The Portland daily press., 1891-09-08
wHEELMEN'S FIELD DAY.
The Races Were Postponed Until
Next Saturday,
BUT All Enjoyed the Banquet at the
PrebIe in the Evening.

The poor luck Of wheelmen will soon come
to be proverbial If rainy weather upsets
their plans on many more occasions. At
Belfast on Memorial Day it was misty. the
lantern parade last week had to be post
poned because of the downpour of damp
ness, and last and forcible climax it was.
came the heavy rain yesterday completely
putting to rout all plans for the days sport.
A dozen cyclers from Salem and Lynn
were In attendance. % from Biddeford and
Saco, and representations FROM Lewiston,
Brunswick, Sanford, Yarmouth, Waterville
and Belfast. There was every Indication
Of successful meet. with the exception Of
the gloom cast upon proceedings by the
clerk of the weather. and that gloom over
spread and upset all the schemes for enter
tainment.
AS the hour for the parade approached, 1t
became evident that it would be impossible
to ride through the muddy streets in the
rain, so that was abandoned, and 1t was
hoped for clear weather In the afternoon for
races. Later word was received that it
would be out of the question TO attempt to
race on the track 1t was so heavy. This and
the continued rain, caused the committee to
decide to postpone the races to next Satur-
day afternoon at 3 o'clock. when 1t Is hoped
that the clerk of the weather will smile his
prettlest upon the wheelmen. Entries will
be received up to Thursday night. Cyclers
have about concluded to call themselves
"Jonahs," and John Stevens suggested
writing to the government officials at Wash
ington that goo deal of the expense con-
nected with the experiments to produce rain
In Texas could be avoided by contracting
with Maine wheelmen to meet at a designated
point. 1t would then be pretty certain to
rain. But 1t is not supposed that the propc.
sition will be acted upon.
All the forenoon cyclers sat around the
club house and discussed the weather. AT
noon sandwiches and coffee were served In
abundance, having been brought In from the
Cape-an apology for the clambake which
had been arranged. The afternoon was
spent In games, singing and visit to the
warships by number of the young men. 1t
was dismal substitute for the merry day
anticipated, but the boys were inclined to
accept the inevitable In cheerful manner.
Wheelmen usually manage to have good
time under any circumstances. That is how
1t came about that they enjoying themselves
so thoroughly last evening at the Preble.
Not that the banquet was not of the same
excellent quality for which Mr.. Gibson is
famed. for it was. but the weather had been
SO aggravatiDg all day that 1t would have
been little wonder IL the cyclers had been
down-hearted. Not SO, however; they were
iovial party. The little joke about trans
porting wheelmen to Texas to cause 1t to
rain there became common property. Dis.
appointment does not llnger long In the
mind of wheelman to the races on Satur.
day all are now looking forward with eager
ness.
Nearly seventy wheelmen were gathered
around the tables. including these gentle
men from outside the city:
W. W. Mcintyre, Saco.
w. H. Bryant, Blddeford
A. w. Andrews, BiddefOrd
II. p. Austin, KenDebunk.
w. III. Littlefelo, Kennebunk.
A. j. Moore, Kennebunk
q. III. Dyer, Sac0.
H. ii. Hancock, Saco.
Geo. NJ Leayitt, BiddefOrd.
ChaS. III. Cobb, Biddeford.
w. r. Cutter, Biddeford.
Geo. A. Haley, Biddeford.
Thos. Parady, Biddef0rd.
Amos Lang, Biddeford.
w. w. TarDox, Saco.
G. L. Batchelder, Saco.
A. s. Bradford Saco
w. b. jackson, Deering.
+. w. Hall, New York.
Harry Jose, Saco.