The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-28
CYCLING In SAVANNAH.
TO MAKE THIS CITY THE CENTER
OF THE SPORT IN THE SOUTH.

The Plans Which the Wheelmen Her Q
Hope to Soon Carry Through-New
Machines Appearing on the Street
livery Dsy-Ladies Eager to Mount
but Many Deferred by Fear.
The bicycle feeling continues to grow Ia
intensity in Savannah, and the number Of
proud owners Of wheels are steadily increas-
ing. Every night the pleasing whir of the
machines is heard on the asphalted aud
shelled streets, and the air is filed with toe
cheerful melody OF tho bells.
II Poe were alive to-day another
stanza would be added to his famous
story describing. as only he could
! describe, the wild ecstacy With which
the amateur bicyclist announces the coming
OF his swift moving steed Of steel. Without
bell bicycle to the average new rider
| would be bereft OF its chief charm.
All ages and conditions Of people, as we'll
as both sexes, are represented among the
riders, and the variety OF wheels Is equally
as great. The local agents of the numerous
| manufacturers find the competition very
keen, and in the multitude of opportunities
afforded him the would-be purchaser is apt
TO get badly mixed up on the relative merits
and dement's of the many makes. Two or
three standard styles have established them
selves as favorites, though. and the new
corners find Savannah a hard field to work,
AND NOW FOR A SCHOOL.
Nobody has yet been able to make an
| accurate census Of the Savannah wheelmen
TO get at the number Of "wheelwomeun
would not be 50 difficult, as there are prob
| aoly not more than twenty-five yet
all told. or the male riders, though,
the number runs up somewhere
in the hundreds, and hardly dAy
passes that some ambitious youth does not
make his appearance and sacrifice his
| clothing and personal appearance In his
zeal 10 master the mysteries of bicycle riding
So numerous is this class becoming that il is
said II suitable place can be found a
school OF artistic riding with a
| real professor who can do wonderful
circling and other evolutIons, NAV be
started before fall. II so this will stimulate
number Of ladies into ordering wheels.
They have been deferred so far by the fear
Of public practice, and with this removed
by the establishment Of place where pri-
Vate Instruction can be had Cycling ought
to have boom among the gentler sex here
There are already several lady riders who
are quite expert, and the pleasure they de-
rive IN the evening as they glide along Bull
| and Liberty streets with their escorts is
we'll calculated to stir up just enough envy
among Others to make them want to follow
IN the way these pioneers have gone
THE LEAGUE GROWING.
The Savannah heelmen received an addi-
ton Of fourteen members at its last meeting.
It's membership now includes nearly seventy
of the best riders in town. BY the end OF
the year President Richmond Is confident
they will pass the hundred point. Among
the members are four ladies, the germ of
the ladies' auxiliary which will be organized
as soon as sufficient members are obtained
to fill all the Offices and have q few on the
"out." The ladies will have all the priyi-
leges Of the male members. It is understood,
and the mere novelty of being member Of
club of This character will be quite effect
i've In swelling the ranks OF the lady lovers
Of the machine.
July l6 the wheelmen will have their
annual prize run and dinner at Thunder
bolt. Elaborate preparations are already
under way for this event, aud the delight
full stair of last year will be outdone In
every respect. The lady cyclists will take
part in both features Of the programme
and add to the attractiveness Of each.
The wheelmen had confidently expected
to have track and home of their own before
this anniversary, but they were doomed TO
disappointment 1t will not be long,
though, if their present plans do not mis-.
carly DclOT6 lucy VIII Do III POSSESSION or
coy quarters well situated. AS soon as
the Coast Line sale is made they expect to
secure the Bolton street base ball park.
The Coast Line has 2-years'
lease OF the grounds, and the wheelmen will
undoubtedly secure its transfer to them
selves They will put in quarter mile
track, improve the grand stand and erect a
neatframe club house.
THE CENTER FOR THE SOUTH,
With no Interruptions the wheelmen
ought to have their plans fully carried out
before September and Savannah have some-
thing that probably no other southern town
can boast of.
With such track 1t will be possible to
arrange a series Of state and Interstate
meets and to make Savannah the cycling
center Of the south. Such is the
ambition Of the most progressive local
wheelmen, and they have the energy to
realize their hopes.