Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-21
MANY WHEELMEN ON PARADE
The Silent Steed is the Centre
of Attraction.
ELABORATE AND UNIQUE RIGS
Citizens illuminate and Put Off
Fireworks.
Successful Ending of the Anniversary Of
the Wilmington Bicyoie Club-rrizes
Awarded to the Paraders Who ExceIled-
A Great Occasion.
somebody aid the wheeImen owned


thei'ty Monday evening, but such was
"a the case. Pedestrians had charge
OF everything sidewalks, street beds,
sewer excavations, porches, and all
kinds of elevations, while the wheel
men on parade had to navigate as best
they could. Ii was the annual parade
Of the Wilmington Bicycle Club, and
grand affair il was toI There were
just 237 riders in line. More than that
started, but that number finished,
which was indeed a task for some of
those vino had elaborate decorations.
More interest was taken in Monday
nights demonstration than any which
fahas ever been seen in Wilmington be-
J fore, and it compared favorably with
the parades which attract SO much at
tention in the great cities The club
under whose auspices the parade was
given was ably assisted by the Chester,
West Chester, Delaware, Barnes, War
wick and West End Clubs as we'll as
several individual riders vino do not
belong to any club, and the result was
gratifying. The weather was fine, and
the streets were in good condition.
The population of the city turned out
in large numbers to sec the paraders,
and although the latter were somewhat
handicapped, all were good natured
and happy TO feel that their friends
were watching them. Everybody APP
peared to want to contribute to the
success of tho affair, and the people on
the street did not Intentionally handi-
cap the participants, they only did SO
in their efforts to see tho whole thing
There were more elaborately deco
rated wheels than ever before took part
in parade in Wilmington, and the
decorations were more magnificent
Several riders had their eyes ON prizes,
and it is regretted by the Wilmington
club that they had no more prizes to
give Some who failed to win we're
deserving of great credit But their
main ambition, however, was to make
a nice appearance, which they did un-
doubtedly.
In addition to the men, there were a
number of ladies' and children in line,
who evidently enjoyed the fun as much
as the more experienced riders.
1t is thought that b. Raymon Foster
was the youngest and smallest rider in
the pa ade. He was dressed in a green
velvet suit and was decorated with
white and yellow chrysanthemums.
and rode on diminutive bicycle.
This little follow was one Of the heroes
of the occasion. He was born in Pasa
dena, CAL, November 1lth 1890, which
makes him just 5 years old. He has
travelled through the whole State of
California and crossed the Rockies He
passed six weeks on the Pacific shore
and was in San Diego when the gov
ernment cruiser Charleston was guard
ing the Chilean boat ITALIA, and he saw
them both. While he is yet quite
young, the little fellow is full of daring,
and quite an expert on the Wheel He
resides at No. 1904 Jefferson street.
While he did not capture prize he
captured the hearts of many of the
spectators by his pluelSy riding.
The boy who won the juvenile prize
was Richard w. Bond son of w. V.
Bond, who resides at No. 104 Madison
street. He is IL years of age, Will
mingtonian by birth and rode under
the colors of the Friends School. The
Leather Ranchero Mexican suit, which
was worn by the lad, was worn by his
father, 30 years ago, in Mexico. He
also started out with his fathers
manage it with the lights, on account
of it's size, and had 10 return ii and
get another. When the suit was worn
by the lads father 30 years ago, the
mule was the motive power, and not
the bicycle. n
There were several other boys who
should also be mentioned, but their
names could not be learned. Marshals
Bullock, Linton and Robinson were
very proud of their wards, and they
had just cause to be.
The ladies in line were all neatly
dressed, and their wheels were as at
tractive as their costumes.
But the great contest was among the
young men. Some spent weeks in
thinking up ideas and putting them
into shape. Many of the decorations
were original, and the riders deserve
great credit for their efforts. 1t would
take up too much space to give justice
TO the decorations which were on some
of the wheels and the costumes in
which tho men rode, but the displays
made by Frank Chapman, William l..
Bowers, George Stevens, Luther q.
johnson, j. \. Oliver, Jr., Walter
Marvel of Chester, George De Hegh,
Alfred Wade, Harry Bartram and
Robert Kemp on a tandem, and a num-
ber of others are worthy of special
mention, the details of which it is i'm
possible to give.
After the parade the following letter
was received from the judges:
Wilmington Bicycle ClubGentle-
utL Ilb HtlNNAtNA w JN''I'
the contestants in tho bicycle parade
held tonight, under your auspices,
have had no little difficulty in arriving
mt conclusion satisfactory to them
selves, but after taking into considera-
tion all of the facts--in which the con
dition of the various exhibits at the
beginning, during, and at the ending
of the parade had great weight-haye
come to the following conclusion:
''The first prize should be awarded
TO George Stevens; the second prize
10 w. n. Marvel; the comic prize tc
George Lockwood, and the children's
prize to the boy in the complete Mexi
can costume, whose name is unknown
10 us. THE lad was Richard w. Bondl.
"We also desire to give to your club
second comic prize, with the request
That it be given to Alfred Wade.
"We would also mako mention o
The following persons whose namei
we're considered by us in connection
with the award of the prizes but who
Tor various reusons wero not entitled
10 the prizes awarded: Frank Chap
nan, Harry Walker, William L.
Bowers and ]. A. Oliver.
'sWe also desire to congratulate yol
tpon tho auaaoaa of the parade Rnd th'