The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-12

adolescent Californian to gray-haired, dig
nifed Judges and business men, with
heterogeneous mass of all sorts of citizens
thrown in between. That 1t is on the in
crease is evident by the scores of new
wheels that fash in the sunlight each sue
cessive Sunday.
Where year ago riders could be counted
by the dozen they are now to be seen by
the hundred, and it is prophesied by the
park policemen that, if the fever increases
much more, equipages with horses at
tached will be novelty in the park paths.
Yesterday there was not only an unusual
turning out of wheelmen, but there were
many new faces to be seen-riders who
had just mastered the intricacies of bal
ancing themselves, and had not been
seen before outside the precincts of their
training school. Then, too, many of these
new riders were men of prominence in
business and social circles and in official
life. 1t was interesting to note their styles
of riding, their varied costumes and as
sorted brands of bicycles.
One of the new riders who created some
what of a sensation in the charmed cir
Gle" of the park was Clement Bennett, the
stenographer of the United States courts.
He was guided around by chaperon, who
gave the novice all sorts of instructions rs
to how to become graceful "biker." Not
withstanding the repeated assertions of his
trainer that he was not in a buggy, Mr..
Bennett insisted on leaning back in his
seat, thereby throwing well-rounded con-
tour against the atmosphere. He expects
to be able ito go it alone" after about five
more lessons. Two other amateurs were
noticed practicing in side path, where they
thought they were secure from observa-
ton. One was Adoiph bunker, brother of
the Supervisor, and the other was BILLY"
Koch, the well-known painter, who at one
man. Neither has intimated to his closest
friends that he is learning to ride or that
he is the owner of gorgeous brown knicker-
bockers.
The members of the Red Rock Cycling
Club were out in force yesterday. 1t is
made up of prominent men about tow n
and all its members are enthusiastic
"bikers." Rome Harris is the captain,
and he and Bill Harrison cut wide
swath along the highways. candy" Smith,
the renowned pacemaker, who has Har-
rison in training for five-mile spin against
time, followed them with Michael Lynch,
also a promising record-breaker. Other
members of the club who were out yester-
day were Jim Chesie, Jack Dean, Pop
Sullivan, w. w. Naughton, Fred Mackey,
Louis Stockheiser, Charley Martin, Dan
O'Connell, the local bard of Erin, Oscar
Tollie, Tom Flynn, the journalist James
Gilman, Larry Flanagan, Fred Mulhol-
land, the oracle of the Bay District Race
Track Thomas Boyle, the whirlwind rider
of THE CALL office, Billy Driscoll, Ned
Lanigan. Healy Davis, Tom Quinn, Bob
Barton, Charley Flynn, Eddie Moran,
Dick Sparks and others.
The police force IS well represented
among the sufferers from the fever. Police
Sergeant John Martin, who has been
riding for some time, has reduced his
weight from 225 to ia pounds. Urged on
by the same motive Sergeant Michael
Joseph Conboy practices daily, but he is
still rotund. Then there are Officers Peter
Richter and Jerry Oman, who push the
wheel There are others, too, who are
practicing, but have not yet appeared i'll
public.
Many members of the San Francisco
Stock and Exchange Board have ceased to
go out in buggiess on Sundays, and have
taken to the wheel. Those to be seen most
are o. V. Walker, the caller; ]. M. Shot
well. C. E. Paxton, H. H. Shinn, Bert
Coffin, Ed Cahill and A. Mcdonald.
AS relaxation from judicial du ties the
Judges of the Superior and police courts
are interesting themselves in cycling.
There are Judges Campbell, Conlan, Barry
and Trout, already experts, and it is
rumored that Judges Murphy, Hunt,
Slack and several others are -practicing.
The boulevard by the beach down below
the life-saving station is becoming prac-
ticing school for beginners. They go out
early in the morning and begin their evo-
buttons, 1t was stated that among the
visitors yesterday were John Van Ber-
gen, well known in commercial circles,
and ex-Chief of Police T. G.. Cock
rill. John is getting to be quite expert
and he was showing the CHIEF chow to
straddle the Wheels Both were attired
in blue knickerbockers and pink sweaters,
with jaunty little caps perched on their
heads. Another addition to the ranks is
Henry Doscher, the proprietor of the Seal
Rock House, where the cyclers gather by
the score.
Ladies in bloomers are also increasing i'll
numbers at rapid pace. The ice has been
broken, and now the boomer craze is as
virulent as the bicycle fever.
Amateur Wheel Notes.
Charles Sullivan. James McEroy, Dave
Martin and Judge Barry contemplate