New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
WHEELS RULED THE ROAD.
A GREAT PARADE AT THE OPENING OF
THE NEW CYCLE PATH.

THE DISPLAY ATTRACTED THRoNos OF sPEcTA-
ToRs-oDD AND INTERESTING FEATURES
CRUSH AT THE REVIEWING STAND.
No citizen of Brooklyn yesterday was 60 potent
as the paradng wheelman
1t was the cyclers day, and thousands OF the
craft paraded in honor OF the opening OF the new
return cycle path to Coney Island, which Timothy
L. Woodruff. the wheelman's new patron saint,
ha, caused to be constructed for his especial
benefit.
No fairer day than yesterday could have been
chosen for such a momentous event. Old Sol.
as II ashamed OF hiding during the preceding
two or three days gave every early riser here
abouts ample promise that the day would be
one that wheelmen delight In. AS the day ad-
vanced light breeze sprang up. and taking all
conditions together. there was nothing that the
crankiest weather fend could find to complain or
Long before the parade started the various
thoroughfares on the line of march began 10 NIL
up with people OF all sorts and conditions. They
streamed from everywhere. even from New-Jer-
sey and Staten Island, while New-York sent a
large contingent. while Brooklyn and the smaller
nearby towns of Long Island sent many more
to the tune OF thousands. At Bedford-ave. and
Eastern Parkway. where the parade started, was
a great crowd; at the entrance to the park was
another with hundreds OF vehicles thrown In,
and at the reviewing stand. where the Elders OF
| the city and the chiefs and head men OF the
bicycle tribe held forth in Judgment was still an
other OF more beauty and variety and pronn-
nence than at the other two vantage points. and
| between them and beyond them was multitude
strung out for miles which waited for hours and
| hours to see the greatest bicycle demonstration
that Brooklyn ever had. 1t sight to see,
was this crowd and in many respects as inter-
esting as the parade itself. 1t was just such
crowd that takes equal delight in a circus or a
Sunday-school parade, big funeral or a cycle
parade and was equally at home IN its demeanor
toward another The philosophy of such
a gathering and its comments upon the passing
show are some Of the most interesting parts Of
| public function, and It is Just these parts OF
which contemporaneous history Is silent and It
must continue to be largely so, because the crowd
is the background. but none the less absorbing
| for all that.
The wheelmen and their fair consorts began
to gather at noon. Park Commissioner Wood
ruff established his headquarters at Bedford
Rest the corner Of Bedford-ave and Eastern
Parkway and to him and his large staff OF aids
the various clubs reported for their assignment
in line. Mr.. Woodruff attired In the uni
form Of the Brooklyn Bicycle Club, and rides
the wheel just the same as he rides a horse-at
| once grdCeIul ana entHuSldStiC anu VI
energy. Andrew Peters, a cyclist Of heroic
mould, was Mr.. Woodruff's chief Of staff. and
Wyllys Terry. w. r. Pittman and Alexander
Schwalbach assisted marshas. The aids
were James NJ. Fuller Frederick Mitchell Mum
roe, w f. o. Bebee. Frank p Shane, Lemuel
c. Benedict, d. B. Van Week. E. H. Walker,
G. F. Stringer. c. G.. Balmanno, William T.
Nottingham, George T. Stebbins, H. L. Salton-
| stall, H. B. Fullerton. w. A. Boyer. w. h. Ed
gerley. Fraser Sinclair. Wilson S. Lewis Fred
erick r. Morse, Frederick B. Studwell, John
Clslfn Thompson. Arthur NJ Aten, Robert
Smith, J. J. villers. jr F. C. Rhodes, w E. SEQ
field E. W. Mesereau, Charles F. Littel, NJ. NJ.
Bedding. jr., Elliott Burris. C. D. smthers. II. r.
Brown George Jarvie L. c. Harper and ]. Z.
Whitt1esey.
When the order was given to start at o'clock
there were fully 10000 cyclists in line. The first
and second divisions started from the neighbour
hood Of headquarters and proceeded to the
Plaza, where the third division of unattached
wheelmen and scattering clubs fell IN
Twelve Park policemen. under Captain Nc
Namara led the way. and the "coppers" were by
no means the least attractive sight OF the wheel
ers The policemen were followed by tandems
and triple wheels whose riders carried the
American colors, with the flags OF the Good
| Roads Association and the League OF American
| Wheelmen The Brooklyn Bicycle Club. as the
| oldest organization of the sort in the city, had
the right Of line. The club rode In Columns
OF fours in excellent alignment The members
were dressed in white duck trousers blue coats
and caps, and there that about Brooklyns
ancient and honorable bicycle corps which
brought forth applause at many points along the
line. especially where the pretty girls stood
deepest Some Of the clubs came along In ex-
cellent military order while others rode along
any old way, to speak. In beautiful disorder'
THE JAM AT THE GRANDsrAND.
II was at the grandstand where the greatest
crush had gathered Vehicles and people were
hacked In together like sardines In box so
great was the crowd that two light vehicles were
smashed as the parade was passing ana a man
and women were slightly injured. Several wheel
men, too, had their wheels broken. But this was
only an incident to the multitude
The parade wendell It's way through the park
to the reviewing stand, where many city officials
and others were waiting to receive them Those
OF the reviewers were Mayor Wurster. Theodore
B. Willis, the City Works Commissioner; Gran
VILE w. Harmon. the Register; Joseph H. Clark
I president Of the Board Of Aldermen; Leonard H.
we,,es Police Commissioner; Mayor Strong, of
New-York Police Commissioners Andrews and
Parker. OF New-York and the following men
who had been requested to act as judges OF the
parade and to award the prizes to be presented
by the Good Roads Association; Kirk Munroe,
the founder Of the League Of American Wheel
men: St Clair McKelway. Edward M Grout,
William c. Wallace. Congressman Charles g.
| Bennett General Horace Porter, Lieutenant
Stevens Of Fort Hamilton; Captain Silas Casey,
OF the Vermont, and Isaac b. Potter. chief coun-
sci OF the New York State Division OF the League
of American Wheelmen.
INTERESTING AND AMUSING.
There were many interesting and amusing feat
ures of the parade Commissioner Woodruff had
is,sued an order that there should be no decorated