The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-07
PORTLAND BIc4 GLE ACADEMY.
prospect of Novel Winter Attraction
Mr. chases Unique Bicycling Experience

"sos unique Bicycling IAPeiAeHoo
Ao Sne meeting ofEthe city government
MONDAY night, a petition from Alb.
ohase was received to erect wooden
pullolng at the corner of Mellen and
for"ahu streets, 100 feet long, lo0 feet
wide, and 10 feet high, to be used as
bicycle riding school. -.c-
Inc possibility OF such an establish
inent IN this city is exciting good deal
Oh interest among the wheelmen, and.
many OF the most prominent are enthu-
slastlc about it. The building will cost
abo ut $4,000, and MIR. Chase hopes to sell
enough stock at $40 share to carry the
project to successful issue.
Around the outer side of the interior
OF the building there will be track of
smooth floor, 25 feet wide and $50 feet
IN circumference.
can be placed along the middle of the
track, dividing it into two narrower
tracks. On the shorter, inside track
should the place be crowded in the eve
nlngs, the novices can tumble about
as much as they please, while the others
can ride around on the outer track. OF
course the entire track will be in use in
case of races.
John Calvin Stevens is making the
plans for the building,
In connection with this project lit is
interesting to recall peculiar bicycling
experience of Mr.. Chase, the young man
who is pushing the enterprise. Six
years ago he sailed from Portland in the
lumber schooner Norena, of which his
father was captain, bound for Guada-
loupe, and took his 56-inch high wheel
bicycle with him. When they arrived
there, at the city of Pointe-a-P itre, the
customs officers came aboa I'd, and when
they saw the bicycle asked what it was
as they had never seen one before
He rode it about the deck, and filled
the officials with establishment and de-
light. Later he went ashore, dressed in
his bicycle suit. The city is about as
large as Portland, and there had never
been bicycle there before. Most of the
people both Europeans and natives, had
never even heard of one.
A large crowd followed him about the
streets, and for the time being he was
the most important person on the whole
island.
Several of the merchants asked him
to give public exhibition in riding the
queer machine He agreed to do so, and
the next day. on Fene of the widest
Streets in the presencea of ali the people
that could5'get near enough.to see, he
mounted and dismounted, and rode fast
and slow, and cut figure Fights and per-
formed various little tricks to the great
amazement and delight of,the spectators.
The roads on the island are very
smooth, and when Mr.. Chase was chal-
lenged to race famous saddle horse
from Point-a-Pitre to the Moule,"a dis
tance of 80 miles, he agreed to do it.
One day, before the time set for the
race, he was riding outside the city,
when the famous horse came in sight,
mounted by its owner.
OF course there was race immediate
ly, and away they started across the
OOuuptJs Ab uu6 uFsb OI III GQ6 morse
galloped ahead with fine burst of
speed, and Mr.. Chase decided to let him
go, knowing that at a long hill ahead
he could easily catch up, and at the same
time have good rest on the coast. Ar
rived at the top of the hill he threw his
legs over the handle-bar, and went
down like flash.
At the end-ofaabout.tefi miles the reek-
ing horse was e,tiEed bit, and the wheel
man returned To the City far in the lead.
Asa result ofithis trial the horseman
backed out of the proposed race.
AS the owner of the bicycle, Mr.. Chase
became quite the hero of the city, and
was overwhelmed with invitations from
the leading people to dine with them,
ETC., and also with offers to buy the ma