AN UNFORTUNATE CYCLE RACE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5713, 17 August 1897, Page 2

AN UNFORTUNATE CYCLE RACE.

WALTER FREEMAN'S FATAL ACCIDENT.

An inquost was liold at Palnioi'ston North yesterday into tho circumstances attending the death of young Walter Freeman, whose death through a cycling accident wo previously recorded. Deceased's father in evidence said ho recognised tho body lying in the Morgue as that of his late son. Had heard of tho accident which hud occurred and also of the death of his late son. Deceased was a steady J'oung man, and lie would have been nineteen next week. He was very fond of bicycling and was a good rider. Hugh Mowloin suid hereinemborcd the accident on Wednesday last. He was among those who took part in the road race from Palinerston to Ashurst. Ho was riding close to deceased when the accident occurred. Messrs ffiugato and Grace wero also near him, They kept together till they reached Cobb's hill, whore there is a rather steep descent, Witness was leading going down, and they were travelling at tho rate of about 20 miles an hour. Let deceased pass liirn, and thon saw him fall. Tho deceased fell heavily on tho metalled road, Pound the front wheel of the bicycle broken off. The others went on to Aslmrst to see about procuring a doctor, while witness picked the deceased up. Neither Wingato nor Graco offered to assist. Deceased could not speak and his faco was covered with blood, In about ten minutes Mr Nash arrived and deceased was then taken to the hospital. Tho Coroner, in summing up, commented very strongly on the dangers of bicycle racing on tho public road, It was just as improper as horse racing would bo. There was a good bicycle track on which all such races should take place. The jury brought in a verdict of accidental death, tho result of the collapse of n bicycle in a road race, and added a rider asking the Coroner to bring under the notice of the authorities the dangers attending bicycle road-racing, and urging that it bo suppressed..