Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
|. A. W. ANNUAL MEET
Preparations Here and Elsewhere for
the Louisville Gathering;
WASHINGTON ROAD CLUBS RUN
Novelties in Bicycling That Are At
tracing Attention.
TO RACE A LOCOMOTIVE

Although nearly everybody IN awheel
these days. organized bicycling Is a very
dull subject. The midsummer seems to
paralyze the energies of the wheelmen from
a news point of view. quite as much as all
other classes of individuals, and as result
on the eve Of the annual meeting OF the
League of American Wheelmen bicycling
matters are at very low ebb. The local
leaguers will meet Monday night in the
Ad. Writers rooms, corner of 10th street
and Pennsylvania avenue, to transact sucn
business as may be necessary. and TO select
delegates to the L. A. w. meet at Louis
willie week from Monday.
The executive committee Of the L. A. w.
met Thursday In New York to make a pre-
liminary examination of the affairs of the
league before going to Louisville. Those
present were President Sterling Elliott of
Boston, First Vice President Charles F.
Cossum of Poughkeepsie and A. c. Morri-
son of Milwaukee. The treasurer's report
showed that the league had on hand July
l balance Of $14. 456. 49, more than double
the balance on hand at any other time in
the history of the league. and this figure.
1t Is expected, will be considerably raised
by the receipts Of July. The latest re-
turns from the secretary were to the effect
that the total membership was IL, 24l. while
portions that 1t is expected that $1,000 will
be enrolled by the end of this year. The
committee signed q contract with the
Spauldinss for the manufacture Of the L.
A. w. uniforms for period of three years
from August l, and 1t also voted to pur-
chase from Isaac v. Potter known among
wheelmen as the father Of good roads,"
the copyright, plates. etc, OF his two publ
cations. Country Roads and "Macadam."
The league will probably make free dis
tribution of these books in the future.
The Washington Road Club will take a
run Saturday to Harper's Ferry by the II
pm. train. and will ride from there to
Charlestown, Shepherdstown. Martinsburs
and return to the Ferry Tor the train home.
This run will be in charge Of the first lieu
tenant. w. j. Prince, as the captain Is out
OF town. The following have sgnified their
intention to go: Prince, w. j. Tubman c.
H. Cooke. W. J. Espey. r. Jose. c. I. Ron
saville, J. F. Murrill, A. c. Gensler. j. c.
Wood. A. w. Lecke, F. w. Moore. D. Sig
Quincy. E. c. Bowie. w. P. Bowie, A. H.
Wall. c. E. Wood. and by Saturday 1t is
expected to have forty members. Friends
of the club are invited to attend.
Mr.. A. II. Wall Is now training at the
track on the Conduit road. and shows good
signs OF being the best man in the District
of Columbia. He will be one Of the team
representing this club in the coming team
race.
Mr.. L; B. Graves. the newly elected presi-
dent, will preside at the meeting next We'd
nesday. The questions of boating and other
athletics will be discussed. Most of the
members are heartily in favor Of purchas-
Ing launch. and with that in view Messrs.
A. c. Gensler. Chas. E. Wood and c. I.
Ronsaville spent a day in looking through
Brewster's establishment (Tuesday) at Lo-
Gust Point, Baltimore. Not finding what
they desired they have arranged trip to
New York, where they hope to be able to
select one Rowing will also be INDUCED
In next season, and the club hopes to have
winning crew. 1t has ten men now
who with little training would make a
good appearance In the coming regatta.
The club will be represented at Louisville
by ten or fifteen members.
The local Christian Endeavorers are max
Ing good progress with their new cycle
organization which is one of the results of
the recent c. r. convention. The rams
that have fallen this week have interfered
somewhat with their runs, but 1t is certain
that before long the silver monogram will
be seen on the roads arolni Washington
IN large numbers as their wearers push
pedals in organized company through this
section. Mr. Muir has been obliged to re-
linquish the caDtaiEcy of the club on ac-
count OF his business engagements and 1t
Is thought that at the next Meeting Mr.
barry Kimball will be elected to succeed
him. There Is considerable talk of utilizing
the present organization as a sort of ex-
ecutlve committee for The whole BODY Of
G. E. riders In the District. who are esti-
mated to number fully $500. With this
material to draw from a monster organiza-
| ton could be perfected. and the discussion
among the original members OF the present
club bears on the question of how best to
utilize this strength. Probably q plan will
be adopted OF establishing separate divis-
ions. which could be consolidated on oc-
casion into a single body. making the
largest showing of any organization in this
part Of the country.
Hydrocycling is apt to become a very
popular sport in the near future among
wheelmen who are also fond of the wa
ter. AS connecting link between bicy-
cling end aquatics the new machine that
has this week made itc appearance on the
Potomac Is distinct success Already it
mas found Its way into favor among the
athletes of the river and in the evening
this strengthening craft, which some
what resembles swan in Its upper ap-
pearance, may be seen in the vicinity of
the Columbia boat house making really
excellent time up and down str e.m This
hydrocycle is built on the principle of a
catamaran. The floats are made of iron
pointed at one end and flattened at the
other for the accommodation Of the rud-
ders. Each float is divided into eight wa
ter-tfght compartments. and the whole af-
fair, wheel. bicycle attachment and ell
is go light that two men can lift # with
little trouble. It's great breadth of beam
and the peculiaritfeS of the catamaran con-
struction make it impossible to overturn
this strange craft. and during the first ex-
hib!tion on the river which took place las
Saturday, two men stood on the edge. or
rather on one Of the floats, and were I'M
able to sink that side to the water level
while the other float was not raised per-
ceptiby from the water. The motive pow
er Is furnished by means of pedal motion
communicated through a chain to paddle
wheel located at the stern Of the craft be-
tween the floats. The blades Of the pad
Gle are CT galvanized iron. and the whole
frame work Is light, but remarkably
strong. A curved guard protects the rider
from spray from the wheel. while a swan
shaped dashboard. as 1t might be called.
at tne DOW is designed to similarly pro-
!ect the passenger who sits in q chair in
1rsnt OF the saddle and pedals. The pas
serger may aid in the propulsion of the
craft by working hand levers that connect
with the pedals. The craft Is steered by a
Snort handle somewhat like the ordinary
plcycie par which connects with the rud-
ders by an ingenious arrangement Of wires
! whereby the boat can be steered by either
rudder blade should the other be disabled
me craft responds readily to the ruddcr
and can turn almost in it's own length. At
| the first trial last Saturday some difilcultv
II