The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-01
ONE IMMENSE SW ARM
MiSsOula Has tie Bicycle Fever as
Well as The Trilby Crazs.
WHEELS IN EVERY QUARTER
The Venerable Or. ives Finds Com
fcrt on a Bike Ladies' and
Young Boys Ride, Ioo-At
the Jew rk-Cosslp.


Missoula, April 3O.-The bicycle fever
has reached a stage in this city that no
one thought was possible. 1t is the one
absorbing passion and divides honors
with the Trilby dance in its hold on the
public. There is no hour of the day
that there cannot be seen on the streets
lot of the machines going at all rates
or speed and in all directions. The re-
cent converts to wheeling in this town
include the bench. the bar the medi-
cal profession, the clergy and business
men galore They are all enthusiasts
on the subject. Dr. Buckley, who is one
or the new riders. said to a Standard
man the other day: THE only Trims
about this thing that l do not like is
the thought that have been so long
without riding. ! might have had sew
eral years of the enjoyment of the
wheel that can never make up for.
think that IL is one of the best forms
OF exercise, and IL is adapted to all
people" Rev. II. III. Sawyer has be-
come an expert wheelman and Judge
Woody now rides as fearlessly as a boy
All of these are new riders and all are
pleased with their recently acquired
accomplishment. The local dealers In
wheels view with satisfaction the rap
Id spread of the wheelmen's fever and
they are ordering wheels as fast as
they can.
Missoula has probably the oledst rid
er In the state If not i'm the country. He
is the venerable Dr. Ives. who is nearly
80 years old, but who rides with all the
enjoyment of a youth. 1t is true that
he does not scorch much but he rides
along at good gait and covers the
ground with ease. He is an enthusiast
on the subject of wheeling and thinks
that IL is one of the best forms of ex-
ercise He rides to and from his home
and is able to come to town oftener
than he would If he had TO walk In
the line of juvenile riders this town has
Its share and some of them are ex-
perts. There are several of the lads
that are not more than years old, and
when they cannot get a wheel that will
Mt them they take big one and kick
the pedals as they come around. They
make good progress and are not at all
inconvenience by the fact that their
feet are not on the pedals except for a
minute. In the list between these two
extremes there are men and women OF
all ages and Of all occupations. Some
ride simply for pleasure and some ride
as matter Of business. Some ride to
get thin and some ride to get stout
All of them are confident that the
wheel will do all that they want IL to
and they ride persistently. There is
some disappointment that the reduc-
tion in waist measure does not come
at once and some who have not ac-
complished all that they desire in this
direction are seriously thinking of TAX
ing a course in handsprings as was
suggested in the Standard a few days |
ago
Miles Mix says that hts wife is the |
most enthusiastic rider in town and he |
stands ready to prove It, When Mrs |
Mix was in the East she purchased a |
handsome bicycle costume. 1t is not "a |
gaudy affair but is the latest thing in /
wheeling costumes and its owner was |
justly proud of it, When Mr. and Mrs |
Mix came to start for home. they had
not much time to get ready in The de-
termination to start was made quickly |
and there was little time in which 10
pack their trunks. While they were
rushing around to get things in shane.
Mrs. Mix called out: Leave out any
thing that you want TO but don't for
get to put in my bicycle suit" The
suit was the first thing that was put
into the trunk and after that had been
done its owner lost all interest in the
preparation for departure.
Local wheelmen and fremen are
reading with interest a description In
the Scientific American of a new bicy-
cle fire engine that is in use in France
IL Is propelled by four men on two tam
dems that are coupled together and
mat carry between them the hose reel
and small rotary pump that throws !
a stream sufficient TO control any ordi-
nary fire. The machine is so light and !
so easily propelled that IL can beat an
ordinary team of horses in getting TO a
fire and is a wonder in small towns
that have been using hand engines.
When the scene Of fire is reached the
1OG &c rlIr qrf nd "a, 81.
cal contrivance throws the running
gear in connection with the pump The
men spring to their saddles again and
pedal as IL they were going a mile a
minute. This works the pump and a
stream is thrown that is more effective
than any that has ever been attained
by a hand engine. The contrivance
looks all right on paper and IL is said
that IL has been satisfactory in actual
use.
The new athletic park Is the Mecca
OF all wheelmen on their evening spins
and all OF them are enthusiastic over
the prospect of a good track which
they will surely have as soon as the
work that Is now under way IS finish |
ed. The boys are not only gratified by
the excellent progress that is being
made on the track but they appreciate ,
the aid that they have received wher-
ever they have asked for IL. There has
been no unwillinRness on the part OF |
anyone 10 assist in the matter and il
Is due to this general support of the |
plan that IL has been so successful and
that this town is to have the best track ,
in the state. There will be a jubilee ,
when the work is finished and Missoula
will probably develop a lot Of record ,
breakers. There will be an opportunity :
OF settling the much disputed question
of the local championship then and the ,
races will be interesting from a local :
standpoint. =