied of color, and sometimes she sat on the fence-rail with the youth, but at all times she was graceful and & de- ng addition to the scene. All wore the colors of their respective clubs. The Alameda girl was out, too. She wore her summer gown of white muslin and watched Charley Fair's horseless wagon pass back and forth over the smooth boulevard with great interest and delight. B But the finish! It was most exciting. It | was a race forlife. All the energy and force of the scorchers seemed reserved for the last great efiort. As the stretch was entered, 200 yards from the tape, Ziegler and Squires were almost abreast, with Fos- ter close up. Foster spurted to pass be- tween the leaders, with plenty of room in his favor, when Squires wabbled and fouled the Olympian. Both went down in a heap, and Ziegler darted to the front, with Wells close up. Down the stretch they flew, forcing every muscie and strain- ing every nerve. The spectators were eager, breathless, excited. It was a critical moment. Every- body yelled Ziegler, whose name had been { heraldea on a hundred victorious racin fields, but fortune was against him. Wells, who seemed to have considerable reserve ' force up his sleeve. closed inon the San Jose champion when within twenty yards of the line and kept the terrible pressure uptotheend. Inch by inch he forged to the front, and though Ziegler did his utmost he failed to regain the lost ground. finished by a scant wheel to the good, and the multitude sent up a cheer that broke the quies of the Alameda Sabbath. McFarland of San Jose wasa close third, and others came straggling in at intervals. The time made by the Ba y Club for the 100 miles was4 hours the fastest time made last year. P. M. Lefevre of the Acme made the fastest time of any individual rider, covering the third relay in 24:39, which is the fastest time ever made in a reiay race. Wells carried a letter of greeting from Mayor Sutro of San Francisco to Hon. John Foderer, president of the Board of Trustees of San Jose. At each relay this letier was delivered to the rider starting out afresh. This was done in accordance with the regulations under which the race was run. This is the second time the Bay City Club has won the cup presented by Thomas H. B. Varney for the annual 100- mile relay race, open to all members of the California Associated Cycling Clubs. There are twenty-tbree clubs on the mem- bership roll of this orzanization. Ten en- tered the race yesterday. Much money changed hands on the re- suit. The betting between the Bay City and Olympic clubs was particularly heavy, it having been encouraged by a long ex- isting rivalry. The clubmen backed their respective teams to the last dollar, and as a result, the Bay City bovs had money with which to buy refreshments last night, while the Olympics were correspondingly depressed and thirsty. P s O THE RACE IN DETAIL. It Was a Hard-Fought Contest and Splendidly Ridden, Though Accl- dents Were Numerous. It was only a few minutes before 9 o'clock when the ten men who were to ride the first relay lined up on Market street, near Tenth, and awaited the word The immense crowd pushed and jostled with ea other to get a glimpse of the riders, while others wiho. preferred to see them pass lined both sides of Ninth street for blocks. At exactly 9 o’clock to the second Starter McGlynn gave the word, and theriders were off over the cobbles,each striving to reach Ninth street first, that he might have the advantage of leading down the cable slot as far as Potrero avenue. Kroetz of the Olympics secured the coveted position, and led the others a merry chase down Ninth street. The order was: Kroefz. Olympic; Bozio, Imperial; Robinson, San Francisco; Hardenbrook, Garden City; Languetin, Bay City; Schileater, Acme; O’Brien, San Jose; Pratt, Alameda; Han- son, California, and Boyden, Reliance, All went well until the end of Ninth ;’on the six-mile hill and this lost them | Wells i { | %6 minutes 12 | seconds, which is 35 minutes better than | From Life by a “Call ” Artist at Central Avenue and Grand Street, Alameda. ey, Cwwryy.s- e 75\ "—‘Ewllmfl[ 77 ¢ oy, T " WHO ENTERED FOR THE BAY CITY WHEELMEN, THE CLUB THAT WON THE GREAT RELAY OF ’96. THE TEN MEN nue, but pluckily remounted and chased after the bunch, now nearly out of sight. | He caught Hanson, California, who had fallen further on. Pratt, Alameda, punc- tured his tire and was 5 min. 47 sec. be- hind the leader at the end of the relay. Languetin and Robinson lost their pedals time. Owing to the poor condition of the | Toad on the first relay, the wonder is that no more nor worse accidents occurzed. Hardenbrook, Garden City, led by two seconds over Kroetz, Olympic, at the end of the relay, with the Acme man, Schleu- ter, third. The following table shows the relative positions and riding times: FIRST BELAY. Bg [ actoa | | cun. | RIDER. M. Boyden | T. Pratt 9. 0. W. 0:00; 1895, 29:35. Tne relay packets were exchanged with | lightning rapidity here to the riders of the | | second ten miles, who were off and out of | | sightin a few seconds. Krafts, the Bay ! City man, rode fully up to the expectations | of his club mates, and tbough the road | was in bada shape, made the.ten miles in 27 min. 12 sec., which was fastest timeand | brought his club up from fifth to third position. . The Acmes went back one 1lace, while'the Garden Citys and Olym- pics still_held first and second respect- ively. The Imperials dropped from fourth to seventh, and the Alamedas clinched their mortgage on last place. SECOND RELAY. Fastest time—1894, 3 L ¥ |actuat Time. |Riding |Time. RIDER. J Club. .| Tony Delma: Garden C.| 9:55:2; -| W. J. Christ... | Olympic..| 9:56:4: 3./C. A. Krafts......|Bay City.| 9:36:4. 4.|J.R. Kenna....|Acme.... . Birdsall [ San Fran. w., impertal.. J. Carroll. -{San Jose .| E. B. Wilkins... .| Reliance.. i D. Tatt... Alameda. |1 Fastest time—1894, 33:00; 1895, 30:44. The third relay race showed hardly any difference in positions. Hammonds by fast riding brought the San Jose Road Club up two places. The leaders kept their same places, and the tail-enders | theirs. Remarkably fast time was made over this relay, the slowest being 27 min. 32 jsec. Lefevre, Acme, rode the best, min. 39 sec., while the Garder. City, Olym- pic and Bay City men rode in 25 minutes and a fraction. "This was the fastest relay of the course, no accidents happened to any of the men, and a fine road made the riding perfect. THIRD BELAY. time of the relay, 26 min. 36 sec. | fourth to third position on this relay, pass- 3 | still kept first place and the Californias gether, exchanging pace up to the fifth mile, when McCrea's tire punctured. He said nothing, but kept on as best he | could, though it was hard work. When Jones realized what had happened he lit out and soon left the Los Angeles flier be- hind. The latter rode on a mile more when he met a rider on an old model wheel, heavy and cumbersome, with bell, brake, lamp and ail the usual attachments of a tourist’s mount. It was better than his own flat-tired wheel though, so he quickly dismounted and requested an exchange, which was readily granted, and he was off | sgain ata §ood speed and made up all but a minute of the time he lost by his acai- dent. Had his trailer been near at hand, he being supposed to start a minute behind him, he would not have lost so much, but the trailer, George Dixon, also had a punc- ture and was nowhere in sight when Mc- Crea most needed him. Crafts, the Acme man, made the best FOURTH RELAY. 2z I "Aclull Ciub. | Time. |Riding | Time | RIDER. | the dog, and over he went, Suffering a ter- rible fall. His wheel was wrecked, and he was badly bruised, but he mounted his trailer’s wheel when the latter reached the scene, and bravely finished his ride. It was a bad accident and the Garden Citys feel that they practically lost the race there in their own town. What hap- pened to the dog cannot be gleaned from the accounts of the trouble, The Bay Citvs did not do well on this re- lay. In fact, Davis’ riding was so speedy he left the others all the way from cne to five minutes behind. The Alamedas were now 1534 minutes behind. Cardinell of the California Club did not ride well, and his club dropped back to ninth_position. His time, 35 min. 05 sec., would indicate that he must have met with anaccident, though none was reported. At the end of the sixth some claimed that Raynaud, the Bay City man, passed his packet to Vincent outside of the limit of 100 yards, inside of which the rules of the association prescribe it must be ex- changed. Later it was found that the marks were incorrectly placed and that Raynaud had done right, so that the pro- | test the Garden Citys afterward filed on that ground wili have to be disallowed. T Olympic . 110:49:10 Garden C. 10:49:15 Fastest time—1894, 27:50; 1893, 2t Coulter, the crack Eastern racer, rode the fifth for the Olympics and barely main- | tained their lead by reason of a misfor- tune which befell his wheel just before the start. He was obliged to borrow another, which was not suited to him, and rode his course under difficulties. The finish was almost a tie between him and the Garden | City rider, Hubbard, whom he beat by a | few inches, and so was iven first position. | Menne brought the ay Citys up from | ing the Acmes. The San Jose Road Club th. The Alamedas continued to estab- | lish their right to last by dropping still further behind, being nearly a quarter of an hour later than the leaders. The wonder is that Menne did so well on this relay, for he was as unfortunate as McCrea, puncturing his rear tire when the distance was but half covered. He had to slow down, and was soon overtaken by his speedy trailer, Fred Dng'. In trying to make a quick exchange of wheels both fell, and rolled into the gutter. Neither was hurt, and Menne, hastily remounting Day’s wheel, was away in a second on the balance of his journey. Day had to walk to the end of the relay, leading Menne’s disabled wheel. Distance five miles. He was much annoyed. FIFTH RELAY. Actual Club. | Time. |riding time, Fustest time—1894, 26:44; 1895, 28:56. The end of_the fourth relay saw the Olympics in first position. Allan Jones street, when Royden fell turning into Brannan. He fell again on Potrero ave- e it for them and he and the Bay City man, McCrea of Los Angeles, rode to- | the road in front of him. There was more trouble on the sixth re- lay, through and around San Jose, and it was here, on their own ground, that the Garden City Cyclers *‘plaved in hard 1uck’’ and lost exactly two minutes. Their man Navlet started on even terms with Davis, the Olympian, and ali went well until a stray dog nuem}?ted 10 cross avlet strucic SIXTH RELAY. RIDER. Time. |Riding C. L. Davls., Gus Naviet Fastest time—1894, 30:00: 1895, 28:30. By clever riding the fastest of an his course, Chapman maintaines one of the | two-minute lead of the Olympics at the end of the seventh and actually increased it, so_that the Garden Citys, Acmes and Bay Citys were now fully three minutes behind and bunched tozetner in the order named. The San Jose Road Club was still fifth and the Alamedas last. SEVENTH RELAY. rkflunl Club. | Time, |Riding RipER. [Ilme. | Alameda. |1 Fastest time—1894, 32:51; 1495, 28: But oh, how the mighty fell on the eighth relay. When Chapman handed the Olympic packet to George Tantan at the end of the seventh, it was with a lead of three minutes. When the latter passed it t0 J. E. Edwards of the ninth the Gar- den Citys and Acmes had gone by him a | minute'ahead, and he had lost four min- | utes for his ciub and | It was this which hel d | then Foster, and the latter's mishap at the ractically the race. g Ead: is back and 4 finish could not possibly have occurred had he had these priceless four minutes as a lead. There is no excuse for Tantau. He should, Yerhapa, have not been honored with a place on the Olympic team. After his fine showing and successful riding at the Pavilion ingoor tournament in March, he took a pleasure trip to Los Angeles, and only returned to the City Friday. He was in no condition for a bicycle race, let alone an important place on "the Olympic relay team, and all the men but two w%o [actua | |Time.” | | rode the eighth relay beat him from one to four minutes. EIGHTH RELAY. Club. H. A. Fi L. P. an Fran. dlander S n. ......|California) 1 1 9. B. D. |Imperia 10| A'W, Morgenstern| Alamed: Fastes: time—1893, 86:46; 1895, 31:33. The eighth relay finished with the Acrae | Club ahead, the first and only time in the race, though their man, Decker, only beat Smith, Garden City, by a scant Julius wheel’s length, and their finishing times were the same. The Bay Citys were now three minutes behind these two clubs and two minutes back of the* Olympics. But wait. The ninth was a hard ride past Hall's, Alvarado and Mount Eden over a miser- able road and against a strong head wind. Togive an idea how bad the conditions were Ulbricht, the Bay City man, who can negotiate ten miles under favorable circumstances in 25 minutes, could do no better than 33 min. 35 sec., and yet his was the best time of the relay—faster than the ceiebrated Olympian, Edwards, than | the speedy Nissen, Acme, Downing Gar- den City, riders. Ulbricht’s remarkable ride practically brought the Bay City Club “out of the hole’” and left them only a minute and a or Bates, Reliance, or crack | fraction behind at the end of the ninth re- lay‘, which Wells made up in splendid style. here was more hard luck for the Gar- den City Club on the ninth. Downing, one of their best men, punctured his tire and lost considerable time for them. They were fourth at the befinning of the tenth. Edwards took the lead away from the Acmes, they being in second position. The Alamedas became discouraged on this relay and dropped out entirely. They had fought pluckily for eighty miles, but, being a new club, with few racing men, no great things were expected of them, and they deserve credit for riding as they did, defeated from the very start. In’ next year's race the story may be different, for the club has some splendid undeveloped racing material. NINTH BELAY. Actual Time. |Riding Time. Club. 5 4 49 5 9 4 85: nish. Fastest time—1894, 33:00; 1895, 29:19. When Foster, the Olympic, started on the tenth and last relay he had a lead of 1 min. 8 sec. over Squires, Acme, 1:48 over Wells, Bay City, 2:48 over errgler Jr., Garden City, and 6:24 over McKarland, San Jose Road Club. He was off like a shot from the starting point, near San ndro, and it seemed to be all over with the other clubs; surely the other riders could not catch the mighty Foster, who had been champion of the coast for so many years and who was said to bein splendid racing condition. But they did catch him—four of them— and he was a beaten man when he and Squires fell near the tape. Wells left the ninth relay ten seconds behind Squires and caugiit him in no time. Ziegier had them in sight when he |’ | | *222% | behind him. started and kept them there, gradually gaining until he caught up. Then they set out for Foster, and how they flew over the ground, past San Leandro and along the county road, beside the electric road tracks. Thbey aided each other by exchang- ing pace continually, a great advantage over Foster, who was riding alone and un- paced. Soon they hac him in sight and kept drawing .nearer and nearer. Foster must have thought he was further ahead than he actually was, for he did not ride at his | top speed any of the time. 5 Just as he was passing the electric road power-house he heard a whirr of wheels ‘What was his astonishment on glancing around to see Wells, Ziegler and Squires. It must have surprised him reatly. They were badly winded and ead tired, but they were there, neverthe- ess, and he realized he could never leave such riders as they behind; he would { have to depend on beating them outin a spurt at the finish. From that point on the pace was ver; slow. Fostor would not set a hot pace—it would not be advisable—and the other three were too tired to do much more than hang on just then. They were playing for time to rest and catch their breaths, as it were, and so the four loafed along turning down High street, at Fruitvale, toward Alameda. As they turned into Central avenue,Ala- meda, McFarland caught up to them. He had made a grand ride all the way, and their slow pace toward the end had en- abled him to join the leaders. He would have been a big factor at the finish, but his chain_slipped off his wheel about a mile from the gnish, and he was out of it. He borrowed another wheel from a gentieman named Thompson of THE CALL Bicycle Club, who was near by, but could not catch the leaders before they finished, though he was only a few seconds behind. Central avenue, did course for the finish of such an event as the annual relay race. For two miles from where the turn is made into it down to the pr?sginx]of ?rand st}feet, the finish- ing point, it is level, smooth and perfectl szrml;}zt. Down this elezant boulevan{ NEW TO-DAY. The MANTELL Havana cigar is neither a “two bitter”” nor too bitter. It’s 10 cts. and a sweet, cool smoke. It's high-grade Havana, which needs no drugs, that makes the fine NATURAL FLAVOR. Immense sales make the low price. The Wertheimer Co., Wholesalers, §. F. R, T T Everybody‘sbouted and the Emsitement Was Intense as Wells Crossed the Tape Half a Wheel Ahead at the Finish of the Great Relay Race. The Scene Was Sketched | Foster, Wells, Squires and Zie I Alameda, offers a splen- | ler flew, neck and neck, racing like mad, for all de- sire to loaf had left them, now that the finish was near, and they rode as if for their lives. Down the avenue they came, cheered b: the thousands upon thousands of people who lined the roadway. About two blocks from the finish the positions were: Zieg- ler leading, Squires to his right a few inches back, Wells to his left, and Foster back of them all, very close up. He de- cided to steal a march'on the other three, and, thinking there was room to pass be- tween Ziegler and Squires, started to do so. His front wheel showed through all right, but his pedals would not pass. They clinched with Squires’ rear wheel, and in a second both went down with a_ terrible crash. Their wheels were wrecked and both riders were terribly bruised. Ziegler was ahead and escnlied the smashup, and Wells on the outside got clear in time. These two never slackened their pace, and Wells, gradually gaining on Ziegler, beat nhim a couple of fee: at the finish in as pretty and close a ride as has ever been seen in California. TENTH BELAY. RIDEB. “usiuy 1w uonIsod Otto Ziecler Jr. F. A. McFarlau Fastest (ime—1504, What the result would bave been had Squires and Foster not fallen, msy be in doubt, but it is probable that as Wells beat out Ziegler, he could have done the same to them, for they are surely no faster, if as fast as the little San Jose champion. Foster and Squires were carried to the clubrooms of the Alameda cyclers, where their bruises were dressed, and they then went bome. Wells was carried high on the shoulders of his delighted clubmates down the avenue, while the enthusiastic crowd cheered the popular Bay City rider agaip and again. Z McFarland finished soon after Wells, and Yeoman, Reliance, next. The others came straggling in several minutes later. The Acme Club of Oakland will protest against awarding the race to the Bay City Club, A meeting was held last night and it was decided that a protest should be made on account of the foul between BSquires and Foster. Captain Swain of the Acme Wheeimen states the matter thus: “Within two blocks of the finish Foster fouled Squires, and there are a good many who think it was notaltogether accidental. According to the rules, Foster should have nnem\'nesr to pass Squires on the outside, and should not have attempted to l.go be- tween bhim and Ziegler. When Foster struck Squires, the Acme man was lead- ing, and as Foster was completely used up, the race was a possibility for S8quires. As soon as the foul occurred the crowd swarmed around and Squires could not remount or do anything. I have been told that it iooked as though Foster had reckoned on Squires faliing the other way and fouling Ziegler, leaving the route clear for himself, but Squires fell to the right and upset Foster.”” The Garden City cyclers will also pro- test the race and the awarding of the trophy to the Bay City Wheelmen, for two reasons, first: The alleged faulty ex- change of the Bay City packet without the prescribed limits, at the end of the sixth relay, and second: on the grounds that Krafts who rode the second relay for the Bay Citys, has not been a member of that ciub sixty days, a provision of the Associated Club’s by-laws. The first ground of protest is untenable, ana the second the Bay Citys claim they can satisfactorily es- tablish.” But the fact remains that their men won the great race on their own speed and ability, and protests worry them but little. The association road racing com- mittee will hear the protests this week. The Olympics claim to have a complaint against Squires, Acme, for fooling Foster, but they are too sportsmanlike to file it. The credit for arranging the details of the race and bringing it off so successfully is due to the road racing and records com- mittee of the Associated Clubs, which con- sists of George H, Stratton, chairman; Harry F. Wynne and A. P. Swain. The following officials were in charge at the start and finish and in consequence everything at those points went off smoothly and without a hitch: Referee, Harlow 'H. White, president] Associated Clubs; starter, John F. McGliynn, Olympic; clerk of course, Jules F. Hancock, Bay City; scorer, C. W. Prentis California; timers and judges—F. H. Ker. rigan and George P. Weétmore, Bay City; Charles Albert Adams and H. D. Had feldt, Olympic; J. J. B. Argenti, Cali- fornia; J. Catanich, I rial; F. W. Sharp, Acme; W. E. Griffiths, Reliance; W. L Pixley, San Franaisco, and iF. 8. Hoyt, Alameda. A new industry, that of catching snap- ping turtles for Chicago markets, has re- cently developed in Jefferson County (Wisconsin) waters, and is being followed with pecuniary advantage. The turtles sell, live weight, for from 10 to 12 cents a pound. NEW TO-DAY. FIRST PAYMENT. PER WEEK. Wo make such terms because we KNOW that the WAVERLEY will SATISFY YOU. Catalogue and application blank free. This above terms apply only to residents of San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley. Oakland Agency, 301 San Pablo Ave, INDIANA BICYCLE: 0., 18 and 20 McAllister St., S. F, OPEN EVENINGS. ROYALTY couldn’t ride a more perfect wheel than the It's the King of Bicycles. Royal )| Inevery lineand feature,