Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-25
A HARD RIDE.
Gen. Mnes's Courier Tells His Experiences
on a Wheel.

Gen. Miles's Courier Tells His Experiences
on Wheel.
Chicago, June 24.-Private Alfred
Matthey. of the United States army,
who arrived here yesterday on a bicy-
Gle from Fort Hamilton, n. Y, In
speaking of hts trip said: Il have had
a hard ride. Several times it looked
as if l could not finish the trip. had
some experience or the journey which
will last me a lifetime. Gen. Miles
placed the dispatches in my hands at
o'clock on Monday morning, June 10.
L was Just at bugle call az the Fort
Hamilton, n. Y. barracks, that | made
the start. The day was very hot and
| suffered a great deal At Peekskill
| found that I could not proceed and |
rested until o'clock in the evening,
when I started on a night run. Not
being familiar with the road, which
was quite hilly, did not get along fast
enough to suit NE. On q long steep
grade l thought / would make up for
lost time and in doing so my wheel be-
came uncOntBollable. 4 sharp turn III
the road brought me in collision With
a tree and l was thrown several feet.
My foot caught on the seat Of the wheel
and the sole of the shoe was nearly torn
from its fastenings. was not hurt,
but my bicycle was, for l had sprung
the front wheel, Not caring to meet
with similar experience l camped out
for the night. sleeping on the ground
In my blanket with my revolver close
to my side.
at o'clock the next day, Tuesday,
June II. ! mounted the injured wheel
and found that ! could make good time
toward Poughkeepsie / reached Hud-
son about o'clock thoroughly tired,
for J had TO walk up many steep hills
during the day and push the wheel.
Wednesday morning, June Il, l
started at s. feeling quite fresh, but
the road was sandy and the travelling
slow. The rain came down in torrents
and was wet through. To add to my
troubles my wheel gave signs Of break
ing down. Travelling along the tow
path the canal boys threw stones at
ne. and not until ! drew my pistol did
they stop. The tires Of my wheel be-
gan 10 sink in the mud and | had to
give UP pedaling and carry the rig.
Soaking wet | walked into Amsterdam
with the wheel on my shoulder. | had
carried if four miles.
My fourth day commenced well. |
left Amsterdam at o'clock and made
good Roadway for several hours, when
! ran into an unsettled part Of the
country and literally lost myself. When
I did get my bearings l was near lion.
The road was so bad that / had TO walk
for six hours. Thursday, June IA,
left lion at ) o'clock for Rome, and
after a short rest there pushed on. l
reached Syracuse at 6 o'clock that
night. The forks Of the wheel were so
badly bent that I had to telegraph to
Ilion for z new frame. This caused mo
a delay until Saturday morning at 3
o'clock. Saturday l made the crack
run of the trip covering 135 miles.
That night | camped in an open field
near Lock Bedlin.
Sunday I rolled into Buffalo at 10 a.
m, where | repaired the tire Of the
rear wheel, which had been punctured.
Monday l left Buffalo at 5 and made a
good run to Erie, Pa, where | stopped
over night. Tuesday l left Erie at
$50 and made the run to Mentor, o.,
distance of rs miles. Wednesday |
left Mentor in a rain storm, which kept
ND the whole day. | made Clyde that
night.
Thursday. June 81 was another
rainy day. The road became so bad
that could not pedal on the main
thoroughfare, so I tried it between the
tracks of the railroad. and for ten miles
into Toledo travelled over ties. II was
ioltv at best After a short stop | con-
t,nued to Delta. where I stopped. !
left Delta at 6 in the morning. and
made 7O-mile run TO Brimtield. Sat
urday left Brimfeld at 4:45 and hoped
TO make Chicago by night only sue
ceeded IN getting to La Porte, Ind.
Yesterday I left La Porte ct 4:O5 and
had good run into Chicago.
Mattbev carried 80 pounds Of bag
gage ond rode 2S-pound bicycle. He
says that when he makes the trip again
he will not carry any baggage, as it is a
great hindrance in travelling up grades.
"Tbese are hard times" said the
thief, as he dropped a couple of clocks
and picked them up unbroken.-Syra-
cuse Post.
e%He's a-workin' for the man that
wrote his graduation speech. Atlanta
Constitution.
father saw you kiss my daughter
last night sir, and
Young Mani beg your pardon, you
did not.
Father-But I say ! did.
Young Man-And | insist you did
not. We had the gas turned off-De-
troit Free Press.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS