Evening star., 1885-06-06
WANDERING WHEELMEN.
A Trip to the Sea by BieycIists Of the
Capital Club.
A PLEASURE JAUNT TO VIRGINIA BEACH
SCENES ON THE wAY-HOw A STEAMBOAT vO-
CALIST WAS EXTINGUISHED, ETC.

A PLEASURE JAUNT To VIRGINIA BEACH
| SCENES ON THE wAY-HOw A STEAMBOAT vO-
| CALIST WAS ExTINGUIsHED, ETC.
| IL was merry crowd of bicyclers from the
| Capital club that boarded the comfortable
| George Leary Friday evening, bound for a visit
| to Norfolk and the seashore. The threatening
weather had deferred few from starting, but
those who were on deck paid no attention to
the rain, being determined to have good
time, rain or shine and they succeeded admir-
ably. The men rode their bicycles through the
driZzling rain clear to the wharf. Machines
were carefully slowed away along with the
freight. and their owners distributed them
selves about the boat, of which they were given
full possession. The trip down was devoid of
any startling event. and the majority of the ex-
curs1onistS turned in at SeaSonable hour.
They lived to regret il, however. for there were
some people aboard without state rooms and
they kept up a racket until pretty late hour.
lhe JanSling of the piano was Interrupted
every now and then by a weird refrain of .and
the wind blew through his whiskers'' ema-
mating from sleepIess crowd in one end of
the cabin, who seemed DESTROYS of informing
all the passengers asleep or awake of the fact.
Finally the piano janglers and singers
became tired out and all was quiet.
wharf there was a delegation of the
Seaside Bicycle club waiting to- receive the Wis
itors, and, with their accustomed courtesy, to
accompany them on their run. The rough
streets of Norfolk had no terrors for the wheel
men, who. reinforced by a hearty breakfast
were soon picking their way over the pave
ments, anxious to be
THE SMOOTH SHE'LL ROAD
leading to the sea shore. "A great deal of rain
had fallen, but, nevertheless, the road was in
fair condition, and once upon it the wheelmen
made very good time. They were frequently
forced to dismount, however, to allow restive
horses to pass. These were in nearly all cases
colts, driven by farmers. on their way to town.
Neither wagons nor harness would permit of
any hard usage. The reins were always only
pieces OF rope. and the wagons not new by any
means The drivers invariably had q pleasant
word for ''you ALL and expressed regret at
causing so much trouble. The eight miles to
the point where the shell road is crossed by the
marrow gauge railroad were made in ffty-five
minutes; very fair time considering that "a con-
siderable portion OF it was spent in working out
of Norfolk. Here a halt called and in a
few minutes the train came along and was
stopped: Bicycles were put aboard and the
rest of the journey to the beach, ten miles, was
made by rail. The whole distance was not
ridden because of the impossible condition of
the latter part of the road. 1t was TOO early for
many visitors at the beach and the excursion
lists were given a whole section OF the hotel to
themselves.
AT THE BEACH.
Their visit was short, but every minute of it
was enjoyed. The immense pavilion adjoining
the hotel furnished splendid bicycle track,
and the riders seemed to enjoy darting about
ON their wheels and in practicing the drill in
which the club used to be SO proficient. Rex
smith, who happened to be in Norfolk, joined
the party, and i'm the evening gave a splendid
exhibition of trick riding. Now that he has
turned his attention entirely to fancy riding on
an upright machine he will soon have ho equals
In MS speciality. Canary can surpasS him now,
perhaps, but many of his best tricks We're Origi-
mated by Rex Smith, who is much the superior
rapidly with practice. He has but recently
resumed fancy riding, and is therefore not as
proficient as he will be-
A number of the wheelmen took ride on the
beach when the tide went down. 1t was all
right so long as the machines were kept exactly
upright, but the slightest deviation caused :,
tumble. One young man was dumped just as a
big breaker came rolling in. and he was COM
pletely submerged, much to the enjoyment of
the spectators. sunday was warm and pleas
ant and nearly all went in bathing. The surf
was fine. although the water was IL little cold at
first As the men emerged from the bathing
rooms they We're carried bodily to the beach
and gently laid upon a breaker. The pranks
that were cut by the most stad of the party
would have astonished their friends.
ALL ABOARD FOR HOME.
AT O'Clock Sunday afternoon the little train
was boarded for the return to Norfolk. 1t was
the intention to ride the eight miles of shell
road again, but rain storm which suddenly
came up prevented it, and the only wheeling
was from the station to the wharf Just as the
gang plank was pulled in young man standing
on the wharf remarked. rather absently look ing
up at the deck: II think it will blow through h
them tonight A rush was made for him but
ii was too late. The piano started before the
boat did, however. and there was every pros
pecf OF too much music again. Seated at the in
strument was a afiaxen-haired dame Of uncertain
OF every one of Moody and Sankey's hymns in
Voice that was sort of gone in spots. Every
now and then it would swell out and as quickly
die away again.
How THE VOICE WAS HUSHED.
When the passengers could stand it no longer
the Capital club were called to the rescue
Ranged three and four deep around the piano.
they stood apparently in rapt admiration. The
| fair singer OF the Leary was in no wise discon-
certed, but, on the contrary. felt complimented
She plumed her feathers, cleared her voice with
flourish and was ready to sing anything that
was mentioned She would be delighted to sing
Dixie, but didnt remember the words. She
knew them, though, when the song had it's day
during the war. But, then, she could sing
tramp, tramp. tramp the boys which would
be very appropriate the day after Decoration
day. lhe singing was eXcruciating. "Triomp
trlomp, triomp" was the pronunciation, and
the notes swelled and died away without regard
10 sentiment or expression. The crowd drowned
the voice in the chorus, but it came out even
stronger in the next Verse, expressing a feeling
OF entire satisfaction on the part OF the owner.
Heroic methods became necessary and the
chorus was sung In utter discord The persis-
tent musician was finally vanquished and va
Gated the piano. 1t was quietly closed and
| carefully covered. \ notice of CLOSED for re-
pairs was pinned upon ii and the concert was
wards.
| A WASHINGTON QUARTETTE
great deal of amusement was created bv
| four well known WashingtOnians who had
| taken the trip together to Fortress Monroe and
| Virginia Beach. At the start one of the party
| had volunteered for the sake of convenience to
act as cashier. His companions Interpreted
every payment as a treat, and were very pro-
| fuse with their thanks for his kind and gener-
| Gus hospitality. On the way home they held a
meetlng,and adopted set OF resolutions express
ing Their appreciation of the hospitality eX-
| tended them, and their readiness to accompany
| the liberal companion on any excursion in the
| future that he might desire to make whether
| 10 Niagara falls or Saratoga Springs. The resC-
| tlons, which We're framed and rendered in the
| most formal manner, were accompanied by
| ntting testimonials in the shape of guide books
OF summer resorts on the Pennsylvania and
B. and o. railroads. The recipient was allowed
| to spend restless night before expenses We're
| divided up and shared all round. The boat
arrived at her wharfat about half-pas g o'clock
| Monday morning. and was soon deserted The
| bicycers mounted their wheels and sped i'm
| different directions to prepare for the work OF
Ihe DAY: all vowing To take the trip again if OPP
portunity offered.
Il