Welland History .ca

Historic EVENTS in and around Welland

BIKE RACE

[Welland Tribune, 31 August 1900]

An interesting bicycle race took place on East Main street last Friday afternoon between High Constable Dowd and C.J. Page of the Electric Light Co. Mr. Dowd being a guardian of the law, it might be said just here that the rate of speed attained did not violate the statute against furious speeding. Page spurted and had a good lead at the half, but getting winded and finding Dowd fast overhauling him on the straight stretch, slid off his wheel and shoved the vehicle in the direct line of Dowd’s route. The chief saw the dodge when several rods fell off, but whilst he rides well in a straight line, he has not learned to turn yet-at least not in less than a five acre lot-and so the inevitable crash occurred, the contestants and their wheel s performing some ground and lofty tumbling. Friends interfered and prevented the chief from getting vengeance, and put an end to a pretty scrap. Undertaker Cronmiller saw the contestants start off, and having an eye to business put a couple of coffins in a rig and started to follow, but fortunately the affair ended without any fatalities, and, like John Gilpin, When next they ride a race, may we be there to see.

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