The Washington times., 1894-08-07
OFF FOR DISTANT DENVER
Presidents Message to Colorado's Coy
ernOr Conveyed by Bicyclists.
LOCAL MEN MADE FAST TINE
Start Took Place at Noon and Rapid Riding
on the Part Of Washington Riders Landed
the Message in Hagerstown Over Two
Hours Ahead of Scheduled Time.

Promptly with the fall Of the big black ball
yesterday Chief Consul George b. French
and c. /. Ronsaville, of the District OF Co
lumbia division of the L. A. W., started from
the roadway under the port cochere OF the
White House on the great bicycle relay race
from Washington to Denver to be run in con-
junction with the forthcoming l.. A. W. meet
at Denver
These two wheelmen bore letter from
Private Secretary Thurber to Governor Waite.
which is to be passed from bicyclist to bicy-
clist until it reaches its destination. The
message had been given the wheelmen shortly
before noon. and they were mounted on their
wheels waiting when the time ball fel l. and
they were pushed of on their run of one mile
to the outskirts of the city.
There was Il fair crowd of interested on
lockers. composed mainly OF visitors TO the
city who were inspecting the East Room at
the White House, number Of local cyclists.
and other persons who had congregated in
anticipation of the event. included in the lat
ter class being Representative Springer. of
the wheelmen. The letter borne by the BIZ
cyclists was as follows.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, August 6.
ITO the Governor of Colorado:
''SIR: At the request of the League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen. the President directs me to
herewith inclose the itinerary of proposed
journey from Washington, d. c., to Denver
Colo, by bicycle. BY the programme fixed
the messenger will leave the Executive Man
sion at II O'Clock noon to-day, and it is ex-
pected that the lnclosed will be delivered by
RELAYS to you at Denver ON the 1ith instant at
noon Respectfully, HENRY T. THURBER.
Private Secretary.
ITO the Governor, Denver, Colo"
GEN. GREELYs MESSAGE.
Mr.. French was also given letter directed
to Brig. Gen. A. D. McCook in command of
the Department of the Colorado, which was
written by General Greely several days before
he left Washington. and is as follows:
WASHINGTON CRY, Aug. 6. 1894.
Major General A. McD. McCooK. command
ing the Department ofthe Colorado, Den
yer, Colo:
"GENERAL-The chief signal officer of the
Army sends you official greeting in this mes
sage, which he hopes and believes will be
transmitted more than halfway across the
broad confines of the United States in shorter
time than has ever before been possible
through the physical efforts OF man alone
Undertakings ofthis character. which tax hu-
man endurance to the utmost for the pleasure
of success alone, and not for pecuniary re-
ward, augur we'll for the future of American
manhood and thus for American common
wealths and the Union which they constitute
Very truly yours, A. W. GREELY.
'BrigadierGeneral andChief Signal Officer,
US A."
Representative Springer, Of Illinois, has
taken deep interest in the race, and he has
intrusted to Mr.. French letter Of congratu-
lation to Mr.. Arthur D. Black, the manager OF
the relay at Jacksonville, Ills, through which
place the racers ere to pass.
RACE BEGUN IN EARNEST.
Consul French and companion conveyed the
message the first mile ofthe journey which was
to Fourteenth and r streets, where it was sur
rendered to two moro fleet riders, who made
a spurt of five miles. to the next relay post in
the country. The first thirty-eight miles was
covered by members OF the Washington Road
Club, and then the Georgetown Cycle Club
carried it Hagerstown, Nd. The full sched-
ule of the run is as follows: