The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-06
The Ride From Washington
to Denver Started by
French and Ronsa-
vile.
PRESIDENT CLEyRLAND'S LETTER
The Wheelmen Will Carry 1t to
the Governor of Colo
radO.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 1S94-A relay
bicycle race was never started in fairer
weather than that which favored the first
stage of the big relay run from the
White House at Washington to the
Capitol at Denver, Col, two thous-
and and thirty y-seven miIes,-which be-
gan at noon today. The letter which
was entrusted to the riders from the White
House was addressed simply to THE Gov
ernor of Colorado" +" without mentioning the
name of the executive of that State, and
was. signed by President Cleveland's private
secretary 1t was in typewriting ona sheet
of note paper, and its text was as fol-
lows
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, DC,
Aug. 6, 1894.
Sir,-At the request of the League or
American Wheelmen, the President directs
me to herewith enclose the itinerary OF a
proposed Journey from Washington, Dc,
to Denver, Colo. by bicycle. BY the pro
gramme fixed the messengers will leave the
Executive Mansion at twelve o'clock noon
today, and it is expected that the enclosed
will be delivered by relays to you at Denver
on the 14th inst at noon
Respectfully, HENRY 7. THUHBER,
Private Secretary.
To the Governor, Denver, Col.
THE START.
The start was made from under the Porte
Cochere of the main entrance of the w h1te
House. The first two relay riders being
Chief Consul French of the National League
and Private Ronsayille of the Washing
ton Road Club. The time ball ON the War
Department, which was the signal for the
start had hardly reached the bottom OF the
staff before the riders were out of the White
House grounds, and they turned the first
street corner amid cheers of the bystanders.
About twenty cyclists accompanied the two
message bearers, and there was lively race
for the first relay post, one mile distant.
The two cyclists were clad in blue serge
coat, with grey stockings and breeches, and
the wheels used were ''Safeties" of the latest
make
Just before the start was made Repre-
sentative Springer of Illinois handed Mr..
French a letter addressed to "Arthur ID.
Black the manager of the trip at Jackson
vile, Ill, expressing the hope that neat
record would be made. message for
Brigadier General A. Med. MeCook, COM
manCing the Department of Colorado, at
Denver, from General Greeley. chief Oh
| the Signal Office. War Department, was
| also given to Mr.. French. and the three mis-
sives were wrapped together in oil paper and
placed in letter pouch, which was thrown
| across the riders shoulders. The. President
| did not witness the start, but sent his letter
out by the Chief Usner of the White House.
| Several Congressman saw the start
THE COURSE.
| The itinerY is as follows:-Aug. 9, Wash
| ington, Hagerstown, Md; Aug. Z, Cumber-
| land Md, Wheeling, W. Va, change from
| Eastern to Central time of one hour,
| and GAINESVILLE, Ohio; Aug. s, Ohio
Indiana line; Aug 9, indianapolis,
Charlottesville, Ind, Danville, III,
Bemont, ILL.,. Aug. 10, Iliopolis, III,
Jacksonville, III; Rushville, III; Roseyille,
| H., Burlington, Ia; Mount Pleasant, Ia,
and Fairfield, la. August II, Oskaloosa, Ia
| Prairie City, Ia; Stuart, Ia; Atlantic, la.,
| and Omaha, Neb. August II, Ere
mont, Neb; Schuyler, Neb:; Column
bus Neb; Central City, Neb.; Grand
Island Neb. and Kearney, Neb-, Ccentral
| time changed to mountain time, one hour
| August 13, North Platte, Neb., and Jules
| bugh, Col: August IA, Cheyenne, Wyo.;
Greely, Col, and Denver at noon.