Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-06
r RACING BY RELAYS
Start of the Bicycle Squirt From Washing
ton to Denver
At Noon Today the Great Eight-Day
fully InnuRuratcd.

the entrance of the White House today
just as the big ball on the State, War eni
Navy department slid down to the roof to
announce the arrival OF the noon hour
They sped over the smooth concrete Of the
circular driveway at a 2:50 gait, cut OBJ
liquely across the avenue. and were lost to
sight In an instant behind the trees OF
Lafayette Square. Passers along looked at
them In open mouthed astonishment. ami
nervous pedestrians shook their heads at
the speed displayed and agreed that Com
missioner Powell was right in wishing to
limit the rate at which bicyciists shall be
allowed to go through the city streets. But
the men on the machines were out of eight
long before the astonishei or the critical
took second look. They we're bent on
business that needed the highest rate OF
raptdity that their muscles could pound
out. and even the most ultra champion Of
the proposed limitation of the speed of BIZ
cycles would have held his peace had he
known what the two men were about. The
fact Is that the riders were inauguratiny
the greatest relay race which has ever been
run In this or any other country so far as
distance is concerned, and they started on
the FIRST section OF ride that viii be con-
unuei by several hundred other bicyclsts
for the next eight days. The League OF
American Wheelnen is to shortly hold its
annual meeting in Denver, Col, and some
time ago the idea was conceived Of having
a relay race from this city to the capital
or the centennial state, in order 10 show
the practical uses to which the bicycle may
be put over long distances. Consequently
II was decided to request President Cleye-
land TO indtte message to Gov. Waite,
which the bicyclists would undertake TO
deliver. The President was agreeable TO
this and consequently ct noon today Chief
Consul French Of the District branch Of
tne League or American Wheelmen slowed
away In leather bag, which hung loosely
from strap drawn over his shoulder. a
communication which read as follows:
To the Governor of Colorado:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, August G.
Sir: AT the request OF the League Of
American Wheelmen. the President directs
me to herewith inclose the itinerary of a
proposed journey from Washington, d. c.,
TO Denver. Col. by bicycle. BY the pro-
gram fixed the messenger VIII leave the Ex-
ecutive Mansion at L. o'clock noon today
and 1t is expected that the inclosed will be
delivered by relays to you at Denver on the
18th instant at noon.
Respectfully,
HENRY T. THURBER,
Private Secretary
To the Governor. Denver, Col.
accompanying Mr.. French who also h.d
a letter from Brig. Gen. Greely of the signal
corps to Brig. Gen. A. Med. McCook. COM
manding the department Of the Colorado et
Denver, was Mr. c. ]. Ronsavllle, the can
tam or the Washington Road Club, under
the auspices Of which organization the 1rs,
tnirty-elsht miles Of the race will be cov-
ered The two gentlemen took the r,essa ges
as Ias as l!th and r streets. where two
more Heet riders were ready to make a spurt
OF fve miles to the next relay post in the
country. " vi"
Coz sui French quickly tossed the d,m,n-
1--we. LIVE man bag over the waiting riders
snouiotrs. and he and his companion were
on nke q Shot This plan will be continued
untii Denver is reached. and the relay dis
tahces OF five miles each will be covered by
rapid sprinters every inch OF the wav- A.
before stated, members OF the Wasbiny,on
ROAD CLUB VIII do the riding for the first
thlrty-eight miles from WASHINGTON. when
"a ose messages Will be given into the hands
or riders belonging 70 the Georyetoun Cycis
Club, who Will carry it by swift turns as
lar as Haserstown. There was Quite a
crowd at the White House to see the be-
n,ntns nam, q. OF the race. and some disappoint-
nor Start on the riders In person None OF
the official household however We're 5oun
stairs. except Capt. Dexter and Offcer Hol-
rnn,e rrnOerser. and one Of these officers handed
Consul French the message he was to starr
on its long journey. The letter from Gen
Greely to Gen. McCook was sealed ana tts
contents could not bo learned, but the fact
oi l,s oehVery to Mr.. French at II O'Clock
today was attested on its back hv Can't
* Robert Cr2tg. the acting chief signal offlcer
Representative Springer of illinois, WIZ Sas
o',s oaeen deep interest In the race. was pres
en. al the White House. ana gave nv
french letter of congratula lions 10 NJ
arthur ID. Black, the manager of the rei1x
VINO hVes at Jacksonville. ILL.,, tlrourb
which place the racers are To mass II
expected that Hagerstown. seventy-seyen
niles distant Will be reached at 5:as o'clocr
toClsht, ana Cumberland which e. I,sS ynII.as
o"' az 4'f' o'clock tomorrow morning.
The Schedule of the Run.
CHICAGO. August e.-Arthur n p,.o,,
OF jacksonville, vice consul Of the uI,no,s
division. has arranged O cchedule for Tho
Washington Denver relay, which ,,ar,.
to-day at noon. He figures that IL the roads
and weather are favorable tie time win
be beaten by twenty-four hours. The
schedule. showing the distance fro,., WASH
ihg'on' tine OF arrival at cities named and
the Gate, respectively, is rs follows: