Sportsman. He was a world bicycle speed record holder. He once rode more than 60 mph behind a speeding Long Island Railroad train. Holder of seven world records; seventeen American records; and twenty-nine state records. First policeman in the world to fly an airplane, and also the first policeman to use a motorcycle, in uniform, in the New York City Police Department. On June 30, 1899, traveling eastward from Farmingdale, New York, on the Maywood siding, Murphy, riding his Tribune "Blue Streak" bicycle, raced a measured mile in 57 4/5 seconds inside of a specially built shield fitted to the back of a Long Island Railroad train. This wind shield arrangement removed all wind resistance yielding neither suction nor propulsion. Officer Murphy rode in "dead air" and was thereafter know as "Mile-a-Minute Murphy." His bicycle is currently on display at the Indian Motorcycle Museum in Massachusetts.
Sportsman. He was a world bicycle speed record holder. He once rode more than 60 mph behind a speeding Long Island Railroad train. Holder of seven world records; seventeen American records; and twenty-nine state records. First policeman in the world to fly an airplane, and also the first policeman to use a motorcycle, in uniform, in the New York City Police Department. On June 30, 1899, traveling eastward from Farmingdale, New York, on the Maywood siding, Murphy, riding his Tribune "Blue Streak" bicycle, raced a measured mile in 57 4/5 seconds inside of a specially built shield fitted to the back of a Long Island Railroad train. This wind shield arrangement removed all wind resistance yielding neither suction nor propulsion. Officer Murphy rode in "dead air" and was thereafter know as "Mile-a-Minute Murphy." His bicycle is currently on display at the Indian Motorcycle Museum in Massachusetts.
Bio by: John T. Chiarella
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