THE CYCLE MOLOCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10593, 6 November 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CYCLE MOLOCH.

THE DEMON OF THE WHEEL CLAIMS .MORE VICTIMS, Two shocking cycling accidents are reported from Lancashire. Dr. Stephens, of Whittingham Asylum, was riding at. Hoghton, near Blackburn, with three other medical men, when he was thrown by a largo stone getting under the wheel, and fell with such force on his head that ho died late, the same night from concussion of tho brain. •'v :

In the other case a lady cyclist, named Grimehaw, living at Oswaldtwistlo, had her loft eye completely destroyed by a stone thrown by some unknown person. Tliero wan an inquest hold at tho Pimlico Coroner's Courb as to tho death of a lady cyclist, nainod Edith Eliza Chator, tho sister of a clergyman, who was knocked down- and killed while riding in Bayswator Road. Alias Chater at the time of the accident was accompanied by her nephew, who told the Court that the lady was knocked off her machihe by a cab which came out of Stanhope Terrace. Evidence was given that Miss Clmtor was riding on tho wrong side of tho road, and on this and a statement by a gentleman who was in the cab that the driver was in 110 way to blame the jury returned avordicbof "Accidental death." : ! • 7 : V

Charles Cook, aged about 50 years, and for 20 years coachman to tho'Dowager Countess of Kintore, was killed while cycling. - While returning from a pleasure trip ho losb control of his machine in'descending Cairnwoll Hill, and dashed ovor an embankment, man and bicycle being precipitated to the bottom; Death was instantaneous. • The deceased leaves a widow and five children. •'»

■ Miss Hill, of Honningtoh Station, on the Great Northern Railway, while out cycling ran into a Post OITico; mail cart. • She was thrown heavily to the"ground,'sustaining concussion of the brain and severe cuts and bruises. r r f : : :

STRAPPED TO THE .MACHINE. • ' \ There was on inquest ab Hammersmith as to the death of. Walter James Whitaker, a surveyor's articled clerk', who died as the result of injuries sustained in a cycling race at Putney Velodromo. Whitaker, according, to tho evidence, was one of fivo in the fourth heat for a quarcqr-mile open race. Entering the straight for home,' a competitor named Phillips was leading, Whitakor .being second. ■- Phillips was riding rather wide, and Whitaker was wobbling, and in endeavouring to pass touched tho back wheel of Phillips' machine, with the'result that he was thrown into tho air, and fell back on his head. The deceased, it,was added, was not only wearing toe-clip?, but'had' his feet strapped to the pedals... Tho jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death j", and added a rider drawing the attention 'of 'cyclists to the .danger; of using 'straps to', the feet while cycling, and expressing the opinion that straps should bo prohibited at race meetings. ' , '.' . '. ' ,

,SAD ACCIDENT TO UOMTO. i;; About half-past eleven' on Tuesday hii»ht Holbein, the well-known cyclist, while making mi attempt on the 1000 miles road record, fell and fractured one of his thighs. He,with his pacemakers, who were mounted on a motor , tricycle and tandem, were on the.- down road /about, three <* miles from Wisbech. When ? passing a V greengrocer's cart Holbein either caught againsb one of the" other machines <or . ran • into; a gravel heap at the roadside. • Ho foil heavily, and a tandem passed over his right leg. ;He is now ; lyin.'{ at the, White Hark Hotel, .Wisbech, where: ho • is going on as well as can be expected..' ■ - . ~