Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-20
A C0LORED WHEELMAN.
William Mi1ler's Bicycle Trip from
Washington to Philadelphia.


Washington to Philadelphia.
| A CLUB OF CoLoEED ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
| Used By BUSINESS MEN AND woRKINGMEN-
THE EXPERIENCE OF CoLoRED WHEEL
MAN ON TOUR.
The people of Washington have better OPP
portunfties for realizing the extent to which
bicycles can be used, especially for business,
than people in other cities, where the condi-
| lions for street riding are less favorable It
| was only few years ago that bicyclers were
young men of leisure with means to afford such
| luxury, but n1w business men and working
men may be seen wheeling through the streets
on bicycles or tricycies, and saving lots of time
and money. Some Of these riders evidently
| could not afford wheel as a luxury, but they
have studied out the matter, and have con.
| cluded that they will ride as a means OF econ.
| omy. There is one rider in Washington that
is blessing to wheelmen. He rides just now
He is is ii so a9sn wa ay eonne sfp
| with street paving, and he can tell better
bad place on his rounds he jots down its loca-
ton in his notebook and reports it as needing
| notes have been tar ahead Of the work, and
| riders have been compelled to pick their way
very gingerly through certain streets.
CoLORED wHEELMEN.
There are quite number of colored men
| in Washington who are enthusiastic riders
Some congenal riders and admirers have
banded themselves together, and now Wash
| ington, in addition to its other clubs,
| boasts colored bicycle club. The men,
bership numbers thirteen. Six of them
| are bona fide riders, one will be very
| soon, and the others anticipate riding as
soon as they can see their way clear to possess
| ing wheel. One OF these colored young
by himself, and as he appeared in local
tiles where bicycles might be common, but
VI no. q rn6 ril dow l.;
| ney was somewhat remarkable, particularly
| as regards the treatment be received on the
phia and back. He was absent over a week, for
| he stopped to see things on the way. His trip
cost him SO. as he told a STAR reporter, and he
had the best time he ever had in his lie
| although he is an old trayler, having visited
many many foreign shores in naval vessels. The
bicycle rider in Washington knows hun, for he
| has taught many OF them to balance themselves
| at first on the treacherous wheel. He is very
black but he Is very much of a gentleman, and
| the fact that he was treated well would not be
| surprising but tor the fact that colored man
had never been seen on the roads which ne re-
Gently passed over, and some of them were in
| that part OF the country where one would sup
| pose the sight OF negro enjoying white
| mans privileges in style would be particularly
! distasteful
| MILLER'S TRIP To PHILADELPHIA.
! THE STAR man saw Miller before he started ON
! his tour. He had we'll fitting bicycle suit.
| with the conventional knickerbockers, and was
provided with an improved Star machine that
was precious in his eyes, and ne knew how TO
| ride it. After he returned The STAR man met
| him, and asked him the particulars Of his tour.
II lett here on Sunday morning., he replied,
| Eat half past 8, and reached Ashton at Ills.
| That is twenty miles. l staid there about
| twenty minutes, and then showed on towards
Baltimore. For about fifteen miles from Ash
ton the road was very bad, sandy and hiliy
| l reached Baltimore at quarter past three. My
cyclometer showed oil miles"
"How were you treated in BALTIMORE" asked
HE STAR reporter.
The only bad treatment 1 got was in Balti-
MORE he replied. "Oi course I knew that
negro a wheel would be poison to them. The
Wheelmen treated me well, but the people in
| the street made good deal of sport of me.
| Look at the coon on u wheel! they yelled, and
| .look at the bigger riding back wards! That
! showed their ignorance about a first-ciass bi-
cycle Ipretty near got in to trouble one OF the
streets. 1t was paved with Belgian block, and
| cars ran in the center i was pushing along
slowly on the right side, and l heard buggy
rafting behind me. crowded over next TO the
That was all needed. TWO men were in the
buggy. They drove past me SO close that the
wheels almost touched me. When they got
ahead they slowed up, and kept right in tIont
of me. swung over to the other side OF the
car track and they followed, and kept wind
ing along just ahead of me. Whichever
way would try to go they would shut me off,
Then swung back 10 the other side. They
came over again. And SO it went on until l
anything, but finally got mad. had studied
The thing out, and was ready 10 take the conse-
QuenceS. DeOple IN a car were watching the
performance, and l was satisfied somebody
would acknowledge was being imposed upon.
When had crossed the fifth time SAID: III
you men come across on this side again some
body's going TO get hurt give you fair warn
ing Then they whipped up and lett me.
was mighty glad didn't have to make a fuss.
l rode out about six miles that evening and
stopped over night at Il place called Pretty Hill
ON THE ROAD TO PHILADELPHIA.
got an early start the next morning, but for
| thirty-fve miles the road was hilly and stony.
reached Beiare about twelve o'clock, and
after stopping % minutes, pushed on towards
Churchvile, and had six miles of good
| road. l was making for Port Deposit. Two
young gentlemen IN buggy gave me chase.
There was nothing ugly about them, thong ID,
| and they gave me fair snow. When the road
was decent lett them easily, but at every spell
OF sand, and they were plenty, they would gain
on me. They were going 10 Havre de Grace,
and at the cross roads we ali stopped to get a
drink. Look at the coon, said one OF them, his
shirt amt even damp, and look at the horse
l certainly did feel sorry Tor that horse. He
was all OF lather and was pretty well played.
Them things go like the devil, don't they?' said
one OF the gentlemen, as they drove of. III il
hadn't been tor trying to overhaul you, we
would be way back yonder yet When reached
and Il halt. left that place at $50, and alter
crossing the Susquehanna IN the Terry headed
| tor New London, Pa, and got there at 6 O'Clock
| found that the people were poison against BIZ
| cycles. OF course, dsnounted every time l
! met team that showed signs OF scare. l lost
| lots OF time dismounting Tor sand and Tor teams
Once saw load OF nay coming, and the
horses long before met looked skittish. |
| got down and run my wheel upon Gill out OF
| sight. When the load got to me the driver
| stopped and said:
WELL, YOU'RE A GENTLEMAN IF YOC ARE
BLACK
We had quite a chat, and he told me
that q bicycler had scared horse driven by
the son of q rich man OF the neighborhocd,
who had a young lady out riding. The horse
ran away and spilled them out and hurt them
pretty badly. Ever since then the people around
there were set against bicycles. He told me-
though, that ii everybody was as careful as 1
was the people would soon get over their hate
That made me feel pretty good, for you know l
was still in Maryland, and they don't love our
color in that state. Alter reached Penusylva-
mia, though. no white man could have been
better treated than was. All my questions
were answered willingly, with no unpleasant
comments. staid All night i'll New London.
got started at 6:i5 Reached Avondale at 9: 10
aud Crawford Ford at 1870. stopped Tor din
ner at Il farm house. They were just about to
sit down to dinner. They invited me cordially
to sit at the table with them, and were very
pleasant TO me- / looked at my cyclomeIer
here, and it showed 123 miles. reached Phil
six O'Clock. had ridden 16O12 miles.
The road for the last thirteen miles was like a
nOOr, but till then the roads were pretty poor.
staid in Philadelphia until Saturday, and saw
good deal of the city. Everybody treated me