Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-02
WASHINGTON WHEELMEN.
A SKETCH OF THE ORGANIZATION AND IT'S
BRILLIANT ACHIEvEMENTs-oNE OF THE
PIONEER ORGANIZATIONS OF THE COUNTRY
ITS PRESENT MEMBERSHIP.

As has already been stated in THE STAR, tn,
Capital Bicycle club has purchased lot upor
18th street, near Albaugh's Opera House, facing
| the White Lot, upon which the erection Of
| handsome and convenient club house Is prom
ised with the advent Of spring. This lot, which
may almost be considered Q birthday presen
to the club from its members, a. the seventh
anniversary OF Its foundation is soon to b
celebrated, is ideally situated for clui
purposes. Fronting upon the White Lot, soor
| to be magnificent park, within two or three
squares from the principal places of amuse
| ment but q square from the great artery OF thu
city at Its most frequented point, yet upon {
e9as the c Ss to tdt
the most desirable property in the city for theil
use. The house to be erected upon 1t will b.
| three stories in height, with q frontage o.
| Twenty-Five feet and depth of about seventy
feet. 1t will be somewhat plainly but substan
| italy built more money being spent to secure
the greatest conveniences and comforts thar
for style. 1t is the desire Of the club 10 have IL
ready for occupancy by midsummer.
| PIONEER ORGANIZATION.
| Washington people may not know that this
club is one of the pioneer organizations of its
| kind in America. But two clubs, the Boston
club, are older than it. Bicycling in America
was indeed in its infancy when, January 81
L. r. Einoif +. d. Wv WOOD n t. n. jessimofs 1n
| and Charles krauskOpf met in front OF the Cap
itol to effect an organization. Those were
| times when organization was necessary fol-
protection, and there was nothing in the state OF
public feeling toward the new method Of loco
motion TO warrant prophesy that In seven
| years the bicyclists OF the District would num-
Der fifteen hundred or more, and that bicycle
riding would gain recognition as q right As
common con as that Of carriage driving. Prejudice
anee and tolerance TO favor in the minds OF
Washington people towards the bicycle,
largely through the efforts and conduct Of this
club, whose management has always endeav-
ored to impart in public and rider respect for
each others rights and privileges. The new
but soon located on 10th street, above II, and
the occupation of these premises gave the Or
ganization boom" from which 1t has never
recovered. These rooms were occupied but q
year. and In April, 1880, the ground floor OF
412 1 tn street was secured. New members in
the club are still entertained by the ''old uns,
with stories OF the good old times at Ala. Here
the watermelon racket was instituted as a
club custom; here took place the great unveil-
derfui box from England containing six ma
chimes of the most improved pattern-the first
full nickeled bicycles In Washington. Every
move of the club into new quarters was neces-
STATED by growth in membership, reason
10. IL, and SO lie Droit bniidng, where t tWo
prosperous years were spent. In April, 1884,
the club moved into its present quarters, 919 q
handsomely too, the annual meet of the league
of American wheelmen. The next move will
be into Its own house, when, its members think,
the evolution of the Capital Bicycle club will be
complete.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CLUB.
The club is conscious OF possessing, at least Of
deserving, good reputation at home and is
proud OF its reputation abroad. Although some
what isolated from the wheel.world, it has be-
come Known to wheelInep as q progressive and
leading wheel organization. The first long-dls-
lance tour in this country was made by Hans
mann and schooley, two of its members, who,
in, II ruhQ ~ oc n nnfn Doc.
ton, and the ''Wheel around the Hub" in the
same month and year, the first great American
owen, the leading spirit OF the clubs founda-
ton. Owen was also present at the organza-
tion of the League Of American Wheeimen at
Newport, and his interest In the Wheel after
many years experienced still most active. He
early gained reputation for having a
complete mastery of the machine, and his
front of the Capitol, upon bicycle of the ordi-
nary pattern, still stands most wonderful
exhibition of skill and nerve.
In 1882 HanSmann Seely and Allen visited
the Natural Bridge and disclosed to the wheel
world the beauties OF cycling I'm the Shenan-
doah valley. This same trip was taken last
September by Hansmann and Killits. UPON a
sociable tricycle. making the longest American
tricycle. tour, and also the record for "a hours,
in its chosen sport has not been made by indi-
vidual members alone. In 1881 it gave q we'll
appreciated drill in Baltimore, and In 1882 the
OriOle festivities I'm the same city were partici-
pated in by % men, whose fine parade riding
caused much comment. In October OF the same
celebration OF the founding of Philadelphia
and won a banner and were banqueted as
the ssaul bes nsssi c Nas At the great
the appearance of the club in parade
attracted universal attention and
gained for it extravagant praise from the local
press. Although not part of the league, the
club exerted itself to the utmost to entertain
that organization upon the occasion of its meet
here in SSi, and had by far the largest repre-
tail ion Climb in itS parada off,
at tais time received from this body a hearty
recognition. The Capital outing" of the club
Boston and Springfield, is still fresh in the
memories Of its participants. Though not
making racing specially, or even leading
feature OF its work. the club has ia its mem
ship several racing men, of whom 1T is proud
1t has given races every year since 1880 which
have been in general well patronized, but, while
in every other way successful, were never very
profitable. One experience in connection with
racing still rankles in the minds of its older
management of the Garfield fair of bills in
Cured. AS the club claims. with the sanction
and encouragement OF the managers, to the
which the club was finally Obliged to pay.
CLUB oBsERvANCEs.
The club is old enough to have customs and
institutions, the observance of which has be-
come part OF its unwritten law or these are
the "watermelOn racket" without at least two
of which no summer campaign is complete the
Decoration day excursion to Virginia Beach
and Norfolk: tine WashingtOn's birthday cele-
bration and the Thanksgiving run to Marlboro,
Rockville AS an objective point for the Fourth
OF July seems to have given place to Ashton
where thirty members spent the day last year
and which has become favorite rendezvous
The clubs anniversary, January 81, is always
celebrated with a banquet, and the birthday OF
one of its founders is observed by an invita-
tiOn TO join him In q practice" run in which
all the ash heaps repositories of tin cans and
brick-bats and other places to try the mettle of
riders, are visited
THE FIRST orrIcrpa
The clubs first officers were Max Hansmann,
vice president; L. r. Einolf, secretary and treas
urer; III. :. Owen, captain. 1t Is now Differed
by John NJ Killits, president; c. G. Allen vice
president; I. A. Berryhili, recording secretary:
James q. Rice, corresponding secretary; J. L.
F. Church, sub-captain; Benz. II. Stinemetz. jr.'
junior sub-captain. and p. T. Dodge J. w Wav..
ner, j. Nick. Borden and w. Ii. Hibbs. execil.
tive committee. 1t has q membership of 1875.
as follows:
ACTIVE MEMBERS.
Clarence G. Allen, Chas F. Bacon, L. Seward
Bacon; DR.. E. A. Baiioch. Lemuel ]. Barber
Mex. Borden, Frank NJ Boteler, John b. Hon.
telle, G. II. Brandenbangh, Charles A. Bur.
nett, Eugene Byrnes, Earle II. Cate, Fred.
eriek F. Church. j.. J: Chickering
Champion, Wallace F. Crossman, Harry T
Davis, Phillip T: Dodge, Walter s. Dodge
Francis c: Dom, William M. Dougal, Luther s.
Elmer, Ed. B. Forney, DeLanceyW din, George
A: Gordon, Leonard X; Graves, Arthur p. Gree
James H. Harper, W. B. Hibbs, Leland How
ard, Farmland Janus, Gabriel +. Johnston
Thomas J.. Johnston, Rudolph Kaufman
John N: killits, Augustus E; Knorr, Frank r
+. io o Alvin aMn n. Loth E ''e ] %ss
daniel, William g. Minnfx l. r Moore