Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-08-12
TERRIFIC RIDE.
Wonderful Adventure Of a, Colorado
Wheelman.
SEVEN MILES IN SIX MINUTES
flashing Down the Mountains at Break
Neck Speed-The Result Of .
Broken Brake-A Mirae- =
80 uIous Escape. r3T

Our mine, the Spondulix Of Colorado,
was the highest on the range. Prom the
works up to the mines was broad, hard,
smooth road, used for carting ore down
from the mines and hauling supplies up.
The average grade down the mountain was
800 feet to the mile; at some places 1t was
sleeper, ana at intervals it was almost
level.
By constant practice managed at last to
ride my fifty two inch University roadster
ND the slope of the Sp0ndulix, OF course
resting at levels, bat my chief delight was
Coastinx Down Again.
1t REQUIRED skill, good deal of nerve, and
q firm grasp Of the brake. One evening an
accident occurred to one OF the men en-.
gagged at the mine. instantly got my BIZ
cycle, explaining that could go quicker
than a horse down the slope. In fe min
utes had on my riding salt and was OF.
Leaning we'll back, with my leg over the
handle and firm finger on the brake.
allowed the wheel TO glide down the hrst
slope ut speed had never dared venture
before. Finding the motion safe, allowed
the machine to run faster. Over the hrst
level shot like an arrow. Down the next
slope | seemed to glide like the rushing
wind. Then / turned curve and ran into
the shadow of the mountain upon the next
level. knowing every inch OF the road,
however, | did not slacken my speed, eK'
cept very slightly.
As II Flew Over the Top
OF the next slope, q steep plunge Of nearly
half mile, another curve completely shut
out the moon, making the road almost as
dark as a pocket. Here | put down the
brake hard, and checked my speed. Still
knew the road SO we'll that bad no fear.
But Just as l was on the steepest plunge Of
the slope
ClInk!
Something flew from the machine like .
bullet Instantly the wheel darted for
ward like the rush OF q frightened bird,
while the brake lever came home TO the
steering bar under my finger.
TIE brake had broken short OF at the
elbow.
When the accident happened to the
brake was just entering 3 dark curve in
the shadow of the mountain. As | round.
ed the hollow Of the curve | could see the
moonlight shining far ahead on the point
of the elbow which must turn where the
road was channeled into the wall. As |
approached it had the sense and nerve to
run on the outer side Of the road, close to
the edge of the canon, thus giving myse
as broad q turn as possible. Safely past
rhls. the worst point, the remaining curves
were easy. My actions were more insunc.
tive Than reasoning.
nv Mind Was . Wild, CoDfascd Wirr
of sensations and fears But now, as |
shot down the last steep incline, suddenly
| experienced terrible mental shock. IL
vas caused by hearing the tinke Of bell
far below and seeing spark OF lantern,
u, as the mine transfers carry in front
nf II cir wagons. There was O team, PER.
b DDS train Of teams, coming up the road!
In ew seconds ] should be upon them.
The shock made me think, and that clearly.
II the teamster was walking beside his
team, he would be on the inside next to
the mountain wall, and the team would be
in the middle OF the road. Ii he was
riding, the team would be kept near the
mountain wall add at a safe distance from
the outer edge OF the track. Either way
my best chance was TO pass on the outside.
As | approached, therefore, | ran close TO
the outside elge OF the track, and flew by
IN safety, bearing the teamster shout a. |
did so. Here il was lucky that | was going
at such speed. for the tesmster saw the
Red Light Of NY Lantern.
and, recognizing it, he started his team To-
ward the outer edge OF the road, so rs to
give me the safest passage on the inside,
out passed him before the team could be
driven over. otherwise should have surely
run into them. And now the wheel ran
along the level 10 the bottom of the mou
tain still my frightful velocity did no per.
ccptibly diminish. ran on past the work.,
aud into and along the village street. My
| speed slaCkened perceptiDly. Still raa
nearly through the village, and then
managed 10 turn broad corner snd up the
slope Of the side street, which finally
checked my speed 50 that ventured Ia
| drop my feet cautiously and take the pedals
after touching them us they came up for a
| number Of revolutions, To help to check
| the machine. And so | finally stopped
| and leaped to the ground.
On mounting at the mine house had
locked at MY watch, aftera habit had
| and now, from the same habit looked at il
| again. ] was not astonished TO iind that
had made the nine mile from the mine Il
+, the DOCTORS 10 few seconds less than
| thirteen minutes. Allowing elk and q
| quarter for the first two miles. before the
brake gave way, and must have made the
last seven miles in less than six and hal
minutes, incredible as such speed seems.