The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-18
AN OCToGENARIAN sooRCHER.
Miss Yates Claims to he the Oldest
WheeIwoman ON the Pacific Const.

Miss Yates Claims to he the Oldest
WheeIwomRn ON the Pacific Coast.
From the San francisco Examiner.
Miss Christina Z. Yates claims the dis
tinction Of being the Oldest wheelwoman
in the state. She is proud OF the record
she has made awheel, and stands ready
to meet any woman OF her age or tho
coast, either in a contest of slkillful rid
ing or as a matter of endurance. Miss
Yates is 50 years old. She says that age
does not count when IL comes to riding
a bicycle. She can wheel her way over
the toughest roads, and seldom gets
weary
Miss Yates resides at 800 Grove street.
Oakland where she can be seen almost
any day going out for her exercise. She
gave an exhibition Of riding yesterday
morning in Jefferson park, Oakland, in
the presence of a number Of people. The
way she sailed around the paths and cut
the figure eight with the wheel was
revelation to a few young damsels who
had been inclined TO make some fun OF
the aged cycler. But Miss Yates does noe
fear the smiles of the younger members
of her sex. On the contrary, she enjoys
attracting some attention, and is pleased
to be recognized as the champion old lady
rider
Miss Yates had for an escort yesterday
e. G.. Wilbur, the man who can stand
on his head while riding a wheel. Some-
times, by way OF a change, Mr. Wilbur
takes a trip into the country, riding ON
| single railroad rail in order 20 astonish
the natives. II was under the care of Mr..
Wilbur that Miss Yates first learned 10
ride a wheel She has made such a sue
cess that her teacher will now show her
how TO become a trick rider. The old
lady has never been timed on any of her
trips, and consequently has not established
a time record but she will do SO before
long.
Miss Yates does not like boomers. She
does not believe they are just the proper
thing, and so refuses to wear them. Elk
perlence has taught her. she says, that a
light dress skirt does very well.
II believe / am the oldest woman bicy-
Gle rider on the coast" said Miss Yates.
after giving an exhibition OF her riding
and posing for her picture. 81 am proud
Of It, and ] intend to hold the record. L
do not believe there Is a woman Of my
age in the state who can Guido me in or
binary or trick riding. 1t was queer the
way I learned to ride. / saw a lot OF
these old gray-headed men around town
sailing along on wheels, and came to the
conclusion that there must be something
good in II. / said to myself, II an old
man can ride a wheel surely an old wO-
man can equal him. So l got a wheel and
commenced TO ride. and now here l am, a
maiden lady Of 80 years, and the champion
rider Of my sex as to age. In a short
time ! am going back to my old home in
Columbus, o., end I'm just going to as
tonish the natives. Won't the old boys
open their eyes when they see Christina
coming into town on a wheel and cutting
a figure eight on the way"
Wonderful old woman" said Mr.. Will
bur, after he had scorched around the
track with the old lady I'm chailenSa
her against anybody Of her age In the
state either as distance or trick rider.
/ don't believe there Is any old man OF
50 years who can beat her"