Cycling.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 192, 5 March 1904, Page 21

Cycling.

Saturday night, February 13th, at the Melbourne Exhibition track, was witnessed one of the most extraordinary cycle meetings held in Australia. Twenty thousand people attended to witness the match between the darkle, Major Taylor (who the previous Monday demonstrated his superiority over Ivor Lawson) and Floyd MaoFarland, the finest all-round rider yet seen on Australasian tracks. The first event of the match lesulted m a popular win for MacFarland. The second brought about a result most unlooked for— the judges giving the result a "dead heat," when the majority of the 20,000 people present were of the opinion that MacFarland had won by two feet. MaoFarland was positive that he had won, and Taylor thought likewise, for he shook hands with MacFarland, and said "It was a good race, but you beat me." Imagine MacFarland's feelin? when "dead heat" was hoisted on the scoring board. He immediately dressed and left the grounds, the result being that the match ended in a fiasco. This second contest was over a mile, and unpaced. MacFarland had the inside running. At the pistol, he took the lead, and put in a good lap, then running out for the darkie to take his turn, but he wasn't taking any, and would not go to the front. Gradually MacFarland rode slowly up the banking, and before the public or Taylor could divine his action, he had hold of one of the electric light posts. Taylor, who was behind, followed suit, clinging hold of the fence. The_crowd were not slow to see the humour of the situation, and the tremendous throng roared with laughter as the two cracks hung on to the fence. A broad grin spread itselfover Mac's face, but the darkie looked worried and discontented. Both riders agreed to let go when the referee's whistle declared the race "off." Almost immediately one of Taylors tyres blew out. After a slight delay, a fresh start was made, this time the riders agreeing to take half-lap turns at pacing. Taylor took first turn, and Mac next. At the bell Taylor led by almost a length. As both riders swept into the back straight, with 260 yds to go, MacFarland determined to take the sting out of Taylors sprint, and rode at terrific pace round the dressing-room corner. Into the finishing straight MaoFarland dashed, with Taylor on his wheel. Taylor made his effort, and gradually made up his leeway. The excitement was intense as the finishing post was reached, MacFarland appearing to win by a small margin. The cheering that greeted MacFarland all round the ground was at its top, when suddenly a change came o'er the scene, — the scoring-board showed "Dead heat." The crowd, stupified for a moment, then burst out with an infuriated roar.