Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-23

| FREDERICK-AN OFFICIAL REPORT REVEAL
| ING THE HARDsHIPs THAT CONFRONT THE
| BICYCLIST.
| Owing to q late spring, comparatively little
road riding has been done by Washington
| wheelmen until within the last month. Since
the weather became settled and the roads in a
good condition for riding numerous runs have
/ been made In every direction from the city.
| Nearly every pleasant evening now finds wheel
men pushing their silent seeds along the roads,
tloth smooth and rough, thoroughly enjoying
| the pleasantest part of bicycling. Merry parties
| have made trips of late to Cabin Johns bridge,
Arlington Great Falls, Fort Foote, Ashton,
Frederick and Baltimore. One of the most in
terestng runs was that given by II. 5. Owen on
the Sth of May around the Capital. Fifty
wheelmen participated and the route laid out
and traversed in single file after the manner of
follow the leader was diversified to say the
least. Sidewalks. cObbiestones, cutters, curb
stones, narrow paths leading along the edge OF
the Potomac flats and through the back yards
OF Swalnpoodle afforded an opportunity for in
dulging in all kinds of riding. The Capital
bicycle club seems to have bestirred itself with
the beautiful spring weather, and club runs are
now the order of tho day, and they are gener-
ally we'll attended
THE FIRST RUN
of the season was that on the 25th and 26th of
last month to Ashton and Frederick Md, A
two days run is rather q rare occurrence but al
IuouSH tlc weather was threatening upon the
day of starting quite number of wheelmen
We're on hand to make the start. The program
of this run was to start from the club house on
q street. at half past O'Clock Saturday even
Ing, ride to Ashton. 90 miles distant, and after
Spending the night there to resume the journey
To Frederick at O'Clock Sunday morning. re-
turning home by train on Monday morning.
although it was pretty tough pull. 4 bicycle
run is like camping out, the best is made of
everything. and all inconvenience and mis-
I.ly- trt-a II,
The party starting upon this particular run was
composed OF Captain Gill, sub-Captilin Odds
Leaning, with II. s. owen VIII Robertson, and
stephen Janus as guests, six star riders and
hFe upright riders.
THE RUN To FREDERICK.
Mr.. d. W. Gill, the captain of the Capital
club, described the trip to aSTAR reporter as
follows: "A short halt was called at Brightwood
where the boys took OFF their coats and pre-
pared for business. The roads were in excellent
condition and, although several new road
riders were in the party, good time was made
and there were but few forced dismOunts. By the
time Four Corners was reached it was getting
pretty dark. and after halting for strag@ers we
pushed ON to Ashton, arriving after the lights
were IT. Ashton is a iavorite resort for bicyclers,
who are always sure OF hearty welcome. \
comfortable night was spent, but morning found
u raining hard with the roads in terrible con /.
dltion After breakfast we wandered about
feStieSSly between showers. looking for drv
places 10 sit upon. The heavily booted country
men stared at thin legs and pitied US in our
disappointment. At 8 O'Clock the Jannus
brothers twhO only intended riding to Asiton)
started for home and a half hour later Olds,
Crosslnan, killits. Leaning and myself followed
them. leaving Seely. Owen. Robertson and Bar
rick at Ashton. After completing six miles of the
nome ward trip. one man bantered another to
ride 10 Frederick, and after IL short consuita-
ton killits and Leaning continued towards
Washington, while Olds, Crossman and myself
started aer1Is the country to sinks the
mined to reach Frederick. We rode through
muddy lanes bFroads. cultivated ground.
woods and marshes, and finally succeeded in
striking the turnpike. and in reaching Mechan-
lcSN1ie. Here We were joined by the riders left
at Ashton, Seely. owen, Barrick. and Robert
son. AT Twelve q clock the Journey was resumed
with th. sun shining brightly but the roads
very muddy. II was with the greatest difficulty
still we pushed on, feeling confident that moth
ing ahead could he as bad as what was behind
Seeiy, Barrick and Owen gradually dropped
behind and allowed the men who liked to ride
last over such roads to have their own way
Four miles from Mcchanicsville we came 10
Lay tonviile. and two miles further the sirag-
CLING suburbs Of the city III Eagtown were
reached An effort was made here To get some
thing 10 eat. bat it failed. \ half hours hard
riding brought us tn the little village of Damas-
Gus. situated on q high hill. from which there
was a magnificent view Of the surrounding
country. Here the tired and hungry wheeimen
We're comfortably cared f9r. and after dispoaing
oil TWO gallons of milk and tWenty -tive
bounds of bread We mounted our machines
and showed on towards Frederick. We found
some ugly hills between Damascus and the
next village called Rid"evilie, but were amply
repaid Tor our climb by the splendid coast OF a
mile after leaving the latter place. Down
through the main street of No. 4, the name OF
the next village, we coasted at u terrific speed
completely dumbiounding the inhabitants who
crowded doors and windows with open-eyed
and IuOuthed astouiSlmenF to see us Whisk by
We had now reached the limestone country
ana rue ROADS were nearly rs good as concrete.
Good time was made and Newmarket was
reached shortly after6 O'clock More hills were
encountered. but none too steep TO be ridden
The sun was just going down when our tired but
eXuitant party reached the top of the last hill
0veriopkinG Frederick and the picturesque val
ley OF the AonocacE. The rest of the road was
smooth "a noOr and the four remaining miles
were made in twenty minutes. AT exactly 7
O'Clock we rode into the old town OF Frederick
stopped at the hotel. obtained IL substantial and
refreshing supper and turned in for the night,
9nIy to be awakened by the noisy arrival OF the
peIaIed trio, Seely, owen and Barrick.''
TIE REPORT OF THE REAR GUARD
The experiences of these three riders on the
road from Ashton to Frederick were described
to the members of the Capital club by L. w!
Seely in the following report which was sup
Elemental to thai made by Capt. Gill:
- Nessfs- owen, Barricl> and Seey left Ashton
about two hours after the rest of the party had
started FOR home with the determination to
reach FREDERICK in spite of the weather After
leaving sandy Spring we turned of about halt
n mile into the wilderness to visit J. T. Stabler
u former member of the club After a very
pleasant call We left about 11::;O for Nechan-
Iesti III Where. to our surprise, we found the
numbe OF incidents that occurred compel me
u condense my accOun.
Recommendations Impressions: Steep hill
Gresham has u ba. Of ginger Snaps; look an
tiquated. Sure death to eat them starvation
not 10. of two evils choose the least. We eat
them. We also start. Owen. Barrici and Seely
seem TO have Il faculty for getting into the rear
Likewise for keeping there. Crowd disappears
In the distance. HupPY Thought Ride slowly
and surprise them by not catching them Sr9-
gest this 10 b. and y. Mud aud hills We
mount one of the latter and see the crowd dis
appearing over the next one ahead, Decide to
wait tor them. DSmOunt. smoke. Last gin
ger snap gone. and troSSman has the bag Shall
the bag hl. gone around the earth and over
taken Us? Decide 10 wit. We address the nm.
civilized natives kindly. They reply, .Sou'U
never catch them !cller>.' BIT. my dear sir
we don want e, eaten them. Il. andb fast
weakening. Find one more ginger snap III
take 70 racing; leo yards only. The city of
laytonvi!ie' also called CraciiliEtowr. Entire
population out "a meet us. Yuu'H never catch
them fciirrs. Dis!nonnt Smoke. We want
d",oia'e and unciviliz"d community-I mean
luis Ssti den al Nafyland-is there, or can we
get anything tos'ttE ID shakes head. Mount
start We viii stop at every house and ask Tor
milk. There is no milk. but very good water''
CHAPTER =.
The sun setting. aud the western
shadows were elon@utiDc in the direction in
which they usually c!ong;te, when three
travellers might have been seen pulling up their
an humble cottage ti.e Iaytonvilie and
Damascus Turnpike. by me halidome"
quuth the elder OF the three knights who
1nl2ht nave seen tweIttv-siX years. was 6 feet
incHc, tail. and WHO wore Old cotton shirt
n" coiia,r, No. L shoes, and Il helmet with visor