WHEELING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 57

WHEELING.

(By “Austral.”) The latest American files bring news of the death of “Jimmy” Michael, the famous Welshman, erstwhile champion paced rider of the world, and the greatest rider behind pacing machines that the world. lias ever seen. The “New York Globe,” of November 25, says:— “ Jimmy Michael is dead.’ This news was received by P. T. Powers, promoter of the bicycle races to be held in Madi-son-square Gardens, beginning on December 3, in which Michael was entered. He was to race “Bobby” Walthour fifteen miles behind a motor pacer. The news cf Michael’s death was received by wireless telegraph from the French hne steamship La Savo,e, on which Michael was a passenger with the foreign riders, who are coming here to participate in the six-day race. Jean Gougoltz sent the news of the little Welshman’s death. No further particulars were given in the message, it was flashed from the steamemp to the Marconi station at feagu-ponack, near Montauk PoinQ L.I. It is probable that Michael’s death was due to hemorrhages, the result of a recent operation which was performed in Paris to remove a clot of blood from his brain. Michael, while riding behind a motor pacer in a Berlin race, last year, had a bad fall. This came near putting an end to his racing career then. After a fingering illness, Michael recovered, and it was thought he would be as sound as ever. Several weeks ago friends of Michael in Paris wrote to Mr Powers, informing him of the success of an operation. They declared him as sound and healthy as several years ago. They asked that a special race be arranged between Michael and Walthour, to be held previous to the six-day race. Mr Powers, desiring to give his little friend, a chance to retrieve his lost laurels and aid him financially, arranged the race between Michael and Walthour, -which was to have been at fifteen miles. The news of Michael’s death will be received with much regret by sporting men m tills country, as he was immensely popular, not only on the cycle tracx, but on tpe turf.” .Michael’s name was a noueehold word all the world over. No rac.ng-cyclist was so well-known or popular as the diminutive Welshman. He was born at Aberaraan, in Wales, 28 years ago, and showed great promise as a rider when only 14 years of age. He then won his first race from a field of fast amateurs in Wales. When paced racing became the rage in England and on the Continent, Michael took up the style, and soon showed championship form. “Chappy ’ Warburton, the English trainer, developed Michael’s racing qualities. After defeating all the best paced riders in Europe, the little “Welsh Rarebit,” as he was called, was taken by Warburton to America. After winning several minor races, Michael was matched with Starbuck, the American ohainpion pace follower, in the summer of 1897, at Manhattan Beach. Nearly 28,000 persons watched the race. Tandems, triplets, and quadruplets set the pace. After one of the greatest races

ever witnessed, Michael won. The same year, on Thanksgiving night, Michael again defeated Starbuck in Madison-.square Gardens. The following year Michael raced under the management of “Dave” Shafer, and continued his successful career by defeating Chase, the English champion; “Tom” Linton, who. succeeded Chase as champion; and Edward Taylor©, the French champion. Floyd MacFarland, McDuffie, and “Bobby” Walthour, “Will” Stitnson, “Johnny” Nelson, “Archie” McEncharn, Harry Elkes, and George Leander, the best, pace followers in America, all met defeat at one time or other in races with the Welshman. Miclrael was equally successful against European champions. In 1893 Michael decided to try his skill as a jockey. He purchased a- small stable from a. man named Murphy and raced them at New Orleans with poor success. Michael sued Murphy, and recovered the money paid for the horses. He then accepted an engagement to ride in Paris for a French nobleman, and went over with Milton Henry, who was to ride for Baron Rothschild.'Henry did all he could to' teach Michael, but as a jockey the bicyclist did not succeed. His diminutive size, neat appearance, and the quill toothpick in his mouth through which lie breathed were features by which the public picked him out as a favourite. It was said that Michael was only recently married in London, and that his bride accompanied him at the time of his death.

Although only 28 years of age, Michael had been before the public for 14 years. When in form and properly paced, no rider could keep up with him. Michael was only oft 2in in height, and scaled Sst in racing costume. Writing by the last mail, W. Palmer, the Australian rider, who has been racing in America for the last eight months gives some interesting particulars of his preparation for the big American six day’s race, at the New York Madisonsquare Gardens this month. Palmer’s letter is dated November 23, and he had been m New York only three days, having just arrived from Salt Lake City, New York was a revelation to' the young Australian, who states: “My neck is so stiff from looking up at the big buildings that I c;in hardly turn if.” There were quite a host of riders training for the six days’ race. Palmer was not taken too much with New York, and states that- m future “Sydney or Melbourne will be good enough for me.” Vt the time of writing it had been snowing for some time. The riders, while training, had to wear three sweaters as well as other garments, and could not then keep themselves warm. The method of training was to ride for a quarter of an hour and then go in to the fire and get warm, after which the men would “go out and ride some more.” Palmer states that the six days’ race was nearly being put off. It appears that Alderman Dowling had a resolution passed by the Board of Aldermen which prohibited contests of speed to> last longer than th-ee hours. The ordinance was designed to prevent the six days’ race from being held. The Mayor, however, ten days prior t-o* the da f e fixed for the start of the race, vetoed the ordinance passed, stating that “the bill is too broad, and he felt they were not fully informed of its surprising sweeping character/' He termed it an interference with the rights of the citizen. In addition, he says, it refers to affairs of health that are now in competent hands in the city, and also adds to the work of an overburdened police department.

For his team mate in the six days’ race, Palmer selected a rider named Agraz, a Mexican. In referring to the arrival of Palmer and his team mate in New York, the- “World” states:—“This combination team came to New York direct from Salt Fake City, -where they have been riding for some weeks past. They were met by John West, the veteran trainer, who is to have charge' of the foreign delegation of riders during their preliminary work, and also while the race is in progress. The looks of this team certainly justify the records that both of these boys iiave made both abroad and since they have ridden in this country. Palmer, by a strange coincidence, looks very much like his namesake, the ‘Pedlar’ Palmer, of pugilistic fame. He is as hard as nails, and capable of riding almost any length of time and distance. His team mate, Agraz, is a sturdy chap with «a determined square-set jaw and a pail* of racylookiner legs.” If all went well with him, Palmer intended to return to Australia immediately after the big race.