The morning times., 1896-06-21
BLUECoATs ON BICYCLES.
They Are a Terror Now to the Reck-
less ScOrCuer,

They Are Terror Now to the Reck-
less ScOrcher.
The police bicycle squad is doing good
work. Although comprised of but three
officers and organized less than one month
ago, the silent riders have made nearly
1G0 arrests for reckless riding and other
offenses against the bicycle regulations.
scorching has now become the exception,
where heretofore it was the rule.
This city. with its smoothly-concrete
and splendidly shaded streets and avenues,
is a paradise for wheelmen and standing
inducement for speedy riding. There are
thousands of bicyciisLs in Washington. and
while many Of them are careful and cool
headed, there are others who are reckless
to a degree bordering on criminality.
he-frcquency of accidents, serious, and
in some INSTANCES, fatal, convinced Mai.
William G.. Moore, chief of rolice, that
steps should be taken to apprehend those
who persisted in violating the police regu-
lations, which had been adopted for the pro
lection OF pedestrians and wheelmen them
selves. The foot patrolmen were unable
to capture the flying bicyclists, who when
spoken to would in the parlance OF the
street, give the copsthe laugh, and then rush
away, leaving the discounted policeman
standing in the roadway.
PUT ON WHEELS
were expert wheelmen. and the happy
thought occurred to him to organize a bicy-
Gle squad. The precincts lieutenants were
consulted by the ma jor, and each submitted
the names of the officers in their bailiwicks
who rode wheels.
The result was the selection Of Police
man Charles c. Estes, OF the Sixth pre-
cinct; John W. Robertson, Of the Fourth,
and james A. DuvaH, of the Second.
The trio are sober, conscientious men, fear
less and expert riders. They have done
such stalwart work that it is probabl
after June so, when the fifty new men
are sworn in, the bicycle squad will be in
creased in Duinbers and placed in charge of
a sergeant. :.
Charles c. Estes, a member of the Three
of a Kind, as the police have christ ened
the bicycle squad. is thirty three years of
age, and u man Of fine ph ysique. He was
born in Burke county, N. c., and attended
the State schools in Rutherford county.
Mr.. Estes is proud Of his Tar Heer' State
ancestry, and the fact that though early left
an orphan, he commenced the battle of
life at hard work on IL farm in the pic
turesque Southland.
Mr.. Estes married Miss Alice Kingsbury
of this city, her father being an Official
OF the POstoffice Department. He has
been on the police force seven years, and
for the past three has devoted his spare
time to bicycle riding.
Policeman Estes was put to a test the
other day. He rode up beside an ath-
lete who had been scOrching. The ath-
lete did not recog lize Estes in his bicycle
costume as an officer of the law.
II want you for fast riding" said
Estes.
who the ID are your
''An officer"
"You are, eh? Well, IL you want me
you will have to catch me-"
AN EXCITING CHASE.
And away sped the athlete like the
wind. Estes bent down to the work be
fore him, and after long chase overhauled
the rider and escorted him triumphantly
to the station-bouse.
Policeman Estes recognizes the fact that
bicycle riders as rule are gentlemanly
fellows, or good people" He, therefore,
uses good Judgment in making arrests and.
has never locked up boy between the
ages of fourteen and twenty yars until he
he has notifiei their parents or guardians Of
the arrest. If the parents are responsible
people the boy is sometimes released with