Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-03
WHEELING AGAINST TIME.
Progress OF the Bicycle Riders on the Trip
Prom This City to Pittsburg.


The message Of Gen. Albert ordway. the COM
handing officer Of the District National Guard,
being sent to the Pittsburg Leader by bicycle
messengers. is somewhere on the road to Pitts
burg this afternoon. As published in yester-
days STAR the message was sent from the Cap
itoI at o'clock Yesterday afternoon, members
of tire Washington Military Cycle Company
having been detailed to carry il far as
Frederick.
The time allowed the riders was four hours
and fifteen minutes to cover the distance, but
when the last relay reached the message
was just thirty-seyen minutes behind time.
On that relay the riders were Lieut.. W. A.
Balch and Sergt. H. +. Crook, both excellent
riders. They had eight miles to ride and were
allowed forty minutes in which to do it, but
when they reached Frederick they had ridden
the distance In eight minutes less than the time
allowed The message was therefore at Fred
erick Just twenty-nine minutes behind the time
anticipated by those who arranged the time for
the relays.
The message borne by the riders was carried
In leather case made for the purpose and do
mated by the Overman Wheel Company.
GEN. oRDwAY's MESSAGE.
1t is worded as follows:
$40 the Pittsburg Leader:
Having been informed of your laudable en-
terprise Of testing the use of cycle messengers
for transmitting messages long distances by
having message sent from Washington to
Plttsburg have awaited myself of the oppor-
tunity to test the efficiency of the Military
Cycle Company of the District National Guard,
which was the first regularly organized cycle
company enlisted in the National Guard Of the
country.
II inclose a copy of the instructions / have
gwen the commanding officer OF that company
70 .l,aLx . rV,.tt
to express my appreciation of your public spirit
and my thanks for permitting the District
National Guard to participate IN the under
taking"
The instructions referred to in the letter are
as follows:
Sir: On Friday. September 2, 1 desire to
transmit letter to the Pittsburg Leader, Pitts
burg. Pa, BY cycle messengers. l am informed
that the proprietors of that newspaper have ar
ranged for relays of messengers from Frederick,
Nd, to Pittsburg.
You will make the necessary arrangements
and detail the necessary number Of men from
Your company to take this letter from Wash
iEgtOn to Frederick in the shortest possible
time and there deliver IL To the duly accredited
messenger of the Pittsburg Leader that you
will find at that point l will personally de-
liver the letter TO YOU. or to such man as you
NAV detail 10 receive it. at the eastern portico
of the Capitol at O'Clock pm. Friday, Sep
TENDER .
BEfoSD HAGERSrowS.
\ dispatch from Hsgerstown says that the
ride from New Market to Frederick, distance
of eight miles. was ridden In thirty-two min
u:es- The riders were loudly cheered as they
code up Patrick street and handed the message
20 Mr. Leroy HAYES of Hagerstown. who rode
of for NiddletoWn. From Middletown to
BooHsboro the message was carried by T. A.
tGlterer of Hagerstown. who was accompanied
b. Iir. Harry Reicher. They left Middletown
at 1.3I and arrived III Boonsboro at Sill. having
ridden eight miles,
From Boonsboro' 20 Hagerstown the message
was carried by c. f. johnson. who reached his
destination az 9:0llx. Mr. A. &. Wilson took
the message at HagerstoYn and started for
Hancock on the tow path. He accom-
panied BY Edward Ditridgt and they passed
through Wil!amsport az $40.