The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-14
RIDING FOR THE CHINESE.
The American Bicyclers in Asia Give
Exhibitions.


Exhibitions.
On entering a Chinese city we ALWAYS
made it rule to run rapidly through I'M
til we came to an inn, and then lock up
our wheels before the crowd could collect,
write Thomas G.. Allen, Jr., and William
l.. Sachtleben in The Century for Sep
TENDER, continuing their narrative of
Across Asia on a Bicycle" Urumtsi
however, was too large and intricate for
such a vancouver, We were obliged to
d1smount in the principal thoroughfare.
Inc excited thrOng pressed IN upon US
Among them was Chnaman who could
talk little Russian, and who undertook
TO direct US to a comfortable inn at the
far end of the city. The street parade
gathered to the inn yard an
to the whole community that
the foreign horses" had come. 1t
had been posted, we were told. a month
before, that two people of the new
world were coming through on '.strange
iron horses and every one was re-
quested not to modest them. BY this,
public curiosity was raised to the highest
pitch. When we returned from supper
at neighbOring restaurant, we were
treated to novel scene. The doors and
windows of our apartments had been
blocked with boxes bales of cotton, and
huge cart wheels to keep out the ire
pressible thrOng. Our host was agitated
to tears; he came out ringing his hands,
and urging upon us that any attempt on
our part TO enter would cause a rush that
would break his house down We listened
to his entreaties on the condition that we
should be allowed TO mount the roof with
ladder, to get away from the annoying
curiosity Of the crowd. There we sat
through the evening twilight, while the
crowd below, somewhat baked but not
discouraged, stood taking in every
move. Nightfall and a drilling rain
came at last to our relief.
The next morning a squad of soldiers
was dispatched to raise the siege, and at
the same time presents began to arrive
from the various officials, from the
tsOngtu, or yiceroy, down to the superin-
tendent of the local prisons. The matter
of how much to accept of the Chinese
presents, and how much to pay for 1t in
the way of tip to the bearer, is one of
the finest points of that finest of arts,
Chinese etiquette; and vet in the midst
of such an abundance and variety we
were hopelessly at sea. Fruits and teas
were brought, together with meats and
chickens, and even live sheep. Our
Chinese visiting cards-with the Chinese
the great insignia of rank-were now re-
turned for those sent with the presents,
and the hour appointed for the exhibition
of our bicycles as requested.
Long before the time the streets and
hOusetops leading from the inn to the
viceroys palace at the far end of the city
began to fill with people, and soldiers
were detailed at our request to make an
opening for us to ride through abreast.
This, however, did not prevent the crowd
from pushing US against each other, or
sticking sticks in the wheels, or throwing
their hats and shoes in front of us as we
rode by.
When in sight of the viceroy's palace
they closed in on us entirely. 1t was the
worst jam we had ever been in. BY no
possibility could we mount our machines,
although the mob was growing more
and more impatient. They kept
shouting for us to ride, but would
give US no room. Those on the outside
pushed the inner ones against US. With
the greatest difficulty could we preserve
our equilibrium, and prevent the wheels
from being crushed as we surged along
toward the palace gate; while all the
time our Russian interpreter, Mafoo, on
horseback in front, continued to shout
and gesticulate in the widest manner
above their heads Twenty soldiers had
been stationed at the palace gate to keep
back the mob with cudgels. When we
reached them they pulled us and our
WDe6l5 quickly JuIOuRu IuGO bu0 lHClOS-
ure, and then tried to stem the tide by
beaboring the heads and shoulders in
reach, including those of our unfortunate
Interpreter, Matoo. But it was no use.
Everything was swept away before this
surging wave of humanity.
The viceroy himself, who now came out
to receive us, was powerless. All he
could do was to request them to make
room around the palace courtyard for the
IA fNafn Il
were uplifted that afternoon in praise of
the wonderful twee-tah-cheh, or tive
wheeled carts, as they witnessed our
modest attempt at trick riding and spe-
cial maneuvering. After refreshments in
the palace TO which we were invited by
the viceroy, we were counseled to leave
by rear door, and return by rounda-
bout way to the inn, leaving the mob to
wait till dark for our exit from the front.