Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-01
CYCLISTS In EUROPE.
A Description of the Touring Club
Run From Paris to Zurich.
SWISS CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS.
The American Party Makes Display Of Its
Patriotism.
THE HISTORIC CASTLE OF CHILL0N
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1spArcH.I

1
bly, quartered at the Hotel Bellevue, with
the Stars and Stripes floating above its roof.
The journey hither from Paris has been
made in leisurely way and has proved one
of unmixed entertainment and enjoyment
throughout. The landscape and scenery we
have encountered, both in France and Swift
zerland. have recalled many fragment of
memories from forgotten picture galleries,
and wherever we have passed, both towns
people and peasantry have We'd in showing
us invariable kindness and courtesy. To
quote the expression of one of our party,
sThe trip from Paris to Zurich has been
one continuous picnic"
| There was great crowd gathered before
the Hotel de la Tamise, in the Rue d. Alger,
to bid us goodbye, as we bade adieut to Paris
short time ago. Baron Selly and Mr.. and
Mrs. Wethinger, the latter two mounted on
a tandem safety" had kindly offered us
their escort as far as Fontalnebleau, and
quite a number of the Paris wheelmen also
accompanied our calvacade to that point,
making jolly party that wheeled up at
noon time at Nemours for lunch. Mount
| ing again at 2 P. M, with fine weather and a
splendid road, we passed during tine after
noon, the historic 'sKing's Tables" entered
and traversed a section of the grand old
forest, and reached Fontainebleau about B
P M, where we remained over the following
day, Sunday, sight seeing and visiting the
famous chateau.
wHEELMEN ON THE ROAD.
Fontainebleau was, for the time, full Of
infantry summoned to rifle practice, and the
town was alive with concerts, carrouseis,
hurdy-gurdys, and all manner of holiday
entertainments, SO that we were not sorry to
leave. Finding the main highway closed
on account of the military operations, we
made detour on leaving next morning, and
afterward regaining the post-road, made
straight pull for Sens, which was reached in
four hours time. The remainder of the day
was passed in visiting the historic old
church and in general sightseeing. 1t may
be mentioned here that the President of the
Fontainebleau Bicycle Club accompanied
us as far as this point, having with him
friend mounted on a tricycle.. This latter
gentleman furnished us the only real laugh
we had had since leaving Paris, by sud-
denly and unaccountably taking "header"
over the roadside and landing in the ditch.
From Sens, via Joigny, to Tonnere, we
had level country and fine roads, so that
some six of the party, Kirk, Brinsmade,
White, Shannon, Levy and Schneider, de-
termined to go in for century" run, and,
in spite of a strong head wind, they accom-
plished it, running back from Joignv, after
lunch, to Sens, then forward again through
Joigny and on to Tonnere. making run of
LOG miles in day of ten hours.
We passed pleasant night and forenoon
at Tonnere, chatting with many of the
townspeople. who were very sociable and
kind, and, after lunch, pushed on to Mont
bard, which was reached about 3 P. NJ.
After visiting the ruins of the chateau and
discussing an excellent dinner, our party,
all OF whom felt infused with
THE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT,
gathered in front of the hotel and sang
Hail Columbia, ""Star Spangled Banner
and other national songs. In ten minutes
time the street was so packed with people, a
swarming mass of good-natured and demon
strative listeners, that it was impossible for
a vehicle to pass. Suddenly one of the
party happening to call for the "Marseil-
laise," a citoyen mounted a cask, COM
menced GALLONS enfants de la patrie" In the
most approved style, and the immense
crowd enthusiastically joined in the chorus.
Then, in turn, some Frenchman in the
crowd who was posted cried "Chantez Yam
kee Doodle, whereupon our boys COM
menced the good old familiar strain, and it
was applauded to the echo.
The next morning our cavalcade went
gaily out of Montbard, the bicycles pro-
fusely decorated with red, white and blue
ribbons, and every small boy in town fol-
lowing us as long as his legs would carry
him. We kept together, singing the ma
tional airs in chorus as we whizzed across
the country, sand every one of us thinking
lovingly of home. At st. Seine, where we
lunched, we found the hotel dining-room
profusely decorated with the Stars and
Stripes and the tricolor in honor of our ar
rival. A pleasant incident was little
speech by Mr.. Esterbrook, who proposed |
the health of the President of the United |
States, and followed it up with some timely |
remarks. Just at this juncture one of our |
party, Roseboom, who had had fall few |
miles up the road and been obliged to come
in apart, was carried in triumphantly on
the stalwart shoulders of Higgins, Brins-
made, Leavey and Cake, and received with
vociferous chorus of Hes jolly good
fellow"
DRINKS FOR ALL.
We reached the Burgundian capital, |
Dijon, between and in the afternoon,
where arrangements had been made for |
banquet at the Hotel de la Cloche. The
room was handsomely decorated with our !
own and French flags, the menu and wines |
were excellent and a genuine American |
lemonade was provided for the prohibition
ist members of the party. The health of |
the President was drunk standing, and ap- |
propriate speeches were made by Messrs. |
Hicks, Beals and Wilson.
Next day we visited the museum, the |
IL n{ho ,trI
sights of the city, and in the afternoon |
pushed on to Dole where we were hand
somely entertained by fellow bicyclist. |
formerly of Dion, who now owns concert |
hall at Dole. Next day we rode leisurely |
in the afternoon to Pollgny where we had a
night OF horrors, with swarms of bedbugs.
some of them as large as soft-shelled crab.
1t is a wonder some of them didn't trv to
mount the machines and ride off with them!
As it was we all had to sleep on the floor
with our clothes on, and we shook off the
dust of Poligny next day, yowing never to
return.
We lunched at Champagnole, and as it
was Sunday, great crowds OF sightseers col
lected about us. That afternoon we reached
Norez, ''coasting" down hill the entire dis
tance for tine last five miles, without touch
ing a foot to the pedal. Here we had our
hrst glimpse OF the glorious scenery OF the
Juras. Next morning we had an uphill
walk of eight miles to the Swiss frontier,
which we passed at Les Rousses.
SOMEWHAT OF A DIFFERENCE.
Who shall explain the mysteries of Gus
tom House duties? Some of our party were
required to deposit 20 francs duty each on
their bicycles, receiving therefor a receipt
on which the amount would be refunded to
tbern hv the customs of6oe ot their ,,oinf of |