The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-26
BICYCLE RELAY RACE.


Ate o'clock this morning, from Spring
field, ILL.,. will start the greatest relay
bicycle ride that was ever undertaken In
the West. Diverging from Springfield in
different directions. riders Will carry mes
sages from Governor Altgeld. of ILLINOIS. to
the Governors of Indiana. Kentucky. Mis-
sour. Iowa and Wisconsin. Something of
tho distance which will have to lie travelled
can be estimated from the fact that the dis
trict from Springfield to Frankfort, KY.
which passes through Indianapolis. is 3f5
miles in length and some of those to other
points expected to be reached are even
longer. These districts are subdivided into
other districts, and the whole is divided
into relays, which run from five to fifteen
miles In length. No less than two and some
four riders are assigned to each relay, and
from that can be gained some nception
of the army OF wheelmen nscessary TO COM
plete the details.
The start will be made from Sprin gfield
promptly at O'clock unless between now
and then some very heavy storms eet In. IL
has not been customary to allow the weather
to interfere with these rides, but there are
some circumstances connected with this
enterprise with which the weather will be
u
strated that the riders have been able to
make fairly good Roadway even on the
muddiest roads, and In binding storms,
and as IL Is not the object of this ride to
show tie endurance of she men or the abil-
ity of the bicycle to overcome water and
mud. but rather the speed and dispatch
which can be reached. the managers OF 1t
will wait for favorable weather.
Another thingIs that Illinois has mud
roads, which become almost impas ble
ia Ill L.
trIcts the riders might not be handicapped
but very little, there they might be COM
PEELED to walk and lead their eteel steeds.
Weather prophecies for Illinois. however.
are for clear skies. and 1t IS hoped that they
will not prove to be false ones. Capt Carl
Fisher, of the ZiGzsg Club. has been hon.
ored with the management OF the longest
district between Springfield and Frank
fort. 1t extends from Rockville. Ind. to
Seymour. o distance of over l60 miles, and
il will be covered wholly by club riders.
1t will be night riding for nearly all of the
men. The first Indianapolis relay will
take the message at Rockville at O'Clock
this evening. and the last one will carry it
into Seymour about 8 O'Clock Saturday
morning.
Indianapolis will be reached, providing
that the men are on time. about midnight,
or little sooner, tonight. The relays to
Indianapolis will carry both the Indiana
and the Kentucky messages. and the latter
will NC scus VI lEOui uOio WitAOub any uo-
lay. The Indiana polls point of exchange
will be In front of the Statehouse, where
the incoming riders will be met by the
next relay. and the Kentucky message
fastened toward it's destination. The men
who have just arrived will then proceed at
once to the residence of Governor Mat
thews, where the letter from the Governor
of the Common wealth of Illinois will be
handed him.
Preparations along the road are all as
perfect as can be. as far. at least, as the re-
laye of the Indianapolis riders are con-
cerned. The riders coming to their sta
tions to wait for the oncoming relays have
been instructed to build bontires in the
road. so that the approaching wheelmen
will know where their SUCCESSORS are, and
no moment will be lost through any mis-
understanding as TO the place OF meeting.
The city of Rockville promises to turn out
en- masse to see the riders 90 through. and
will build q bonfire on her public square
which can be seen for miles around.
The management of the entire ride is in
the hands of A. A. BilliDgsly, Woe consul
OF the Illinois division. and each district
has Its particular head.