New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-20
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
ORIGIN OF THE MILITARY wHEELMEN's
ORGANIZATION.

QUESTIONS WHICH ACETATE THE L. A. VAN
ANONYMOUS ENTRY INTO FASHION
ABLE HOTEL-sTREET sPRINKL1NG.
The writer had pleasant chat with Captain
= T McCrystal and Sergeant Major II. J. Bar
ron. the organizers of the Military Wheeimen'
the other day. and their story in brief outline OF
how they conceived the idea Of the formation OF
the association will interest many people. Inc
CAPTAIN and l." said the major, had been talk
ing about the possibilities OF the bicycle IN the
Army and We made up our minds that the only
wav TO come 10 any definite satisfactory con-
clusion was 10 give the wheel practical test.
with two friends we arranged TO make tour TO
Montreal and back awheel. The start was made
on september 3. so you see that the conception OF
the idea and the formal organization Of the Mill
tarv Wheelmen were all brought about within SIX
weeks our comrades were two lawyers. and they
entered into the scheme with just as much gusto
nc did the captain and myself. We took the boat
10 Albany and wheeled from there TO fort Ed
ward a distance Of about fifty miles The next
day we made Lake George. and then on oy easy
stages TO Schroon Lake. We found the traVelllhg
rather billy most Of the way. We took the Ola
State road TO Cromwell Point, on Lake Chanl-
nlain. where met with a serious accident, and
the tour had to be abandoned there, as my COM
THE trip had lasted just five days continued
the major when ! received a nasty fall, which
broke nv arm. and | was hurried pack 10 NV
York 10 receive proper medical attendance. Inc
exnernent however had been entirely satisfac-
tory 10 the captain and myself, for our trip lor
the most part had been over rough ROADS. ana we
considered the experience a. particularly NaIu,
able. We had given the wheels severe test, ana ana
we found that they had withstood the oruedi
superbly. We found some places OF course
where we had 70 walk but we found also some
rlaces where IL was almost impossible 10 horses
and wagons. For observation purposes anu IoI
securing thorough knowledge or the country
,ve found that the bicycle was the thing. We
were right on the ground so 10 speak, ana we
were not likely TO forget what We saw. Inc UP
for pure enjoyment was huge success We a. nre
all convinced that the bicycle Will play an I'M,
nortant part in future military manoeuVres, ana
we are more than pleased at the livery lnterssI
that General Miles has taken in the work we
,rs, MANY obstacles when started in TO or
ganize the association. but happily we nave oeen
able TO get over them al and the future Oh our
orranization is assured The work OF organizing
tbe state divisions will begin at once. Military
men are slow to adopt an innovation can see
a wonderful field ahead TO- the bcycle' ana Ten
years from now the whole world VIII be on
wheels"
The racing situation is the one thing that IS
causing the thinking men If the League OF Amer
lean Wheelmen much solid thought Many OF the
best posted men in the organization have Wideiy
diversified views on the subject There are some
think
better condition Of affairs would be to reorganize
the League in its entirety. Isaac b. Potter mas
some radical views on the situation but the re-
forms that he suggests are so sweeping ana 50
thorough that the time may not be ripe JusI yet
for their adoption. The chief consul OF the otdts
believes that the headquarters Of the League OF
American Wheelnen should be In THIS cry anu
that the organization should have president or
manager. under salary, who could devote ms
whole time to the work before him In tnat way
the affairs Of the League could be nanuIeu IN d
businesslike way. something that Is pracucany
impossible under the present arrangement. Inc
League has outgrOwn Its swaddIng clothes anu
IL is now a national organization. me League Oh
American Wheelmen to-day and the League OF
even last year quite different Things
The suggestion however, that the League OF
American Wheelmen give UP the control OF rae
ing al this particular time seems to be il-advised
The time is not ripe for any such heroic meas
ures The racing affairs have been conducted IN
good shape this year Nobody can deny that-
But imagine the condition Of the sport this year
Il racing had not been under the protecting WINES
of the League Of American Wheelmen or some
other organization Of that sort The suggestion
that the Amateur Athletic Union take charge
OF bicycle racing Is not good one. The Amateur
Athletic Union mas all IL can do 10 look AFTER lhe
interests Of the field and track athletics Inc
racing question is nice one and II cannot DE
settled 0ffhand in day. The question now
ever should receive much attention at the next
annual convention of the League OF American
Wheemen. The BOarG Of Trade will nave much
70 do IN ultimately arriving at the exact status
Of the Glass b man Just soon as the manu-
factUrers abandon the plan Of paying their riuers
salaries the present three classes VIII De siIteu
down 70 tWO-amateur and prOfessional-Whlch
is undoubtedly the ideal condition anyway Inc
rider is either an amateur OF he Is professional
and he should be forced 10 sail under MS true
colors at all times.
Bicycling should and commonly does promote
temperance and the manly virtues. But 1t rails
sometimes, as the case Of chicago repor'e''
sent by d Journal OF that city TO put girdie
round the earth with has wheel, suifciently at
tests. When this swift-fiying emissary reached
san Francisco ne proceeded at once 10 load UP
with all the varieties Of dffusible stimulant
which the place afforded and TO hang up the
several purveyOTs Of them till MS aggregate s0oIe
anountedlto a sum which the trade couid no.
dHord 10 lose. Measures were then taken 10 en-
torce payment, but up 10 the GATE OF ths iates'
puiletins they had not been successful Inc ul-
fortunate cyclist had been punched ana pun
HeIed into a state Of partial coma by tne CON-
pahions OF his reyel and was In no cohuilIoh -
respond 10 the acquisitions MADE upon MN. 40
soon as he had deviated into one OF the Dy"ays
VI sooriety he took refuge with MS "Ie any
Wneel on board the steamer bound Tor Chiha Al
me last accounts he was barricaded In MS STATE
room MS creditors lining the wharves IN pia.oons
ana squadrons. and swearing IN every uiaiec'
snown 10 the locality. Although he starts our on
wv "heeis. ne is likely 10 come BACK on oIe re-
'oNlng beneath a wheelbarrow. Win hhli.ess
experience and unpaid grog bills In every IAN
suage. from China to Peru.
Inc experience Of the Brooklyn woman whose
nss broke when near Conev Island and VINO Ros