RARE 1899 Large Portrait of Mile-A-Minute Murphy Cycling Bicycle Major Taylor For Sale

Asupplement from the Police Gazette dated September 9, 1899, featuringAmerican cyclist Charles \"Mile-a-Minute\" Murphy who was thefirst person to cycle one mile in under one minute, achieving a timeof 57 4-5 seconds. He accomplished this feat by drafting behind aspecially modified Long Island Rail Road locomotive to reduce windresistance. The stunt earned him the nickname \"Mile-a-Minute\"and showcased the intense speed trials popular in the late 19thcentury.

TheRecord-Breaking Ride

• The Achievement: Murphy rode a measured mile in 57 4/5 seconds (57.8 seconds), reaching speeds of approximately 60 mph.

• The Setup: To overcome air resistance, a special wooden hood was built onto the back of the train\'s last car to provide a slipstream.

• The Track: Workers laid roughly two miles of smooth wooden planks directly between the railroad tracks between Farmingdale and Babylon, Long Island, to provide a suitable riding surface.

• The Dangers: The ride was extremely hazardous; Murphy was pelted with hot cinders and dust in the train\'s wake and nearly crashed into the back of the car when the train slowed down.

AboutCharles \"Mile-a-Minute\" Murphy

• Professional Background: Before his famous ride, Murphy was a highly successful track cyclist, holding seven world and 17 national records in 1895.

• Together in partnership with Major Taylor the two briefly performed a successful vaudeville act in which riding on indoor trainers or “rollers” Taylor attempted to outride Murphy and his record.

• Later Career: After retiring from racing, he joined theNew York City Police Department, where he became the city\'s first motorcycle officer and even learned to fly airplanes.

• Legacy: He passed away in 1950 at age 79 and was inducted into theU.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1991