Page:The fastest bicycle rider in the world - 1928 - Taylor.djvu/110

 “Angus McLeod won the fourth heat, D’Outreion was second, Watson Coleman third with Bowler, Casey, and Church bringing up the rear.

“McCarthy set the pace in the final with Taylor in second place and Nat Butler bringing up the rear. The race was a pretty one until entering the home stretch when Taylor was caught in a bad pocket formed by the other riders.

“Major Taylor saw the trick about as quickly as it was sprung and held himself in reserve, but when he saw an opening he fairly lifted his machine through. McCarthy was leading until within a few feet of the tape when the Major shot in ahead and it was the opinion of 18,000 people in the grandstand that Taylor was the winner by at least a foot. The judges, however, ruled otherwise and awarded the race to McCarthy, giving Taylor second place and Nat Butler third. The time was 1:00 2/5.

“When the foregoing announcement was made on the bulletin board the people in the grandstand set up a vigorous protest, calling upon the Board to reconsider its decision and award the race where it rightfully belonged. Major Taylor also thought that he was the victor and expressed some surprise when he walked up to the Board. He asked one of the judges if that was their honest decision that McCarthy had won. When informed that such was the result of their deliberation, the Major said, ‘Well, all right, if that is your verdict, gentlemen, I shall have to abide by it, but I know I won.’ ”

Still another newspaper clipping reads as follows:

“No More Pockets. Major Taylor runs right away from the Field. Wins World’s One mile Championship Title. The Two-mile Open was easy. The last day of the World’s Championship Meet was attended by fair weather. Major Taylor of the United States had little difficulty in adding the one-mile world’s professional championship title to his laurels. All of the preliminary heats were marked by good finishes save the one won by Major Taylor who easily rode down his field.

“In the final of the one-mile world’s professional championship race Nat Butler took the lead at the start, Major Taylor dropping into last position. The pace was slow. On the back stretch of the second lap there was some pretty maneuvering for positions and when it was all over Taylor had gotten the position he was jockeying for —second place on the pole with Nat Butler leading. The others were well bunched behind them. McLeod went to the front with a great rush and attempted to make a runaway of it but the others were not to be denied. They rounded the turn into the home stretch, McLeod still leading; but half way down the home stretch Taylor had the