The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-25
SOLDIERS On WHEELS
Rapid Trip of Seattle Guards
men to Olympia and Back,
DESPITE THE DUSTY ROADS.
Over Eleven Miles an Hour on the Re-
turn Welcomed by the Governor
and Their Comrades.

CORPORAL Combs and Private Bullock, OF
Company u, the bearers OF militia DIS
patches on bicycle 70 Tacoma and olympia
MADE an excellent record on their return
"trip yesterday. arriving home n me even
ing in good condition. They were But
eight hours and twenty-five minutes on
the road. and their cycl0meier registered
sevenfy-one miles. which would he Al the
rate of eleven and tgo-thtTds niles an
hour That this il a wonderfully good
record viii be especially appreciated oy
those bicyciists who have attempted any
part Of the route from here 70 me cspi'ai
city. Corporal Combs says the only fairly
good road on the trip Is the first part OF
that out Of Tacoma toward Olympia mat
between here and Tacoma he described as
a trail with stamps ia the center and deep
wagon ruts on either side OF hem, with
plenty OF rocks thrown in BOth
men rode Columbia racing wheels Of
eighteen pounds weight, which proved 10
be good roaasters.
The two men started from here AZ $50
on "Wednesday morning, and reached Ia
coma at 1870. delivering a dispatch TO
CAPT T. " Howell They left for Olympia
ST rs. and arrived there az 20 AdJt.
Gen. Routeiie who had received no al
vice as to the trip. was not In lis Office,
and therefore he ala not indorse heir dis
patch 10 him until 3.f5. Then the NO men
desired TO return. but the general OPP
posed this, on the ground that e would
serve no purpose In the test Of the useful
ness OF the bicycle for military purposes.
They telegraphed this 10 Capt. Frank r.
Adams. OF Company n. who had given
them the detail and he concurring IN the
opinion OF the adIutant general tney re-
manned over.
The blcyellsts were then introduced to
the governor. who looked over their ma
chimes ana equipment and was deeply IN
feresfed In the details OF their trip. es-
reciaiiy, as he remarked. that nc was
himself captain OF Company u only a few
years back. lie sent his congratulations
TO Capt Adams. his successor.
The admtant general sent a dispatch
conveying the tuiations OF the COM
mander-in-chief and his own. when the
mon left Olympia at $40 yesterday morn
ing They arrived al Tacoma at II ~.
there received Capt Howell's dispatch OF
congratulations. left for home at u. 30, and
reached the Armory at s15. The cyclom-
eter registered lf2 miles less about 100
yards for the whole trip.
on the trip out the men halted every
hour and made field notes Of the general
topography Of the country. hills. valleys,
farm houses and SO on. and Of the condi-
ton OF the road They carried. as de-
serihed in the Post-intellgencer. heavy
equipment. which altogether would weigh
about fifty pounds, and IN addition 20 this.
on their return trip from Tacoma they
brought go rounds OF ammunition. esti-
mated 10 Increase the load OF each man by
twenty pounds This has 20 be taken into
consideration with the exceedingly heavy
and deeply-dusty roads. when 'he excel
lent time OF the return Journey is Boted.
Captain Adams and many members OF
Company y were AT the srmory 10 see the
return of the bicycle detail. and give
them a shout Of welcome and congr1tula-
ton on their success.