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Show WELSH RAREBIT WAS POPULAR Tribute to Cyclist Jimmy Michael. Diminutive Speed Merchant Who Died Last Week Was Great Rider. ' Cleared More Than $100,000 in the BacinB1 Game, but "Was Penni-less'When Penni-less'When Ho Died. Cycle rnclnp sustained Its greatest loss last week when Jlrr.my Michael died on tho French steamer La. Savolo whllo en route- to this country. Ho died the second day out from Havro from congestion of. tho brain, tho result of a fall at Berlin mbro than a year ago., In accordance with a cahlo from his mother In Walos, tho midget was burled In Greenwood cemetery by P. T. Powcth, the manager of tho alx-day alx-day bicycle race In New York. The lad waa undoubtedly ono of the most Interesting Interest-ing characters In tho modern world of sport. Although loss than live foet In height Michael was wlthouL a peer when In condition con-dition at his specialty of middle distance cyclo riding behind pacing machines. None of the cycllBta who, from time to time, disputed his title to championship honors, and tried to prove their contention, succeeded suc-ceeded when tho diminutive pace follower was In any kind of shape. The "Welsh Rarebit." although only 27 years of uge, was said to havo cleared over 5100,000 at tho racing game, but ho died penniless. He held many records, which will probably prob-ably stand for a long time, unless some new mode of pneo following Is Invented. Born In "Wales In 1S77 of poor parentngc, Michael turned to thu trade of butcher and wa an errand boy for the biggest meat establishment In his home town. Whllo working lu that capacity ho saved enough to buy a wheel, and almost from tho start, whllo competing In amateur events, he showed that stamina and speed which afterward made hlin world famous. The contest was witnessed by War burton, bur-ton, tho famous English trulner, who saw a chance of making monny by taking tho boy under his wing. After proving himself him-self as good an any rider In Great Britain, Germany and France, Michael was brought to this country Just at tho tlmo when cyclo racing wn6 at fovcr heat nnd ono of tho most popular pastimes. Tom Bck. who has handled moro successful cyclists than any other man In this country, coun-try, took Michael in charge, but later he went with Dnvo Shafor. Coming Into money so quickly and earning It 'so easily, MIohaol soon lost all Idea of tho valuo of And Bjont it very f rcoly. Tom Eels had his own troubles In keeping Jimmy at the training tablo. His gonial habits soon mado him a big favorlto In tho cycle world. While In a contest Michael would appear to bo doing anything but undergoing a severe physical test. He wore an expressionless countenance, counte-nance, and If ho was boating an opponont by Inches no ono could tell It by looking at his face. Ho was also very queor In that after winning a big race and making several thousand dollars, he vy)uld seldom rldo around the track again to receive tho plaudits of tho ndmlrors. Ho would dismount, dis-mount, put on his street clothes and walk away as If nothing unUBiial had occurred. As a paced rldor Michael was tho most graceful cyclist that ever bestrode a wheel. His bicycles wore always built to lit him and generally looked like toy wheels. When chnnglng pace he was never known to bo distanced. Ho seemed to glldo to the machlno as If a string was attached to his wheel. Ho always rode a high geared wheel nnd never used anything any-thing but his logs in riding. There was no movement of tho head, shoulders or hips. How easy it was for Michael to part , with money was apparent when he put practically every dollar he had on tho horso races. Most of It went In betting and tho rest In the acquiring of a few useless use-less raco horses. He tried. Indeed, to become be-come a Jockoy and enlisted under Phil Dwyer, but ho soon proved a failure Ho went back to France nnd tried It again there, but without success. His brother, Willie, nnd his mother reside In Wales. |