Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-13
TOWN w. COUNTRY.
Tho Eeaious SNvnius OF EIana Attack
"A Party Of visiting WbesinIen.

Tho Jealous SNVnins OF Eiam Attack
"A Party Of visiting Wbeeinen.
Th0re is trouble between the country
boys Of Elan, Delaware county, Pa. end
the members OF The Wilmington Wheel
Club and ell hecRuBs Of the Jealousy of
the Elan boys. The church in that ham,
let gave strawberry festival on Thars-
day and Saturday evenings last. Several
members of the wheel club bad evidently
found \ great attraction 10 that neighbor-
hood TO judge from their frequent visits
and on their invitation, party OF niue
wheellnen went to Elan on Thursday
last. The picturesque knickerbookerB
aud the athletic build Of the oyclers
seemed a greater attraction to the country
girla than the plain, every day country
lads, and the latter were forgotten upon
the arrival OF thor athletic town rivals,
and were consumed with envy and
jealousy.
Bad blood was at once engendered and
the country lads began TO concoct o
schsme to humiliate the cyclers. They
took all OF the wheels from their standing
positions and hid them in the deep grass
where passing team might soon have
converted the $125 investments into dead
loss by running over them. The wheelmeD
demonstrated rather sharply and for tho
balance Of the evening they kept thsir
wheel In sight. They started for home
about IL O'clock and had just left the fes-
tivRl tent when compile of the country
boys came dashing behind them with q
team OF full speed. They accomplished
their object In scattering the frightened
wheeliaen right and left and they mar
rowly escaped running over several Of
then. They then turned mp o side road
until the oyclers had passed them when
they started the horse OF again on
mad gallop directly In the rear Of
the Wilmington boys. This time the lat
ter stood their ground and did not bulge
an inch from their course. The reckless
drivers grszad several of their wheels and
ran into one Of them, throwing him to
the ground and injuring' his wheel. The
Wilmington boys were now thoroughly
aroused aud determined to give their
persecutors q lesson. Two of them
| jumped from their wheels and while one
grabbed the shaft Of the wagon the other
made dash for tho horses head, but the
driver, realizing what was in store for
him, aimed one vicious blow with his
whip et one OF the wheelmen and then
Ravo his horse suph o cut that the animal
started oil with one big bound.
That ended their tribulstions for that
night, and on TINT account they were
none the less resolved to attend the
strawberry festival on Saturday night
again. Ten of them again mounted their
wheels on Saturday night and reached
Elan without much annoyance or delay,
| L,,k khas. ~ ~
without Incident. After spending the even
ing in eating ice cream and Strawberries
aud hobnobbing with the pretty country
girls they mounted their wheels home.
ward bound. The Elan swain were out
in force and at least 25 of them had con.
gregated to "do up them city ohaps.n
The oyclers were outnumbered more
than two to one and as they approached
the crowd they thought 1t prudent Ia
maintain silence. The stiffness was SO
thick that il could be felt until the
wheelnen were abreast OF the crowd,
when the latter swarmed out on the
road and began their attack. eve
want that fellow with the whiskerA,
shouted several voices. One man was
pulled from his wheel, and o general dis
mount was made necessary by the pug.
nacious demeanor OF the oountrymen
The latter showed their ccwas1ios by
even then attacking the wheeling party
with sticks and atones, although by this
time the bioycleIs did not number more
than seven or eight men. One of them
was struck in the head with stick OF
stone, which raised o lump; another one
was kicked, and they attempted TO breah
the machine OF third one. They were
glad to escape with whole limbs. The
wheelmen threaten dire vengeance, and
propose to orgenizs raid on ELAN,
which shall protect them from any
further molestation.