Asheville daily citizen., 1894-11-24
RIDING FOR THE CHINESE.
Two American Bicyclers in Asia
Give Exhibitions.

Two American Bicyclers in Asia
Give Exhibitions.
They Were Compelled to Dash Into the
Cities and Lock Up Their Wheels to
Escape the Crowds of Curious NA-
tives Swarming After Them.
On entering a Chinese city we always
made it a rule to run rapidly through
until 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,
their narrative Of Across
Asia on Bicycle" Urumtsi, however,
was too large and intricate for such q
vancouver. We were obliged to dis
mount in the principal thoroughfare.
The excited throng pressed in upon us
Among them was Chinaman who
could talk q little Russian, and who
undertook to direct us to comfort
able inn at the far end Of the city.
This street parade gathered to the inn
yard an overwhelming mob, and an
nounced to the whole community that
foreign horses" had come. 1t had
been posted, we were told, month be.
fore, that "the new people of the
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 neighboring restaurant,
we were treated to a novel scene. The
doors and windows Of our apartments
had been blocked with boxes, bales OF
cotton, and huge cartwheels to keep
out the irrepressible throng Our host
was agitated to tears; he came out ring.
ing 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 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. Nightfall
and dizzling rain came at last to our
relief.
The newt morning n souad OF soldiers
was DISPATCHED to raise the siege, and
at the same time presents began to ar.
rive from the various officials, from the
Tsonrtu. or yicerov. down to tho su.
per,ntendent Of tho local prisons. The
matter Of how much to accept of Chi.
nese 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 va.
riety we were hopelessly at sea. Fruits
and teas were brought, together with
meats and chickens, and even a live
sheep Our Chinese visiting-cards-
with the Chinese the great insignia OF
rank-were nov returned for those sent
with the presents, and the hour ap.
pointed for the exhibition Of our bi.
cycles as requested.
Long before the time, the streets and
housetops leading from the Inn to the
viceroy's palace at the far end Of the
city began to fill with people, and sol.
diers were detailed at our request to
make ON opening for us to ride through
ohroos+ ,rbis boroyar ala pot WA.
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 sioht Of the yicerov's palacc
they closed in on us entirely. II wa,
the worst lam we had ever been in. By
no possibility could wc mount our ma.
chimes, 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 pre-
serve our equilibrium and prevent the
wheels from being crushed as We
surged along toward the palace gate
while all the time our Russian inter
prefer, Mafoo, on horseback in front
continued to shout and gesticulate IL
the widest manner above their heads
Twenty soldiers had been placed at tn,
palace gate 70 keep back the mob will
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