The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-03
"BIKING" IN CHINA,
ADVENTURES OF TWO A1IERI-
CAN BICYCLERS.
They Were Compelled to Dash Into
the Cities and Lock Up Their
Wheels to Escape Curl
GUS Natives.

" rapidly through until we
came to an inn, and then loch
up our wheels before the crowd could
collect, writes Thomas G.. Allen, Jr.,
and William L. Sachtleben in the Cen.
tury, continuing their narrative oi
"Across Asia on Bicycle. Urumtsi,
however, was too large and intricate
for such mannuver. We were
oblige to dismount in the principal
thoroughfare. The excited throng
pressed in upon us. Among them was
a Chinaman who could talk little
Russian, and who undertook to direct
us to comfortable inn at the far end
Of the city. This street parade gath
cred to the inn yard an overwhelming
mob, and announced to the whole
community that 'the foreign horse
had come. It had been posted, we
were told, month before, that "two
people of the new world" were coming
through on "strange iron horses, and
every one was requested not to molest
them. By this public curiosity was
raised to the highest pitch. When
We returned from supper at neigh
boring restaurant we were treated to
q novel scene. The doors and win
dows of our apartments had been
blocked with boxes, bales of cotton
and huge cart wheels to keep out the
irrepressible throng. Our host was
agitated to tears; he came out ring
inghis hands, and urging upon US that
any attempt on our part to enter
would cause q rush that would break
his house down. We listened to his
entreaties on the condition that We
should be allowed to mount to the
roof with a ladder, to get away from
the annoying curiosity Of the crowd.
There we sat through the evening twi-
light, while the crowd below, some
what balked but not discouraged,
stood taking in every move. Night
fall and drizSling rain came at last
to our relief.
The next morning q squad Of SOL
diers was despatched to raise the
siege, and at the same time presents
began 20 arrive from the various off,
cials, from the Tsongtu, or viceroy,
down to the superintendent OF the
local prisons. The matter of how
much to accept of Chinese present,
and how much to pay for it, in the
way of tip to the bearer, is one of
the finest points of that finest of fine
arts, Chinese etiquette; and yet in
the midst of such an abundance and
variety we were hopelessly at sea.
Fruits and teas were brought, to-
gether with meats and chickens, and
even a live sheep. Our Chinese visit.
ing cards--with the Chinese the great
insignia of rank-were now returned
for those sent with the presents, and
the hour appointed for the exhibition
of our bicycles as requested.
F. Long before the time, the streets
and housetops leading from the inn to
the viceroy'spalace at the far end of the
city began to fill with people, and SOL
diers were detailed at our request to
make an opening for US to ride through
abreast. This, however, did not pre-
vent 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 pal.
ace, 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 pre-
vent 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 gesticr-
lato in the widest manner above their
heads. Twenty soldiers had been Sta
toned at the palace gate to keep back
the mob with cudgels. When We
reached them they pulled us and our
wheels quickly through into the in
closure, and then tried to stem the
tide by belaboring the heads and
shoulders in reach, including those OF
our unfortunate interpreter, Mafoo.
But it was no use. Everything was
swept away before this surging wave
of humanity.
The yiceroy himself, who now came
out to receive US, was powerless. All
he could do was to request them to
make room around the palace court
yard for the coming exhibition. Thou.
sands of thumbs were uplifted that
afternoon, in praise of the wonderful
twee.tah-cheh, or two wheeled carts,
as they witnessed our modest attempt
at trick riding and special manauver'
inc. After refreshments in the pal.
ace, to which we were invited by the
viceroy, We were counseled to leave by
a rear door, and return by o round
about way to the inn, leaving the MOB
to wait till dark for our exit from the
front.