The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-07
PERILS OF BICYCLING.
THE RURAL DOGS NATURAL ANTiP-
ATHY TO THE WHEELMAN.

Those Who Take Summer Jaunts Study
ing Up On the Dog Problem-A Mar
row Escape-Virtues of Cayenne Pep
per-The Danger.
An expert bicyclist, who has made long
trips In the country, gave a reporter some
points about the dangers encountered Said
he: 1T is more dangerous to ride along "a
country road on bicycle than on a horse
The rural dog has a natural born sntipathy
to the wheelman, and never fails to attack
him. Horseback riders can elude the at
tempts of the dogs to bite them by galloping
away. Then, too, the horse can kick n dog
to death or wound him fearfully. The wheel
man is ut a great disadvantage protecting
himself His legs are just high enough for
the dog to grab easily by leaping few feet,
and il the bicycle happens To run over n dog,
the rider is thrown and often seriously hurt.
Several years ago young man was killed by
being thrown from his bicycle while attacked
by dog. 1t Is almost impossible to hit n
dog with a shot from "A pistol while riding
The bieyclist is in more danger as IA rule than
the dog. The pistol goes off too quickly, or
the front wheel wabbles from the fact that
only one hand is guiding, and the result is the
ball is liable to go anywhere save ut the
mark. If several wheelmen are together
pistol to shoot at dogs is nothing more or less
than a death trap for one i'll the party. For
tunately, wheclnen do not make a practice
of carrying weapons of any kind. Those of
us who make summer jannts are studying up
on the dog problem and how to rcpel the at
tacks.
"The peculiar construction of a bicycle and
its motion has n tendency to throw u rider in
IA curve direction, and hence the head strikes
first invariably. The only way to avoid
falling on the head i; to raise both arms and
Loft bsa I'm nf he fnl gr
that trick, which all experienced wheelmen
know and practice, there would he more fatal
accidents reported, enough to almost dis
courage lovers of the exercise. That Is why
we dread the dog not much on account of
his bite, but from fear of being tumbed
headlong from our high perch.
NARROW ESCAPE.
I'VE dread a long down grade; it is impos-
sible tn stop. Frequently the dog springs out
on perilous downhiii glide, and embltters
the existence of thu intrepid rider. There
are several deaths IL view i'll such a case
hyirophobia from II bite, fractured skull
from fall, and Icing literally torn to pieces
by the dogs fangs ii thrown 10 the ground.
once saved myself from an infuriated dog by
dashing n lot of cayenne pepper i'll its eyes
and nose. The animal rushed up while l was
quietly riding on smooth road, and at
tempted to grab my right side. l forged
~
hao. weapon, not even "a penknfc, and
knew that the very next leap from the dog
might result iu serious wound-Ierhaps
knock me off The bicycle and chew me into
| mince meat. In my jacket pocket | had
some cayenne pepper, done up in n small
package Quick ~ thought drew the pack
age, and, the dog caught up and made a
second plunge to hanIstiing me, l threw it
with all my power into the animals face.
The thin paper inclosin2 the pepper burst,
and the fiery, itching, tickling cayenne filed
its eyes and got up its no,-.. Such yell as
that cur gave l never heard before. 1t
turned tail and fed, bowling i'll agony at
every step. l considered that had a narrow
escape.
Another great peril, beside that of the
dog, Is striking header at the foot of "a long
| hill. The bicycle is at full speed going down,
the rider feels tolerably secure, when all of II
sudden a few feet in advance, railroad
track comes into view. Stop and walk over
Not bit of it. 1t is impossible, and bounc-
ing over the wheels go, i'll many instances
knocking the rider foot or two above the
saddle from the jolt and not unfrequently
throwing him violently To the ground. Talk
about the pleasures of bicycling, why, few
people have any idea of the great dangers we
daily run. They see US gliding along easily
| them repel the attack of ferocious rural eur
| once; that will be enough. New York Mail
and Express