The herald., 1893-10-31
CHINESE TAKING TO THE WHEEL
Three Celestials who Will Enter
Racing Contests.
The Superstition Encountered by
Allen and Sachleteben.
Thanksgiving Day Races 10 BE En-
llvened by the Fook Broth
ers - Novel
Contest.

So far as known the sporting world
has never yet had the pleasure of wit
messing auch thing as Chinese BIZ
cycle race. Los Angeles has originated
such scheme end it will be carried out
at Athletic park on Thanksgiving day.
Such race would be novel in the
extreme. 1t will be probably the first
contest between Cinnamon on wheels
ever run in the United States, and will
create interest everywhere.
The coming race between the celestiala
makes conspicuous the fact that Chinese
as rule are very euperstitious regard
ing the wheel. Allen and Sachleteben,
the bicyclists who compassed the globe
on their silent steeds, tell remarkable
story OF superstition in the more remote
districts OF the Chinese empire through
which tney passed.
They say that ON more than one occa-
sion, when the wheelmen were entering
Chinese village, the inhabitants would
flee, apparently terror stricken. In
more civilized villages. the sons Of the
walled empire would congregate around
the invaders and do homage to them as
il they were gods from another world.
On several occasions the Chinese
swarmed around the cyclists 80 thick
that the two Americana had to appeal
to them like children to mother. Ther
lives were endangered at many of the
villages through which they passed.
The most memorable experiences OF
the two wheelmen in crossing the
Chinese empire is said by them to have
been at town whore they were com
mol nd 70 nx5u nxrh - -.
| The almond-eyed followers of Con-
fucius saw the men glide into the VII
lage. They at once thought, as did the
hero of Irving's Sleepy Hollow appari-
tion, that man and steed were one and
the same. Allen and his indomnitaps
companion were compelled to dismount
and explain by signs the wherefores OF
the thing" Not yet satisfied, the
heathens escorted the "where-am-I-at"
Americans to Il broad, nice field, where
they jabberingly explained that tho
wheels must be ridden for the amuse-
ment of the onlooking multitudes.
The lower caste of rice eaters present,
not wishing to show all the novel sxhi-
bition, sent for the high Chinese officials,
who III all their gorgeous toggery and
judicial dignity, pranced around the
scene like unto Mexican bull fighter in
the amphitheater. They could not with.
stand the effects Of the marvellous exhi-
bition, and showed their appreciation of
the bicycling feats by giving a Chinese
banquet in truly oriental etyle in honor
! OF the wonderful Americans.
Other equally interesting stories are
related by the globe circiera, which 90
to SHOW the superstition existing in the
remots segieNs Of China. Truly there
is an opportunity for enlightenment.
1t has been nearly two years since
these famous cyclists passed through
| the regions OF China where they on
countered such euperstitlon. AT tn.J
time the .'safety" was new thing, aud
it was not until year intec that tne
pneumatic tire WAS invented. Ailen
and Sachleteben never hsd the plea. ure
of mounting q pneumatic safety untit
they reached San Francisco. On their
oriental trip they used the old style
English, cushiun-tire safesy, which was
the best wheel known at the time. The
ordinary" had been in use many years,
but the riders found it impracticable to
use 1t. There were no bicycles to be
had in China.
Taking into consideration the fact
that the wheel is almost unknown in
that portion OF the orient, it is with
much interest that at least three China
men in Los Angeles have taken to the
wheel. Two of them have not only
been riding as e means of business but
of pleasure and racing. All and Wong
| Fook are the ceiestiais who have been
training for the races on Thanksgiving
day, and it is safe to assert that better
attraction cO1ld NOT have baen orOyned