Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-10-28
A BIKE IN A VALISE.
Coed Points Claimed for q Wheel In.
vented by Frenchman.

Coed Points Claimed for Wheel In.
vented by Frenchman.
A Frenchman named Leloup has in
vented bicycle that can be taken apart,
packed in valise and carried, as he in
sists, with ease and comfort whenever
the wheelman is travelling by rail. His
bicycle, too, has this advantage, that II
it breaks down on the road the wheel
man can uncouple the parts and carry
it slung over his shoulder. The machine
is not intended for racing or, indeed, for
very fast riding of any kind, but for or
binary road work.
In order to bring it within the COM
rass of a moderate-sized valise, he has
reduced the wheels to a diameter of
about 11% inches. The toothed wheel
which communicates the power from the
pedals is nearly as great as they IN
diameter. The horizontal bar is in two
parts that are made secure by means
of screws. When the machine is to be
packed this bar is unscrewed. The ma
chine is then in two parts. The saddle
is removed and the handles are taken
off. The four pieces are then easily
packed into valise measuring 2312 by
15A by little more than s 20 inches.
The whole weight of the machine is not
ore than 1874 pounds.
If the Wheelman riding Leloup's wheel
finds himself with a broken down ma
chine on the road he divides it as before
into four pieces, balances the parts aud
sings them over his shoulder by means
of padded strap carried for the pur-
pose. This, the inventor insists, is bet
ter than holding the machine upright
and trundling it. The machine can be
taken apart and put into the valise in
about two minutes, and can be removed
and made ready for use in about the
same time. AS pictured, it is rather an
awkward-looking contrivance, the small
ness of the wheels eXaggeratlng the
height of the saddle above them. The
pedals are so close to the ground that
the rider may at any time stop the ma
chine by putting foot to earth. 1t is
said that for this reason there is very
little danger of serious accidents with
the Leloup wheel AS to speed, it is as
serted that single revolution of the
pedals will drive the wheel fifteen feet
rapid wheeling. The machine is said to
be comparatively inexpensive. 1t is af.
6rmed that the cost of replacing the
small tire is much less than in the case
of a larger wheel.-New York Sun.
Was One Himself
When Gabe Bouck was a member of
Congress from the Oshkosh district in
Wisconsin a pension bill was before the
House that caused him considerable
yexation of spirit and tribulation, for
while his personal convictions were di-
rectly opposed to it, his personal inter-
ests were strong enough to whip him into
line, and when the bill came up for final
disposition Gabe voted with the majority
and the bill was passed. Gabe was
peculiar both in dress and looks. His
coat was always u blue swallowtail,
with brass buttons, and his eyes focused
from point about three inches from the
center of his nose But that didn't pre-
vent his carrying a very big heart, and
he always had scores of friends.
One day when the bill was up for con-
sideration the late Gen. Denver was
upon the floor of the House as an ex-
member from Ohio, and while passing
around in the rear of the seats on the
Republican side he met the Democratic
Gabe, who was walking back and forth,
gesticulating excitedly and bringing his
clenched right fist down into the hollow
of his left hand to the accompaniment
of explosives that would hardly look we'll
"What's the matter, Gabe; what's all
this excitement about?' questioned the
general, as Gabe let out an exceedingly
jagged cuss word.
''Troublem snorted Gabe, excitedly;
trouble enough! That pension bill is up
and all these cowardly nincompoops are
going to vote for it. It's sure to pass
sure to pass" and the irate states
man cavorted around like a wild bull
that had unexpectedly run afoul of a
red flag.
"But why don't you get the floor and
speak against it-try to stop it?' said
the general, trying to soothe the excited
congressman
'"Try to stop it?" said Gabe. ''Try to
stop it? Why, I'm one of the cowardly
nincompoops myselfw-W Star.