Thursday, July 1, 2021

SAN JOSE COLORED CYCLERS. - World's Record for Wheelwomen Lowered by Rebecca Downs. - The San Francisco Call, 30 Sep 1895

SAN JOSE COLORED CYCLERS.
World's Record for Wheelwomen Lowered by Rebecca Downs.SAN JOSE COLORED CYCLERS. World's Record for Wheelwomen Lowered by Rebecca Downs. 30 Sep 1895, Mon The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

This is the third in a series of articles, in chronological order, where I've found evidence of Black cyclists riding and racing in the Bay Area. Here, Rebecca Downs lowers the "world's record," set by Idella Allen just 12 days earlier by 1-5 of a second. I've found no other mention of Rebecca Downs in newspapers of the era, but the 1880 census shows a Rebecca H. Downs, 2 years old, "Mulatto" in Oakland, CA, same city in which Idella grew up. Idella was born in 1877 and Rebecca was born in 1878, making them 18 and 17, respectively on this race day. I've looked into some of the other names, but so far I don't have anything interesting to share about them. I'd love to know to which clubs they belonged, but that isn't recorded. I do know that at least these two clubs were involved; Oakland Cycling Club and San Jose Cyclers. It seems the newspaper editors variable insert the word "Colored" into their names, to differentiate them I guess.

SAN JOSE COLORED CYCLERS. 

World's Record for Wheelwomen Lowered by Rebecca Downs. 

SAN JOSE, CAL., Sept. 29. - The race meet of the San Jose Colored Cyclers this afternoon proved an interesting event.

There was not a very large attendance, but the races were all hotly contested. The feature of the meet was the ladies' mile race, which was won by Miss Rebecca Downs in 2:59, lowering the world's record, formerly held by Miss Idella Allen of Oakland 1-5 of a second. Miss Allen fell from her wheel in a faint after crossing the finishing line.

The events were as follows: One mile, handicap, class A - George Whiting scratch; E. D. Wallace, scratch; R. L. Allen, 40 yards; J. Jacobs, 45 yards; c. Butler, 45 yards; George Levell, 45 yards. Whiting won, Allen second, Bevell third, Time, 2:42.

Half mile, scratch, class A, best two in three, heats - First heat, F. Woodson, M. P. Parker, J. Harris, J. Mast. Parker came in first, Woodson second, but the race was given to Woodson on a foul. Time, 1:14 1-5. NI

Second heat, Parker won, Woodson second. Time, 1:15 1-5.

Final, Parker won, Woodson second. Time. 1:11.

Two-thirds of a mile, scratch, class A - R. L. Allen, George Whiting, George Bevelle. Whiting won, Bevelle second. Time, 1:47.

One-mile scratch, ladies' race - Miss Idella Allen of Oakland, Miss Rebecca Downs, Miss Emma Hill. Miss Downs won, Miss Allen second. Time, 2:59.

Two-mile handicap, class A - George Whiting, W. H. Bolds, R. L. Allen. Whiting won, Allen second. Time, 5:57.

One-mile handicap, class B - F. Woodson, M. P. Perker, J. Mast. Woodson won ,Parker second. Time, 2:35.

The day previous, same newspaper, in an article titled YACHT, WHEEL AND GUN., with a sub-heading The Colored Wheelmen of San Jose Will Hold a Race Meeting To-Day. listed entrants. We get some full names. I'll see if I can find more about these people. The spelling is highly variable. I've seen Idella's name spelled "Idla," "Idelia" and Rebecca becomes "Rebekah." I like how Idella is referred to as "Pride of Oakland."


The San Jose Colored Cyclers will hold their second meet Sunday. An interesting programme of events has been prepared, among them a ladies' one-mile scratch race. The other events are: One-mile handicap, class A; one-half-mile handicap, class B; two-thirds-mile handicap, class A; one-mile handicap, class B; two-mile handicap, class A; two-mile lap race, class B. The entries are as follows:

One-mile handicap, class A - Scratch, George Whiting; scratch, C. Smith; scratch, E. D. Wallace; 25 yards, William H. Bolds: 30 yards, J. H. Williams; 40 yards, R. L. Allen; 40 yards, O. Houston; 45 yards, J. Jacobs: 50 yards, George Sevell; 100 yards, G. W. Henriques; 150 yards, A. L. Weters.

Half-mile scratch, class B - F. Woodson, M. P. Parker, Charles Butler, J. Harris, Ed Weston,  C. Overton, J. Mast and William McDonald.

Two-thirds mile scratch, class A - C. Smith, E. D. Wallace, G. W. Henriques, R. L. Allen, J. H. Williams, George Whiting, William Bolds, O. Houston, J. Jacobs, George Sevell and A. L. Waters.

One mile handicap, class B - F. Woodson scratch, Charles Butler scratch, M. P. Parker scratch, J. Mast 25 yards, C. Overton 30, J. Harris 35, Ed Weston 75.

One mile scratch, ladies' race - Miss Idelia Allen, "Pride of Oakland," Miss Rebekah Downs, Miss Emma Hill.

Two-mile handicap, class A - C. Smith scratch, E. D. Wallace scratch, George Whiting scratch, William H. Bolds 50 yards, R. L. Allen 60, J. Jacobs 65, O. Houston 75, G. W. Houston 150, George Sevell 150, A. L. Waters 300.

Two-mile lap race, class B, six laps in two miles - F. Woodson, Ed Weston, J. Mast, Charles Butler, M. P. Parker, C. Overton, J. Harris.

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