A PHANTOM CYCLIST.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3256, 13 October 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

A PHANTOM CYCLIST.

A WEIRD STORY OF THE RACING TRACK.

A cyclist, well known in the Midland counties, describes in a recent issue of The Wyvern an adventure which he recently met with. He writes : “ As a racing cyclist I have encountered, during my long career on the track, experiences both many and varied, some humorous, some tragic, and others inexplicable. In the latter category I must class the experience I am about to relate, which was the queerest and certainly the moat mysterious of all. In the early summer of 189—I was training hard, with the ultimate intention of winning, if possible, the Walsey Cup, a splendid solid silver cup of the value of (50 guineas, and named after tbe presenter, Sir Richard Walsey. ’ Tbe event tor which the cup had been presented was a two miles scratch race, and was run at the annual sports in my native town. As the race was confined to competitors witliln a radius of' 30 miles; I knew fairly well the abilities of all the men I should have to compete against. T'here was in fact only one man and that was George Vincent, of Nunton, who on two previous occasions had won the race; and had only to win it onde more to become the absolute possessor of the trophy. On both these occasions I had finished second to hinif only being beaten by less than a wheel; But this time I knew I should have to travel considerably faster than any other previous race, as every flow and again news would come of George’s victory ia some first-class race. Still I was fullof confidence, as I had been quiet and getting into excellent condition, and had accomplished one or two smart performances in my private trials. Although fully aware of my improved speed, 1 was equally cognisant of the fact that my redoubtable opponent had improved considerably, and did not intend to fall in the common error of most good riders, of holding him to cheap, as I have often seen scores of races lost through a competitor being over-confident. ; At last, as the time for the annual sports came round, I was fit as the proverbial fiddle, and bent on securing the cup; At two o’clock on the eventful day I wended my Way down to the sports’ ground, and found an immense crowd of people listening to the strains of music, and watching the athletes-as they displayed their abilities in tbe various contests. Leisurely making my way to the dressing tent, I undressed, put on my silks; and, it being a scorching hot day, lav down to get cool and reserve my strength for the impending Struggle. The race previous to the scratch race was being decided, and I had not yet seen anything of George Vincent. I. made numerous inquiries, but all to no purpose, as no one appeared to have caught a glimpse of him. The bugle now sounded for competitors to face the. starter, and still there was no George 1 Vincent. At this 1 was a trifle elated, knowing that without him the race was a certainty for me. I could not account for his absence at’all; knowing how eager he was to win the cup outright, and as a fsw days before he had signified to the secretary his: intention of competing, and returned the cup for exhibition purposes. Abottt half a doCea of us now proceeded to the starting post, mounted on machines, and were waning for the pistol to crack, when, in the. coolest manner possible George Vincent came gliding up td rdy side: lof course surmised he had been unaccountably detained and had dressed hurriedly, or perhaps had used some private room near to.the enclosure. I accordingly proffered my hand, asking how he was; but he took not the slightest notice of me, and sat quite motionless. This ungentlemanly conduct on the part of George, usually so urbane a fellow, fairly astonished me, and I was about to ask for an explanation, when the starter’s gruff ‘Get ready ’ prevented me from doing so. Crack went the pistol andaway we went. The race had now commenced, and seating myself firmly on the saddle and grasping my handles tightly, I thought of nothing else but victory. , 11 George went off with the lead, I quickly following, hanging on his back wheel like grim death. The pace was a ,‘ cracker,’ and lap after lap.was wheeled off without our relative positions being altered. It was a ding-dong race, and Other competitors were soon, some considerable distance in the rear.- Time after time I essayed to pass Vincent; but he seemed to ward off my challenge with scarcely an effort. Once I did -manage to : get up to his side, and taking a quick glance at his face, to see if I could detect any signs of fatigue was thoroughly startled at his appearance. His face seemed almost transparent, his skin white and deathlylooking, his eyes’, shone with a fixed glassy stare and were immovable in their sockets; He appeared totally unconscious of his surroundings, • sitting upon. his machine like a statue, and when X spurted to get on even terms’with him, he increased his speed Without'any exertion whatever. He appeared to be material; but not the corporeal man as usually seen and understood. He had an uncanny appearance, such as I have never beheld in another person, and which I cannot describe in words. However, we were fast nearing tbe last ‘quarter,’ and gathering my scared wits together, prepared for the final ‘ burst.’ The bell now rung for the last lap, and the excitement became .intense; hundreds of voices shouted ‘ Go it, George I’ ‘Go it, Tom 1’ (the; letter being my Christian name). We had now entered the ‘ straight,’ and I made one last effort to get first, but not by an inch could I lessen . the distance...between, the two machines. Thus the race ended, George Vincent winning by a wheel,, thereby becoming entitled to the absolute possession of the Walsey Cup. On my arrival at the tent everyone was talking of George, sayjng what a strange appearance he bad whilst riding his machine ; also alluding to his mysterious coming on to the track immediately prior to the race and in the nick of time. Where did he dress ?’ I asked of several competitors, but all were nonplussed and totally ignorant as to. his strange proceedings. ; - Upon the conclusion of the sports I at once repared to the grand stand to receive the second prize, a gold centre medal. When the name of. George Vincent was called to receive the silver pup, cheers rent the air, but the victor was not forthcoming, and after vainly seeking for him, the cup was held over until claimed by the missing competitor. . : s The same evening- the papers published and account of a shocking railway accident that had occurred to the 1.30 train from Nunton t and next morning, among the list of killed, ,was poor, ‘ George Vincent, the well-known raping cyclist.’ ! As the accident happened at two o’clock and the race was ridden at 3.30, the material George Vincent could not have raced and won.' The fact was that ! had unconsciously ridden a race with a phantom. - Some months after we had laid the remains of George in the grave, I put in a claim for the cup. The sports! secretary replied that as I certainly did not finish first in the race, I was not entitled to the possession of the cup, • I argued the matter with him,, reminding him that inhabitants of the terrostial globe were eligible to compete, and not denizens of another sphere.... However, my arguments were of no avail, and for that year the cup was hold over. Ultimately I. won the cup three times, and now have it snugly ensconced on my parlour sideboard; but whenever I look at it, it brings vividly to my mind the desperate race I had with a phantom."