The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-21
DEAD BROKE" CYCLIST
Harry Wiley Tells of His Ezper-
ieuces in and About Wheeling,
TRBnPHlL ENTRY INTO The CITY.
Tho Brilliant Scene From the Hit
tops Back of the City, at Night
The Freedom of tho Town tx
teBded.-How Ho Escaped the Work
house and RockpiIe.

The dead broke" cycler, Harry HI
lard Wiley, who rode on his bicycle last
fall from New York to Chicago, on a
wager, without the expenditure OF a
cent, gives his experiences in and
around Wheeling in tho current num-
Der Of the Chicago SporhmsH's Revtr~'
1t will be remembered that no got
into Whsoling the same evening,
November /, that Vice President Adlai
Stevenson was here. That part OF the
narrative relating to Wheeling starts
with a description of his entry after
dark, He says;
AS l ueared the great city. the lights
became moro numerous and were in
terspersed here and there with tho
white glitter Of the arc lamp aud the
road began to take on the semblance OF
u city street. 49,,
A sharp tug up n steep hill, a whiz
round the CouTner OF the mountain and
from the heights. the lights oil the
whole city burst on my enchanted view,
sparkling like 30 many diamonds, al
most beneath me, away down IN tho
valley below. The cravings OF my emp
" stomach were unheeded and stop
ped aud gazed spellbOund on the won
deriul scene below INC. 1t WIS like
having a fairy castle brought suddenly
before your astoniahed eyes.
The city appeared to be most bril-
liantIy Illuminated, and as | gazed, swift
fieeting skyrockets pierced the air, leav-
ing in their wake tails OF dropping gol..
den fire. Some celebration going on"
unused ! and started on ahead.
At tho loot of the hill stopped to in.
nuire tho way OF tho leader OF n band
whose men were standing IDLY about
tho street. "Why, here he ia now"
broke on my astonished ears, ana clos
ing in around me as an escort OF honor
they began to play "see the Conquer
ing Hero Comes" and started down tho
street. All l could make out was that
they were to escort me into town.
The houses were gaily decorated,
Chinese lanterns and bunting in protu'
sion. and ero VIC had gone more than u
block the lively strains OF the band
brought hundreds running to see the
circus and l felt like crawling into a
hole and pulling 1t in after me. And
now came the Wheeling cyolers, led by
jason Stamp, the league chief consul,
and taking mo in tow, We wheeled onto
the main street, fairly alive with people
aud brilliant with the abundance OF
light. 1t was Il grand ovation and l
knew not what to say or do.
Under Il grand arch emblazoned with
tho ono word, "Welcome," and on down
through the gaily decorated streets to
the city hall, where in tho presence oil
an immense throng l was welcomed by
the mayor and the freedom OF the city
OF Wheeling was rendered me. res
pended in fitting terms, at least ina
CINE / did, and then, again under the
escort OF Of the cyclists, l was'takon to
VaR Keuren's restaurant, where q sight
greeted my eyes that was q fitting
climax to tho royal reception had al
ready received. A bountoeus supper
was spread and / was not slow to show
my readiness to dispose OF it. Mr.. Van
Keuren did tho honors aud was my host
during my stay in Wheeling.
And then the boys, supper disposed
OF, with Haller, Sweeney and Greer as a
committee, stormed the opera house
for tickets for the crowd and we put in
the rest of the evening unraveling the
mysteries OF BILLS Boot"
Wheeling is Il great town and tho
cycle boys great boys. My coming
happened OH the same day Adlai Stew
enson, the Democratic candidate for
Vice President visited the city, and
needless to say the decorations were in
his honor. l said nothing, but kept up
tho joke and thanked the boys for their
llattcring reception.
It was n thoroughly tired cut tramp"
that tumbled into bed that night and il
did dream ii was that | was tied to a
mammoth sky rocket which was pointed
towards Chicago aud when touched oil
shot up high in the mir amid n blaze OF
light mud tremendous noises. | was
aWuked by sotne one pounding OH my
door who told me | had better put out
my gas, as it was against the rules OF
tho house to burn it all night.
The boys mad n great job up on me
the next morning, and it was a pity to
spoil it, but tho chirpings of u little
~dicky-bird gave tho game dead away. II
WAS On tlG programme lOI llO W htuIL
from tho city hall, being given tho word
by tho "mayor,'' my friend Of the even
ing before, who turned out TO be "Bil1"
Guggenheiner, a travelling salesman.
a great crowd OF people and represent
ativcs OF the press were to be on hand
to report tho proceedings and as / start
ed l was was to DO vGry very quietly
taken in hand by two minions Of tho
law and chased into court on u charge
Of vagrnncy. "Ten dollars or thirty
days." gGds what II picnic for mel But
] had no wish to adorn the cell Of some
West Virginia workhouse, eveu for u
day or two. Loft TO myself for a fow
moments, oil u plea Of wanting to go
around to the newspaper office to got
copies OF tho morning papers before
started, l stoered for tho bridge and
getting FREQ passage was soon out OF
Wheeling aud til tho state Of Ohio.
crossed tho suspension bridge, once
longest single span in tho world, thon
over the "I8land," through q dark cov.
cred bridge and into Ohio, n nice ride
up tho valley Of n small creek for sev.
eral miles and then a long, steep climb,
thcn the same hilly country like | had
como over tho day before.
Eleven milca up and down and tho
great court house Of st. Clairsvillo came
Into view on top Of q hill.
l stopped long enough TO send q tele.
gram TO my friends In Wheeling, "RO.
grOt / could not keep my appointment
hi A. ... MN -. I.... 49,.