This was the second time Frank Elwell, raced, as far as I can tell. I'm researching him, so that's why this post exists. I've gathered a few different reportings of the event in one post. Why am I researching Frank Elwell? Bicycle riding really had its first big boom in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1880s, like much of the rest of the Europe and America, and in this region there was one young athlete, Frank who inspired his team and the region with his race winnings. Everyone loves a hero, right? Frank was that hero, and he helped to elevate this activity in the popular imagination. Later, he was to become a civil engineer, and his start was designing and building bicycle tracks, AKA velodromes, before moving on to things like bridges and railroads. So, about that day, May 31, 1886...
Excerpted from The Wheelmen's gazette, v. 1 Apr. 1886-Mar. 1887, page 60, find the full text at the bottom of this post:
On May 31, the long-looked-for races of the Bay City Wheelmen and the Albion Athletic Club came off. The day was very fine, but in the afternoon a rather stiff breeze came up, which, coupled with the softness of the track, made the pushing up the back stretch very much like work. The track was a five-lap one consisting mostly of gravel upon which about one week's work had been done. In some places it was very soft, the wheel sinking in as much as three inches, which accounts for the slow time. The bicycle events were a half, one, two, and five mile, and a maiden mile, the first two being scratch. In the half-mile were F. D. Elwell, of the Bay City Wheelmen, and H. G. Kennedy, of Denver. Elwell obtained a very poor start by giving his handle-bars such a jerk that they nearly broke. Kennedy thus got a start of about 40 feet; when Elwell got underway, however, he came like a streak, passing Kennedy in great style and winning the race in 1.33.
In the mile scratch were Elwell, of the Bay City Wheelmen, W. G. Davis, of the San Francisco Bicycle Club, and C. A. Biederman, all of San Francisco. Elwell and Davis lit out, leaving Biederman some ten yards behind, on the second lap. Elwell led until the last lap, when Davis passed him on the inside and won in 3.10 1/2. Elwell thought there was another lap and intended to let Davis lead half of it and was quite surprised, as were all present, to see Davis carry the tape. He claimed a foul, which would have been allowed had he cared to press it, but he preferred to run it over, to which, however, Davis objected. They will probably meet at a future date, if Davis has the grit.
In the two-mile handicap were Elwell, Kennedy, Biederman, H. S. Blood, and a few others. Elwell and Kennedy started from scratch. Blood fifty yards, Biederman sixty. From the start it was easy to see that the contest lay between Elwell and Kennedy. They soon overhauled the head men and then laid down to work, Elwell forcing the pace with Kennedy's wheel lapping him. If the track had been in any sort of condition a good record would surely have been made. On the final lap, when near the tape Kennedy forged a wheel ahead of Elwell; the latter straightened up and throwing all his weight on the pedals came up even and just at the tape got his wheel about a foot ahead of his competitor, winning the race in 6.56 1/2.
The mile maiden race was one of the most interesting of the kind ever run on the coast. The entries were I. S. Ireland, [A. S. Ireland] H. P. W., R. W. Turner, B. C. W., J. D. Sears, F. James, B. C. W., W. Hammer; the other entries failed to put in an appearance. Ireland and James started out at a good pace, closely followed by Turner. On the last lap the men got bunched very closely until the last half when Turner forged ahead and succeeded in keeping so to the close. Time, 3.27, Ireland second, James third. Before the two-mile race some friend (?) of Elwell's filled him with beer, the bad effects of which he felt after the race, so he concluded to stay out of the five mile. The race was started with Kennedy scratch, Blood, Sears, and Churchill with handicaps from 50 to 100 yards. Kennedy soon caught up the handicaps and led, with Blood second, Churchill third. Blood passed Kennedy several times but the latter always succeeded in catching up. On the five mile Churchill put on a good burst of speed and got to the front. Lap after lap was passed with him leading. Blood and Kennedy alternately trying to pass him but without success. On the last lap, however. Blood met with success and got to the front, but was in turn passed by Kennedy, who succeeded in winning the race in 19.04 1/4, Blood second, Churchill third.
Here are three local newspaper accounts of the event, the first one transcribed. Do read the untranscribed articles, if only to read about Maltby/Malty, the 'champion trick bicycle rider of the world.'
ON THE TRACK.
The Wheelmen's and Athletic Tournament at Alameda.
The Bay City Wheelmen and Albion Athletic Club's tournament at the Alameda Baseball Grounds was a pleasant event. The attendance was fairly large and many ladies were present. The participants represented the Albion Athletic Club, the Olympic Club, Highland Park Wheelmen, League of American Wheelmen, Merion Cricket Club, University Athletic Club, Eintracht Athletic Club, San Francisco Bicycle Club and Acme Club. The track, a new one, was somewhat soft, which fact explains the reason for the slow time made by the wheelmen and racers. The Committee of Arrangements consisted of Fred Russ Cook, C. J. Schuster, R. H. Holroyd, R. M. Welch, P. N. Gafney, George W. Hupers; referee, Fred Russ Cook; starter, William C. Brown; judges, Edwin Mohrig, E. F. O'Connor and J. J. Theobald: timers, Colonel C. G. Edwards, Peter McIntyre and A. W. Brown; judge of walking, P. N. Gafney: clerks of the course, Thomas L. Hill and P. N. Gafney,
Gold and silver medals were given to the first and second best men in each contest. The races were as follows:
Special race, one hundred yards - W. J. Kenealy, Albion; E. G. Rodolph, Olympie, Kenealy won in 10 3-5 seconds.
One-mile maiden bicycle race - A. S. Ireland, Highland Park; R. W. Turner, Bay City; J. D. Sears, F. James, D. O'Callaghan, Bay City: R. R. Russ, League American; W. Hammer. Turner won in 5:27 minutes, Ireland second, James third, Hammer fourth,
One hundred yards, handicap race - First heat - J. W. Flynn, scratch, Merion; E. G. Rodolph, 3 yards, Olympic; G. W. Jordan, 6 yards, Merion; E. B. Freese, 6 yards, Albion; R. Luttringer, 7 yards, Albion. Flynn won the heat in 10 2-5 seconds, Jordan second.
Second heat - W. J. Kenealey, 3 yards, Albion; George Rodolph, 5 yards. University; P. C. Kelly, 8 yards, Merion; W. McConnell, 8 yards, Merion. Kenealey first, Kelly second. Time, 10 2-5 seconds
Final heat - W. J. Kenealey, 3 yards; G. W. Jordan, 6 yards; J. W. Flynn, scratch. Kenealey won the heat and race, time 10 seconds, Jordan second.
One mile handicap walk - H. Coffin, seratch, Olympic; C. M. Yates, 20 seconds, Albion; C. Lester, 35 seconds, Eintracht. Collin first, Yates second. Time, 7:58 minutes.
Half-mile scratch bicycle race - F. D. Elwell, Bay City; H. G. Kennedy, Denver. Elwell winner; time 1:33 minutes.
Exhibition of tandem tricycle, half-mile - C. A. Biederman and Frank James. The former won the race in 1:31 minutes.
Two hundred and twenty yards handicap race - J. W. Flynn, scratch, Merion; W. J. Kenealey, 6 yards, Albion; E. G. Rodolph, 9 yards, Olympic; R. MacArthur, 10 yards, Albion; George Rodolph, 12 yards, University; E. B. Freese, 12 yards, Albion; G. W. Jordan, 12 yards, Merion; H. W. Thompson, fourteen yards, Albion; R. Luttringer, 15 yards, Albion; W. McConnell, 18 yards, Merion; R. H. Holroyd. 16 yards, Albion. Rodolphe came in first, Flynn second and Thompson third. Time, 23 seconds.
One-mile scratch bicycle race for the State championship - F. D. Elwell, Bay City: C. A. Biederman, League Am.; W. G. Davis, S. F. Bicycle. This was a closely contested race between Elwell and Davis. Davis passed Elwell on the inside of the track and a foul was claimed by Davis, but later it was withdrawn. Davis won in 3:10 1/2, Elwell coming in second a few feet behind.
Half-mile run, handicap - W. A. Scott, scratch, Olympic; G. W. Jordan, 30 yards, Merion; R. MacArthur, 30 yards, Albion; G. W. Hupers, 35 yards, Albion; R. Gib. Eon, 35 yards, Merion; R. Luttringer, 45 yards, Albion; P. C. Kelly, 50 yards, Merion; G. S. West, 50 yards, Albion. Hupers came in first in 2:09 1/2, Jordan second and MacArthur third.
Running high jump handicap - G. Rodolph, scratch, University; H. W. Thompson, 4 inches, Albion; P. N. Gafney, 5 inches, Albion. Thompson won, jumping 5 feet 4 inches, Gafney, 4 feet 11 inches.
Two mlle handicap bicycle race - F. D. Elwell, scratch, Bay City W.; H. G. Kennedy, scratch, Denver; H. S. Blood, 50 yards, Bay City W.; C. A. Biederman, 60 yards, League Amer. Elwell came in in 6:56 1/4, Kennedy second, Blood third. The race was a close one.
Pole vault scratch - George Rodolph. University; E. G. Rodolph, Olympic, George Rodolph withdrew and E.G. Rodolph cleared 8 feet.
Mr. Maltby, the champion trick bicycle rider of the world, gave a very interesting exhibition of his ability on the wheel.
One mile handicap run - W. A. Scott, scratch, Olympic; C. B. Hill, 50 yards, Merion; W. A. Beatty, 75 yards, University; G. W. Hupers, 80 yards, Albion; R. Gibson, 90 yards, Merion: H. W. Thompson, 100 yards, Albion; P. C. Kelly. 100 yards, Merion; R. H. Holroyd, 100 yards, Albion. This race was well contested. Beatty winning in 4:53 2-5, with Hill second.
Five-mile handicap bicycle race - H. G. Kennedy of Denver, scratch: A. J. Blood of Bay City, 160 yards; H. B. Churchill of Highland Park, 175 yards; J. D. Sears of Oakland, 175 yards. Kennedy won in 19 minutes and seconds, Blood second, Churchill third.
In the 100-yard sack race E. B. Freese came in first, G. W. Hupers second, and P. N. Godfrey third
...
The exhibition of fancy bicycle riding by Maltby, the champion trick rider of the world, was exceptionally good and elicited much applause. Mr. Maltby, not only by taking off the small wheel converted his bicycle into a unicycle, which [he] rode with great ease, but also took an ordinary light cart wheel, and by standing on the nave and using his hands as a motor, succeeded in propelling himself along the track.
...
...
The exhibition of fancy bicycle riding by Maltby, the champion trick rider of the world, displayed marvelous familiarity with the difficult vehicle. The surprise of his auditors was increased as he continued to dismember his already scanty conveyance, til finally nothing remained but the naked main wheel, without handle or seat, but which he propelled with remarkable ense. The climax was reached wben be mounted a plain cartwheel, and a precocious lad from the fence-top called out, "I say, Maltby, take the spokes out and see it you can ride 'er."
FROM OUR PACIFIC COAST CORRESPONDENT.
Wheeling is on the boom, now that the season is fairly opened, and wheels are being rapidly disposed of by the agents.
To enliven the interest in cycling the ever energetic Bay Citys have offered a gold medal to the member scoring the greatest mileage up to November 1, and a leather medal (special) for the one riding the least. Competition is at present very brisk. Quite a number of Eastern wheelmen are visiting us, having taking advantage of the low rates, and they are in ecstasies over our climate and scenery, but they prefer their own roads.
Wednesday, May 12, the Bay City Wheelmen tendered a banquet to the newly elected officers of the California division of the L. A. W. It was a most enjoyable affair, about one hundred wheelmen being present. President Hill, of the Bay Citys, acted as toast-master and introduced the chief consul, Mr. R. C. M. Welch, of San Francisco. Welch made a very clever little speech, reviewing the life of the bicycle and the L. A. W., and wound up by proposing a toast to the L. A. W., which was heartily responded to. Speeches and songs followed in rapid succession, conspicuous among the latter being the following original song by S. Booth, Sen.: —
O, all you members of the League,
Whose lungs are good and strong,
Come join with all your voices in
The chorus of my song;
About a gallant wheelman and
A comrade good and true.
Elected district consul of
The L. A. W.
CHORUS.
This fine American wheelman
All of the modern time.
No shining stars nor golden bars
Attest his racing fame,
Nor do the cycling chronicles
His victories proclaim.
He holds no envied "record"
Of a mile, or of an hour;
His record is "good fellowship "
When out upon a tour.
CHORUS.
This fine American wheelman, etc.
In the heroic days of old,
Before great Caesar's birth.
To be a Roman consul was
The grandest thing on earth.
But not great Julius himself.
The day that he did squelch
The Roman Senate, was a prouder
Man than Consul Welch.
CHORUS.
This fine American wheelman, etc.
To win the Roman consulate.
And stand where Caesar stood,
Great Pompey and his friends went down
Amid a sea of blood;
And so to gain the lofty place
Which he adorns to-night.
Our modern consul comes victorious
From a gallant fight,
CHORUS.
Like a fine American wheelman, etc.
Among his brave competitors
Who came to sudden grief
Was Mohrig of the Drill Corps,
And erst their gallant chief.
Though wearing proudly on his breast
Full many a prize, I trow
His glistening stars and golden trophies
Could not save him now,
CHORUS.
From this fine American wheelman, etc.
"The San Franciscans" also had
Their champion candidate.
And fain had seen young Harry Greene
Crowned with the consulate ;
But though his comrades mustered strong
And true across the bay.
And though hero of many a fall.
His worst fall was that day,
CHORUS.
By this fine American wheelman, etc.
Other competitors there were,
But all to fame unknown.
Who never spoke in others' praise.
But loudly sang their own;
And others still who trusted in
Their monumental cheek
For victory, but they, too, were
Compelled to eat the leek,
CHORUS.
By this fine American wheelman, etc.
And so we come to celebrate
His triumph here to-night.
With speech and song to welcome him
Victorious from the fight];
To lay our vows of fealty
And service at his feet.
And wish that as Chief Consul
The success might be complete,
CHORUS.
Of this fine American wheelman, etc.
The Clipper Quartette helped to make things lively by several very well rendered quartettes, and received round after round of applause. F. R. Cook responded to "our racers " in a few short remarks. When he had finished some one cried, "What's the matter with Cook," whereupon every one present arose and yelled, "He's all right every time, you bet!" It was quite a late hour when we dispersed, and it was universally said to have been one of the pleasantest meetings we have yet had.
Our division officers are truly "rustlers," especially the chief consul. He has traversed some 500 miles within the last few weeks, wakening the sluggards to join our merry band, and also getting items concerning the various roads of the State, for a road book, which he is preparing.
Messrs. Meeker and Hill, of the Bay Citys, and Kennedy, of Denver, recently took a trip to the Geysers, and upon the whole had a most enjoyable trip, though they had some startling adventures. Messrs. Tittle, Booth, and Welch recently took a trip to Livermore and returned the same day, a distance of about 75 miles; they report walking along the mountain ridges as very bad, though most of the way they had fine wheeling and some splendid coasts. Messrs. Cruikshank, Dubois, and Blinn, of the Highland Park Wheelmen, recently took a trip to the Yosemite Valley. They say they came across a man who had never seen a bicycle before and took them for a traveling circus.
Cook has received his "walking papers" from the genial chairman of the racing board of the L. A. W. This is taken by the wheelmen on this coast as an insult, and is very keenly felt by the Bay City Wheelmen, who have worked so hard for the cause of cycling ever since their organization, and who were the prime movers in the formation of a State division of the L. A. W. I ask if you think this is treating us right, to expel our captain. May be the worthy chairman will imagine that we shall construe every action of the racing board as being perfectly proper without further comment, and calmly submit, bounce our captain, and send them a vote of thanks for their highly commendable action. But allow me to inform you that we are made of sterner stuff, and sooner than bounce our captain we shall bounce the League. It is well for the racing board that they do not reside in the "far West," or I am afraid their racing days would be brought to a speedy close. By the way, what's the matter with Van Sicklen that he was not "on the list"? Well, one thing is sure, we won't bounce our professional (?) captain, and we won't refuse to race with him; then again we don't allow professionals in our ranks, so "here's a pretty state of things." What is the racing board going to do about it? Better send a carload of certificates out, I guess, or warn us through the Bulletin to beware of "ourselves."
On May 31, the long-looked-for races of the Bay City Wheelmen and the Albion Athletic Club came off. The day was very fine, but in the afternoon a rather stiff breeze came up, which, coupled with the softness of the track, made the pushing up the back stretch very much like work. The track was a five-lap one consisting mostly of gravel upon which about one week's work had been done. In some places it was very soft, the wheel sinking in as much as three inches, which accounts for the slow time. The bicycle events were a half, one, two, and five mile, and a maiden mile, the first two being scratch. In the half-mile were F. D. Elwell, of the Bay City Wheelmen, and H. G. Kennedy, of Denver. Elwell obtained a very poor start by giving his handle-bars such a jerk that they nearly broke. Kennedy thus got a start of about 40 feet; when Elwell got underway, however, he came like a streak, passing Kennedy in great style and winning the race in 1.33.
In the mile scratch were Elwell, of the Bay City Wheelmen, W. G. Davis, of the San Francisco Bicycle Club, and C. A. Biederman, all of San Francisco. Elwell and Davis lit out, leaving Biederman some ten yards behind, on the second lap. Elwell led until the last lap, when Davis passed him on the inside and won in 3.10 1/2. Elwell thought there was another lap and intended to let Davis lead half of it and was quite surprised, as were all present, to see Davis carry the tape. He claimed a foul, which would have been allowed had he cared to press it, but he preferred to run it over, to which, however, Davis objected. They will probably meet at a future date, if Davis has the grit.
In the two-mile handicap were Elwell, Kennedy, Biederman, H. S. Blood, and a few others. Elwell and Kennedy started from scratch. Blood fifty yards, Biederman sixty. From the start it was easy to see that the contest lay between Elwell and Kennedy. They soon overhauled the head men and then laid down to work, Elwell forcing the pace with Kennedy's wheel lapping him. If the track had been in any sort of condition a good record would surely have been made. On the final lap, when near the tape Kennedy forged a wheel ahead of Elwell; the latter straightened up and throwing all his weight on the pedals came up even and just at the tape got his wheel about a foot ahead of his competitor, winning the race in 6.56 1/2.
The mile maiden race was one of the most interesting of the kind ever run on the coast. The entries were I. S. Ireland, H. P. W., R. W. Turner, B. C. W., J. D. Sears, F. James, B. C. W., W. Hammer; the other entries failed to put in an appearance. Ireland and James started out at a good pace, closely followed by Turner. On the last lap the men got bunched very closely until the last half when Turner forged ahead and succeeded in keeping so to the close. Time, 3.27, Ireland second, James third. Before the two-mile race some friend (?) of Ewell's filled him with beer, the bad effects of which he felt after the race, so he concluded to stay out of the five mile. The race was started with Kennedy scratch, Blood, Sears, and Churchill with handicaps from 50 to 100 yards. Kennedy soon caught up the handicaps and led, with Blood second, Churchill third. Blood passed Kennedy several times but the latter always succeeded in catching up. On the five mile Churchill put on a good burst of speed and got to the front. Lap after lap was passed with him leading. Blood and Kennedy alternately trying to pass him but without success. On the last lap, however. Blood met with success and got to the front, but was in turn passed by Kennedy, who succeeded in winning the race in 19.04 1/4, Blood second, Churchill third.
The meeting was a complete success in every way and was the best field day ever held on the coast. The races were all very exciting and closely contested, and the next meeting is looked forward to with considerable interest. The officers of the meet are to be congratulated on their admirable tact in conducting the affair as they did.
The following were the officers : Referee, F. R. Cook ; starter, W. C. Brown ; judges, E. Mohrig, E. F. O'Connor, J. J. Theobald; timers, Col. G. C. Edwards, P. Mclntyre, A. W. Brown; clerks of course, Thos. L. Hill, P. N. Gafney.
At the conclusion of the races "Malty," the world-renowned trick rider, gave an admirable exhibition on the wheel, which was the best ever seen on the coast.
Sometime ago a tournament was given by the Bay City Wheelmen, in which the San Francisco Bicycle Club assisted, to create a fund for the building of a track. A treasurer was appointed to keep charge of the coin, who happened to be a Bay City Wheelman. This has worried the San Francisco Bicycle Club for a long time, and finally, to settle matters, the fund was divided between the Bay City Wheelmen and the San Francisco Bicycle Club, each taking one half. As the San Francisco Club had but four men in the parade against forty odd of the Bay City Wheelmen, and as the Bay City Wheelmen did all the work and all the racing, I presume the San Francisco Bicycle Club is satisfied with the settlement.
"Rocks."
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