The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-07
THE WHEELMEN JOLLIFY
HAVE 4 PARADE WHICH Is RE-
VIEWED by GEN. HARRISON.
A Crush Of People ON Downtown
Streets-Tbe Ex-President Makes
a short Talk.

The parade of the National wheelmen's
Mckinley and Hobart Clubs last night
proved to be an attractive method of rat
ihcation over the success of the Repub-
lican ticket i'm the recent elections. The
night air was a little chill, but not enough
TO keep people at home nor to make ii un-
comfortable for the thousands who
crowded the principal streets over which
the procession of wheelmen was scheduled
10 pass. From Capitol avenue east on
Washington street for half a dozen blocks,
around the monument and on Pennsylvania
and Meridian streets there were big
crowds.
While waiting for the parade to come
there was considerable entertainment fur
nished the waiting multitude by the public
payment of many absurd election bets. No
less than a dozen men were TO be seen
wheeling winning political opponents
about the streets in wheelbarrows. The
man who had to roll the peanut from the
Union Station to Monument place was also
out ana AFFORDED much amusement as he
worked out the salvation of his honor. Ow-
Ing to the crowd in Meridian street. on ac-
count of the formation of the parade at
that place, the route 10 the monument had
10 be changed to go further east on Penn
sylVania street. The crowd gathered so
close about the poor fellow that they shut
OUT the nght entirely and he could not see
the peanut more than half the time. How
ever, he profited by the darkness and gave
the peanut an occasional thumD with his
mana that sent 1t along several feet further
on us way to the goal. One poor fellow
who lost a bet had 30 wheel his opponent
from Fountain square TO Monument place
IN a wheelbarrow, accompanied by a long
line OF friends of both men and an escort
or a drum corps. This fellow received an
unmerciful guying all along the streets. One
or the most ridiculous of the scenes was
that OF six men carrying another astride of
a long plank. The crowd was uncertain
which was the loser of the bet. until it
was explained that the six men had
wagered that Bryan would be elected.
The parade finally came along. but only
a small per cent. of the people waiting had
an opportunity to enjoy it. The people
crowded up to the very last inch, allowing
the wheelmen scarcely enough room to ride
Two ABREAST and in some places compelling
them 10 ride single file. AS much of the
beauty or the procession lay In the decora-
ton of wheels. ii was impossible for more
IMAM a Few people in front 10 properly view
II. To the thousands in the rear ranks only
the heads of the passing cyclists were visi-
Die Tor a great part Of the time. An &C.
casional float or wheel with decoration
ABOVE the heads of the crowd relieved the
monOtony.
Sergeant Laporte. Of the police force. and
two patrolmen on wheels headed the process
sion to open the way. Then came Adjutant
T.. j. richards and his staff OF twelve. all
riding gaily decorated wheels. -Four white
horses hitched to a large express wagon
carried a white-clothed drum corps of ff-
teen: Then came the twelve riders who
carried the message from this city to Cam
ton, .notfying Major Mckinley that he had
carried Indiana. The model of the battle
snip Indiana came next. followed by an
elaoorate float mounted upon bicycle
tanned the assurance that 'wheelmen are
sure or good roads. good laws and whole
wheels.- The remainder of the parade was
mace up or individual wheelmen, who We'd
with each other in the decoration of their
wheels. One man carried 6. broom which
was emblematic of the clean sweep which
wheelmen generally assist the Republican
party, In making. An old high wheel was
loaded down with flags; hundreds of them
adorned the wheels and frame and the rid
CT carried a framework containing many
more: He was cheered along the line Of
march. A good likeness of q gold Dug"
was another feature. In the STOPPING pos
ture affected by the rider a bright yellow
covering was made 10 fit over his body i'm
a way to make IL appear that a huge hug
was propelling the bike. A tandem bearing
people Notwithstanding it was arranged as
an advertisement of a wheel which the
The procession was twenty minutes pass
ING About 500 wheelmen participated.
the ahe re iine OF march "a took the parade past
WITH the purpose of getting him to review
the parade. Charles II Mcbride wrote the
foilowin letter to the General:
1i hCTNlnlcy dHO HOBART
wheelmen are TO have a parade this even
ing, and desire the nonor of being reviewed
by you as they pass your residence. We
VIII feel grateful ii you will grant this
request"
General Harrison accepted the invitation
in the following note of reply:
II am very much Obliged to my friends.
the Mckinley and Hobart wheelmen, and
will be glad to review IL cir parade as il
passes my house. / have rather a bad cold
and may have TO stand inside part of the
time"
When the house was reached the wheel
men dismounted and some of them. who
had not worn their voices out before.
started a lively hurrahing for the ex-Presi-
dent. General Harrison and Mrs. Harrison
came out upon the porch. Adjutant Rich
ards then stepped forward. and. on behalf
of the wheelmen of the country. thanked
General Harrison for the part he took in
the campaign just closed. Mr.. Harrison
replied, congratulatinG the wheelmen on
the successful work accomplished by them.
TIE procession then reformed, and General
Harrison stood with barred head while the
wheelman passed.
TIC pIoN InAfII a.. I