The state herald., 1894-08-17
THE MESSAGE CAME.
FROM WASHINGTON TO DENVER
Tho Distance Covered In SIX Days, Ten
Hours and Thirty Seven Mintcs, Thir-
ty-Seyen Hours Ahead Of tic Schedule


The great relay bicycle race from
Washington to Denver, a distance Of
2,O37 miles, ended Mt 1887 p. m. Sun
day night, and the messages were de-
iivered to Governor Waite and General
McCook.
The messages were started frsm
Washington at noon Monday.
1t was calculated that eight
days would be required to
bring them to this city. Tho man
agement of the race was given
over to one prominent wheelman for
each state. These In turn divided the
states into districts and gave the dis
tricts into the hands Of local clubs.
Riders were selected to carry the pouch
for relays which have varied greatly
In length. In Ohio the best riding
was done. There the messages were
taken over the entire state in the night
time at the rate Of 20 miles an hour
for $50 miles. This was done by short
relays. In Indiana and Illinois the
relays We're made longer and the gain
on the schedule, while still being niude
steadily, was not nearly so great as In
Ohio 1t was expected that no one
rider would carry the messages longer
than lie could keep going at bis best
speed. The scheme has been tolerably
well carried out except In few In
stances, when men carried the pouch
80 miles.
There We're messages III the pouch
from Cleveland's private secretary 10
Governor Waite, from General Greeley
Of the Signal Service department of
The United States army TO General Nc
Cook and from the Ganymede Bicycle
club of Council Bluffs to Governor
Waite. This last message was insert
cd in tiic rr:cuch at that city and label
cd Another chunk of icci" !!s subject
being the coOlness OF tic presidential
greeting to the governor Of Colorado.
These messages We're carried 2,031
miles In n little leather pouch slung
over the shoulder OF the wheclman,
who rushed Mt his best speed over
whatever roads he found before him.
The pouch was transferred from rider
to rider without loss OF moments
thit piutt, anu II htNtt
beeh opened from tho time it left
Washington ut noon last Monday. The
relay riders carried the pouch through
Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Vir-
ginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Nebraska and Colorado. Good roads
were encountered nearly the whole
tourney. Until the plains of Western
Nebraska were reached there were no
accidents, save once when John Al
bertson fell from his wheel In faint
near Wheeling. But terrible storm
with sand and ii hot wind and finally
rain came upon the men who were
riding between Ogalalla and Juies-
burg on Saturday night
The roads have been good generally,
though much dust has been encount-
cred In Nebraska, Notwithstanding
this, however. the gain on the schedule
has been made steadily. The best men
have been picked for the work, and
tremendous efforts have been made 10
cut down the time.
The towns are far apart In Nebraska
and there is little In the character of
the country to cheer on q tired and
thirsty rider, but the Nebraska men
kept going, nevertheless. and delivered
the messages TO the Cheyenne men At
Julesburg In good time.
The messages reached Cheyenne at
$3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon, nn,.'
We're taken in hand by the Greeley
men. 8. II reached Greeley at 7:t0
O'Clock. The men OF that town did
well. taking the pouch the fifty-nine
miles In three hours and .l'irty-six
minutes over roads which were mostly
two narrow ruts In n grassy path
across the plains At Greeley the Den
yer men wera ready. aud the fifty.
seven miles TO Denver warr covered
In three hours and twenty-five inln.
utcs. This Is exceedingly good time,
for while the roads were good II was n
night ride entirely and the riders had
TO plunge recklcssly through the dark.
ness. rlsking every moment n puncture
or wreck.
The last rider, George l.. Mccarthy
rode through q great crowd 10 the
court house steps, where Governor
Waite and General McCook stood
ready TO receive the messages.
The message TO the governor read:
Washington, Aug. q.
To the Governor OF Colorado-Slr
AT the request OF the League OF Ameri
can Wheelmcn, the president directs
me to herewith Inclose the Itinerary OF
proposed journey from Washington
ID. c., to Denver. Colo, by bicycle. by
the programme fixed the messenger
will leave the executive mansion ut /.
o'clock noon, to-day. aud II Is expected
that tho inclosed will be delivered b,
relays to You NJ Denver on the 1itl
inst, at noon. Respectfully.
HENRY 4. THuRBER.
Private Secretary.