Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1897 — BIG WHEEL MEET. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BIG WHEEL MEET.

Quaker City Thoroughly Awakened by Thousands of Pedalera. The opening race meet of the eighteenth annual meet of the L. A. W. was held at Willow Grove Park, Philadelphia, before 15,000 spectators. It was the most successful in the history of the organization, in attendance, enthWgsm and good racing. Several State records were smashed and Arthur Gardiner of Chicago, the crack, came within 2-5 of a second of breaking Hamilton’s world's record for a mile paced. He succeeded in lowering the fast mile made by Johnson at Chicago last year by 4-5 of a second. Gardiner, paced by quads, crossed the line like a flash and the time was caught. He never ceased his pace until the finish was made in 1:39 3-5, breaking the State record of 1:45 3-5, held by Kiser. Starbuck also took a trial at the record, paced by a quad and triplet. His time was 1:44%, also breaking Kiser’s record. Both these events followed the scheduled races for the day. In the latter the honors among the professionals were won by Longhead of Sarnia, Ont., who crossed the tape a winner in three trials, two finals, and second man in a third final. In one of these finals, the mile professionaL he broke the State competition record of 2:05 4-5, by covering the distance in 2:03 3-5. He captured the quarter-mile championship in 32 seconds. Among the amateurs honors were more more evenly divided, with the best racing done by Peabody, Johnson, Middendorff, Shrade, Krick and Miller. During the

entire day there were but two or three spills, and nobody was hurt by these. At night Willow Grove Park was given over to the wheelmen and the visitors saw exhibitions of trick and fancy riding, * display of fireworks and a general good time.

ARTHUR GARDNER.