Major Taylor

by Conrad Kerber

  187. Description Newby Oval: Cycle Age and Trade Review June 30, 1898.

  187. “Well son, there is one thing I don’t understand” Major Taylor autobiography p. 122.

  187. “The innocence of old age.” Ibid: p 122.

  187. “You can’t use my name sonny” Ibid: p. 141.

  188. “You will go back to using your real name of Marshall and immediately refrain from using Major.” Ibid: p. 141.

  188. “But I can’t stop all the kids in town from using my name.” Ibid: p. 142.

  188. “You have performed on the race tracks of this country” Ibid: p.142

  188. “I will uphold the proud name of Major” Ibid: p. 142.

  188. Vailsburg Frank Kramer 10,000 fans, 1900” Ibid: p. 129 referencing Newark Dailies: July 5, 1900 New York Times: July 1, 1900.

  189. “greeted with a storm of applause” Major Taylor autobiography p. 118.

  189. “astonished cycle fans” Ibid: p. 118.

  189. “the neatest rider who sits in a saddle” Ibid-p. 126 quoting unknown New Bedford newspaper.

  189. “If America is to have a white champion this year” Ibid: p. 124 referencing unknown Buffalo Newspaper August 2-5, 1900.

  189. “showed very plainly why the pro’s of this country took such care not to permit him to mettle against them” Brooklyn Daily Eagle: July 5, 1900.

  189. Agitating for a match race to settle the issue once and for all: Ibid.

  190. “Brady, I’ve been mixed up in cycling, boxing and the stage…” Mansfield News: April 17, 1901.

  190. “they are really just smelling machines” William A. Brady: Showman: p. 47.

  190. “the politicians were simply not getting there’s out of the big money in cycle races” Ibid: p. 228.

  190. “I will never understand why Roosevelt signed that bill since he was both intelligent and a lover of sport.” Ibid: p. 229: Fighting Man, William A. Brady p. 159.

  190. “They were veritable mints for their promoters” Brooklyn Daily Eagle: April 15, 1899.

  190. The Collins Bill: Brooklyn Daily Eagle: April 15, 1899.

  190. “Madison’s” www.cyclingnews.com DL February 21, 2007.

  191. Taylor vs. Cooper: New York Journal: December 8, 1900.

  191. Brady ACRA organization sponsoring Taylor/Cooper match race: The Washington Post: December 9, 1900.

  191. “Bawb Tawm will now proceed to hand your little darkey…” Major Taylor autobiography p. 162.

  191. Cooper financing Henry Ford: Henry’s attic; Wayne State University Press.

  191. “If ever a race was run for blood, this one was.” Ibid: p. 165.

  192. “standing on benches, tables, chairs and the railing to see the finish” New York Times: December 16, 1900.

  192. “Taylor was simply toying with Cooper.” Robert Coquelle Editor Le Velo January 21, 1901; Referred to Major Taylor autobiography p 166.

  192. “I have never seen a more humiliated pair of Tom’s in my life” Major Taylor autobiography p. 165.

  192. ‘It is a fearfully hot pace” New York Times: December 12, 1900.

  192. “name your terms” Major Taylor autobiography p. 165.

  192. Taylor breaks two world records: New York Times: December 15, 1900.

  193. “60,000 fans showed up six day race 1900” Ibid Dec. 9-15, 1900.

  193. “will beat you as he has beaten all cyclist” Cycle Age: December 1900.

  Chapter 14

  195. Le Velo: French Cycling ‘daily’ Publication started by Pierre Giffard in 1892; ceased publishing November 1904: Info from Hennepin County Librarian, Minneapolis MN February 27, 2007.

  196. “the fastest sprinter in the world” Brooklyn Daily Eagle: March 26, 1901.

  196. Taylor a skilled boxer: Major Taylor autobiography; p. 272.

  196. French racing legend: Cassingnard; A bronze bust statue of Cassingnard surmounts a pillar of marble overlooking the City of Bordeaux France where all of France honors his memory: Zimmerman Abroad and Points on Training by J. M Erwin and A. A. Zimmerman The Blakely Printing Co. 1895 p. 116-117.

  196. Bourrillon: Major Taylor, the King of the Cycle, his Affearance and Career by Paul Hamelle and Robert Coquelle. Major Taylor autobiography p. 304.

  196. Constant Huret: www.wikipedia.org DL February 17, 2007.

  196. “When I have beaten everyone in speed, I feel the need to take on the rest of them to see what they have in their guts” Unidentified French article (in file).

  196. Jacquelin clobbering other riders: Cycle Age, May 1901.

  196. “Surprises, demoralizes”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 14, 1897.

  196. “incorrectness of attitude” Cycle Age: May 19, 1901.

  197. “unusual pleasures” of the Parisian night: Bearings: July 22, 1897.

  197. “second rater” Boston Globe: January 13, 1901.

  197. Jacquelin wins final of Grand Prix easily: Cycle Age: July 12, 1901.

  197. As Jacquelyn’s managers: Worcester Telegram: January 10, 1901.

  197. “pickaninny” Chicago Daily Tribune: May 4, 1898.

  198. “It is the big sport, they go wild over cycle races in Paris” New York Times: July 27, 1900.

  198. Refuses $15,000, Major Taylor Won’t Ride on Sunday: Worcester Telegram: Nov 29, 1899; The Daily Gazette: October 9, 1899.

  198. Taylor’s coming, Taylor’s not coming: The Daily Northwester: March 16, 1901.

  199. “Unless the champion is”: Cycle Age, April 28, 1898.

  199. Gertrude Taylor buried April 20th 1900: Sue Staten, Staff Genealogist Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis, Indiana.

  199. “I stand today just where I stood a year ago, and hope to stand a year hence” Worcester Telegram: December 21, 1899.

  199. “all we had was just what we needed” New South Wales Baptist, undated 1903 clipping in Taylor scrapbook. Reprinted in Sydney Telegraph, January 7, 1903 due to overwhelming public interest in the subject.

  199. “Taylor’s conscience still troubles him” Bangor Daily Whig and Courier: February 13, 1900.

  199. “I have given up on France…” Boston Globe: February 5, 1900.

  200. Thirty times the average Americans income for an entire year's labor: http://www2.pfeiffer.edu Hill House Maps & Papers DL March 29, 2006.

  200. “immortalized in Carerra marble”: UASP.

  200. “I am pleased indeed to know that there are still a few Christians left who possess the courage of their convictions” North Conway Reporter: April 5, 1900.

  200. Everyday Taylor rolled into town to pick up another offer: Major Taylor autobiography p. 166.

  200. “Mile-a-minute Murphy”: Scientific American, July 15, 1899.

  201. Eddie Bald; “Twig of Laurel”; Brooklyn Daily Eagle: October 25, 1898.

  201. Bald receiving ten to twenty letters a day from women wanting to be heroine: Cycle Age: May 5, 1898.

  201. “a solitary and silent figure loomed up in the gloom of the auditorium in the middle isle” Brooklyn Daily Eagle October 25, 1898.

  201. “stage struck, I collapsed” Ibid.

  201. Vaudeville home trainers Charlie Murphy: Major Taylor autobiography p. 157.

  202. Taylor at Keith’s theatre: Worcester Telegram: January 10, 1901.

  202. “How do you like America?” La venue en France de Major Taylor, Cyclette-Reveue (Paris), March and April 1944.

  203. “I believe in the saying that ‘a mother’s prayer will last forever,’ and I honestly believe it’s my mother’s prayers that are standing by me now” The Wheel: June 10, 1900.

  203. Edison’s Vitascope: www.cinematreasures.org DL February 27, 2007.

  203. All he could offer was $3000: Worcester Telegram: January 10, 1901.

  203. Cutting off all negotiations with him and that he was going to devote all his energies towards managing his French legend: Ibid.

  203. “All sorts of people have come to me—learned clever men—and tried to argue with me that Sunday racing is not wrong” New South
Wales Baptist, undated 1903 clipping in Taylor scrapbook. Reprinted in Sydney Telegraph, January 7, 1903 due to public interest in the subject.

  203. Brady stepped in negotiating $5000 European contract with no Sunday racing: Peter Nye: Hearts of Lions p.62.

  204. European riders returned home mobbed by reporters asking questions about Taylor: Worcester Telegram: February 9, 1900: Major Taylor autobiography p. 166.

  204. Contract to race Europe signed January 2, 1901: Le Velo, January 3, 1901.

  204. Taylor on Contract. Great Sprinter Is to Ride All Europe: Worcester Telegram: January 10, 1901.

  204. Jacquelin training at hippovelodrome: The Fort Worth Register, February 10, 1901.

  204. “Let him come”: UASP.

  204. Jacquelin owning apartments with servants: The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 21, 1897.

  204. Jacqueline to name his donkey-sized dog Major: UASP.

  204. Taylor leaves on Kaiser Wilhelm der Gross: New York Times: March 6, 1901.

  204. William Buckner trainer: The Daily Northwester: March 16, 1901.

  204. Charlie Miller, friend of William Brady: William A. Brady, Showman; p.228.

  204. Accommodations on Kaiser Wilhelm de Grosse: www.greatoceanliners.com DL December 2, 2005.

  205. charming mulatto: La Vie au Grand Air.

  205. Most universally admired passenger: UASP.

  205. Kid McCoy on board: UASP.

  206. Investigation: Taylor on ship using assumed name” The Daily Northwestern: March 16, 1901.

  206. “France is cabling frantically” Ibid: March 16, 1901.

  206. “the bronze statue”: Le Velo, January 21, 1901.

  Chapter 15

  207. Major Taylor arrives Cherbourg France: Journal: La Vie au Grand Air, “Life Outdoors My Tour In Europe” by Major Taylor, May 4, 1901.

  207. Taylor seasickness problems: Ibid.

  207. Cluster European Journalist greeting Taylor in Cherbourg: Ibid.

  207. Taylor wanting ship to turn back to New York: Ibid.

  207. “Not since the great Zimmerman had a sports figure been so highly anticipated” “Le Negre a Paris”: Le Velo, March 12, 1901.

  207. Customs employees ignore other passengers: UASP.

  208. “They say he’s the best man in the world. Well, when I’m in form, we’ll see how I measure up to him right enough.” Ibid.

  208. “Before I left home I swore to God that I would never race on the Sabbath, and I don’t like the idea of going to hell.” Ibid.

  208. “La Belle Epogue . . . the beautiful period” www.clubmoulinrouge.com DL December 2 2005.

  208. Pamphlet: Right to be lazy” http://debs.indstate.edu DL March 8, 2007.

  208. Twenty-seven thousand cafes: www.clubmoulinrouge.com DL December 2, 2005.

  209. Le Chabanais brothel” www.expatica.com DL October 5, 2004.

  209. ‘selection salon’ Ibid.

  209. Visiting wheelman,” claimed one historian, “marched through the entrée as thou they were kicking tires on a shiny new bike” Author Interview: Jack Visceo Cycling hall of fame, January 2006.

  209. Brothel Patrons: Ernest Hemingway, Humphrey Bogart, Marlene Dietrich, Cary Grant, Britain’s King Edward Bertie” www.iafrica.com DL December 14, 2005.

  209. French artist Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec Le Chabanais Address: www.metropoleparis.com DL March 12, 2007.

  209. Japanese room wins award in Universal Exposition 1900: www.iafrica.com DL December 14, 2005.

  209. Madame Kelly, high society Jockey Club; Ibid.

  209. “pointy nose” “George the Cavalryman” Ibid.

  209. Eroto-cycle: www.metropoleparis.com DL March 12, 2007.

  210. “It has been three years”: “The Flying Black Major Taylor” by Robert Coquille, La Vie au Grand Air, March 10, 1901, pp. 130-131.

  210. “Major Taylor has a happy facility of keeping in the public eye about as prominently as any theatrical star ever did.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle: August 2, 1901.

  210. “Taylor’s arrival in France the heroic guardian of the Sabbath…” Worcester Telegram: May 8, 1901.

  210. Taylor arouses curiosity all the more, and is surrounded by mystery because of the color of his skin.” Ibid: Major Taylor autobiography p. 307, 317.

  210. “No man had ever been presented to the public in a more flattering fashion” Unidentified French article.

  211. “Major Taylor is one of the most beautiful athletes you will ever meet”: “The Flying Black Major Taylor” by Robert Coquille, La Vie au Grand Air, March 10, 1901, pp. 130-131.

  211. Reporters amassing at Hotel Scribe: UASP.

  211. Newsroom overwhelmed: UASP.

  211. “La Future Madame”: La Vie au Grand Air, May 4, 1901.

  211. “who came to see me and looked at me right in the eyes”: La Vie au Grand Air, “My Tour in Europe” by Major Taylor, May 4, 1901.

  211. “are blacks not seen in Paris he asked” Ibid.

  211. everything from his birthday suit to a tuxedo: Unidentified French article.

  211. Picture Major Taylor Henri Fournier: La Vie au Grand Air, May 4, 1901; Cycling and Outing; May 11, 1901.

  211. Ominbuses wandering pitifully on the Champs Elysees” Ibid.

  211. “The people of Worcester will be rather surprised to see me come back on a 16 Horsepower”: Ibid.

  212. “The Europeans were absolutely crazy over him” Interview with Taylor’s trainer William Buckner: The Daily Northwestern: July 18, 1901.

  212. Description Café Esperance: Zimmerman Abroad and Points of Training Interest by J. M. Erwin and A. A Zimmerman p. 33-37.

  212. Presence of Famous French racers Huret, Bourillion & Morin at Café Esperence with Taylor and Jacquelin: Boston Globe: April 7, 1901.

  213. Confetti tossed on the boulevard: UASP.

  213. “You have splendid big legs” “Yes but yours are much prettier” “ That may be so but yours are so much stronger than mine. But suppose yours are quicker than mine.” Cycle Age: April 4, 1901. Boston Globe: April 7, 1901.

  214. “A man comes to me and says, have a glass of beer, have a glass of wine” Sydney Daily Telegraph: January 7, 1903; quoting New South Wales Baptist article titled “Thirty-thousand Dollars for Conscience Sake”.

  214. “there was such a big crowd on hand I thought there was a race meet on”: La Vie au Grand Air, May 4, 1901: Le Velo, March 16, 1901.

  214. “On a bicycle his position is not disgraceful”: “The Flying Black Major Taylor” by Robert Coquille, La Vie au Grand Air, March 10, 1901.

  215. “I do whatever pleases me”: La Vie au Grand Air, May 4, 1901.

  215. “I am not superstitious” The Daily Northwestern: April 4, 1901.

  215. “is said to attract the greatest delight…” Ibid.

  215. “It strengthens the muscles and increases considerably the breathing” Journal: La Vie au Grand Air: Life Outdoors My Tour of Europe By Major Taylor: May 4, 1901.

  216. Vive Taylor, Vive Taylor: Le Velo May 4, 1901.

  216. Taylor takes in sites, Automobile Club, Palace de le Concorde: La Vie au Grand Air, May 4, 1901.

  216. Reported claims Taylor one of them: UASP.

  216. “They were throwing all kinds of money at him” Interview with Taylor’s trainer William Buckner: The Daily Northwestern: July 18, 1901.

  216. Sleeper number 13: La Vie au Grand Air, May 4, 1901.

  216. “The earth under Germany shook”: Rad-Welt, June 1, 1901.

  217. Cold weather being a factor in Taylor decision to hesitate racing in France: Major Taylor autobiography p. 171.

  217. fair weathered racer: The Referee, May 22, 1901.

  217. Willie Arend preparations: The Referee, May 22, 1901.

  217. Language barrier: The Daily Republican, August 2, 1901.

  217. “If Americans are to go to France in numbers”: Ibid.

  217. “They are not of the same class as the top four or five French riders” Ibid.

  218. “When the American ace
s go near Europe they vanished like smoke” Major Taylor autobiography; Reprint from booklet “Major Taylor, The King of the Cycle, his affearance and Career” By Paul Hamelle and Robert Coquille p. 317.

  218. “Watch on the Rhine” Major Taylor autobiography p. 171.

  218. German chancellor and high military personnel attend race: Rad-Welt, June 1, 1901.

  218. “that’s one of the greatest demonstrations I have ever seen on a bicycle track.” Ibid: p. 171.

  219. “The sky seemed to be against our shivering son” Major Taylor autobiography; Reprint from booklet “Major Taylor, The King of the Cycle, his affearance and Career” By Paul Hamelle and Robert Coquille p. 317.

  219. Taylor beats Arend out by twenty lengths: Brooklyn Daily Eagle: April 12, 1901: Cycle Age: May 20, 1901.

  219. “The French Champion Jacquelin is the only sprinter in Europe who can defeat the man” The Flying Black Major Taylor by Robert Coquille La Vie au Grand Air: March 10, 1901: Cycle Age: May 1901.

  219. five hundred star struck fans escorted Taylor back to the train station: Andrew Ritchie: The Extraordinary Career of a Champion Bicyclist p. 171.

  219. “Nothing was missing to make me happy, flowers thrown at his feet” La Vie au Grand Air: May 4, 1901.

  219. Crowd marching to Taylor’s hotel demanding he make appearance: Andrew Ritchie: Out of the Shadows, A Biographical History of African American Athletes; David K Wiggins Editor. p. 31.

  220. Buckner wearing cowboy hat: Picture La Vie au Grand Air: May 4, 1901.

  220. “I have never before met such a gentleman in every respect of the word” Cycle Age: May 20, 1901.

  220. “My friends” Le Vie au Grand Air: May 4, 1901.

  220. “I have the greatest of confidence in him Taylor referring to Buckner” Ibid.

  220. Taylor’s left pedal hits concrete almost causing him to crash: Ibid.

  220. “Room thirteen please” Ibid.

  221. Taylor beats Grognia twice: The Referee, June 5, 1901.

  221. Grognia Belgium National Champion undefeated on home track: Cycle Age: April 19, 1901.

  221. “Alas, the new Zimmerman for whom we have waited” Cycle Age: May 1901.

  221. “They gazed at the little Major and seemed not to understand whether he was an ordinary human being or a man having some kind of 4-5 horsepower motor in his body” Cycle Age: May 2, 1901.