The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-07-09

barn and despite of the fact that he was
afraid the lire of his wagon would "bust"
he consented 10 take US.
The ROADS were terrible sometimes lea.
, ing through dense weeds, SO thick that the
sky could hardly be seen and the mud was
SO deep that the riders were compelled TO
take rest every fifteen minutes. The tire
held out and blacksmith's shop was soon
found in Peekskill. 1t was the work Of on
ly few minutes 20 glue the con rary tire
on with cement, and again the riders
were of.
Up hill and down dale the riders flew,
stopping only for drink at farmhouse
OR 10 tighten up loose bolt or pedal. Fish
kill was passed at III o'clock and the riders
then began to work hard for PCugbkeepsie,
where they were 10 take luncheon.
New Hamburg was reached at 11.30,
and then the squirt was made In good earn
est Tor their noon stop, nine miles away.
The roads were worse than any previously
encountered. The riders ioCk side paths
whenever they offered, but these only ran
from one country house to another As
The WORLD reporter was leaving one of
these little paths TO re-eater the muddy
road his wheel struck a hidden rock and
over an embankment three feet high he
flew. Thanks TO the generous supply of
soft mud, he regained his feet unhurt, and
started immediately to dig out his wheel.
Van Sicklon stopped for a second only,
and finding his companion unhurt was
soon mile away. Covered with mud
and wet through, THE WORLD reporter
climbed on his bicycle and soon made the
distance less between his leader-because
he was angry.
When the riders drew into PoHghkepsie
it was exactly o'clock, and they were
very nearly half way to Albany. Fifteen
minutes were taken for luncheon.
Hyde Park was the first town of note
next reached. Here the Catskills rose to
view. The hills grew sleeper Staatsburg,
nine miles from Poughkeepsie, was made
in just one hour (2l5). Then the hard
work began. The roads were rocky, which |
was something better than the mud, al. |
though several falls of no serious conse- |
quence were taken. The World reporter
again overlook Van Sicklen. He had not |
gone ten feet, however. when his wheel
struck little stretch of sand, which almost
rose TO the hub. Van pedslled bravely on,
but 1t was too much. The wheel careened
from side to side and reaching the end of
The road threw its rider head first into a
pool of thick, watery mud. 1t was the
World reporters turn to laugh, and he did
Justice TO the word. He rode on and about
wo miles further was overtaken by Van
'icklen, who looked straight ale id and
purted.
AT Rhinebeck the roads became very fine
lut that condition only lasted ten miles.
The old post road, which the riders had
allied 10 discover at Poughkeepsie, was
hen found, and the riding would have been
plendid if il had not been made so heavy
y the terrible rains. At Tivoli the hun
point was reached, and the riders
Tere congratulating themselves that the I
Torst part OF the ride was over. Alas
THAT mIstakei s
AT Catskill Station Q20 miles, Van !
icklen drew away from The World report !
r and tramped for all he was worth. S
When The World reporter seached Hudson !
10 miles he came to a turn In the road. c
.ccording to hnman nature he took the i
Irgest and seemingly best laid way. The d
bad SOON descended long hill and led Il e .
der astray.
L; was still raining when the post road i
as regained, and although the leyel thor e
1ghfare had been macadamized, il was /
ard work TO ride. A squirt was made at r
very hill, however, and few minutes 2
ter 10 O'Clock the reporter arrived at .
lbaDy. Going at once to the hotel agreed 4
pom, Van Sicklen was found in a bath, b
I'd the Word man was not slow in fol- d
wing his example. Van Sicklen arrived b
the town at exactly $50, thus making il
e trip in eighteen hours and beating all C,
rmer bicycle records.