Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-24
THE LATEST ALABAMA NEWS
How a WheeIman Was Saved.
a Long Walk
BY USE OF CHEWING GUM
The Ingenious Suggestion of Young Lady
A Young Burglar captured-lmmi-
grafton Convention.

Montgomery March 23.-(Special.)-NI
The bicycle rider furnishes at all times
a fund of fun and Information, and the,
recital of an experience yesterday of
prominent attorney here, who is de- 1
votee to the sausage-tired vehicle, may /
prove of interest and profit to the aver
age wheelman. Something went wrong
with the valve of one of this lawyers
tires when seven miles from town. The
wheel had been fed on city air until it
probably became dyspeptic, and when
out in the country he found that the wind
was leaking. Getting out the pocket
pump, which every wheelman who is in
good form carries, he proceeded to give
the tire "a good dose of pure country air.
The internal arrangements of the saul
sage cover refused to retain the dose,
and, after riding about twenty yards, he7
felt the wheel settling, and the pump was
again called into use,<but with no better
results. He was In a pickle. Two ladies'
out.with him seven miles from home, and
the tire of one of his wheels leaking air
at every revolution. What was to be
done? 1t would be a pretty procession, ]
seven miles long, for him to trundle the
wheel back home. while his two fair com-
panions rode along with him, having the
laugh on him every foot of the seven
miles. But one of the ladies was pos
sessed of a good lot of inventiveness,
and she suggested that II wad of chew
ing gum was packed into the valve the
hole might thus be plugged up and the
air in the wheel retained long enough
to make the trip back to the city. The
Idea was good one. Just then any idea
which promised to save seven mile
walk was a jewel. The only thing lack
ing was the gum. The trio took an in
ventory of their possessions, but no gum
showed up. The young man felt that in
spite of the bright mind of his fair COM
panlon he would have to hoof 1t back.
One of the young ladies remembered
that on the way cut they had passed
country store and possibly a supply OF
gum might be had there. The store was
two miles away but the two ladies yolun-
teered to ride to the store and purchase
the gum They rode off, and in due time
returned with large amount or gum.
On their return the three resolved them
selves into a gum-chewing committee,
and in a. short time they had enough of
the gum maStcated to plug up the air
holes in half a dozen pneumatic tires.
The effort to stop the hole was made al
ter filling the tire with wind. and 1T was a.
success. The young man rode his wheel
safely into port and the repair shop, and
he now feels that supply OF chewing
gum is as much a necessity on we'll
planned bicycle trip as wrench or an
oil can. ar b.
Small Boys Successful Robbery.
A negro boy named Henry Pagan,
aged about IL years. and who says his
home is in Americas, Ca, hid himself in
the New York Store Saturday when the
store was closed and along about morn
Ing he proceeded to help himself to such
articles of clothing as struck his Fancy.
He needed little cash and he touched
the cash drawer for the change left in 1t
the night before. securing about Sc, most
ly in coppeTs. Henry then let himself out
and went to the corner about o'clock
i'm the morning, where he took hack and
Wa n tha nl9pn at which he StaV-
ing. The robbery was discovered about
9 O'Clock Sunday morning and reported
to the authorities, who at once began
search for the thief. They learned of the
hack Incident and the hackman was
found, who carried them to the house
where Henry stopped, and there they
found the stolen clothing and the greater
portion of the missing money. A sharp
lookout was kept for Henry, and he was
caught about O'Clock Thu; morning. He
admits the burglary of the New York
store, but says that this was the only
job he did in this city, though he robbed
several stores in Americas. He has been
bound over to await the action of the
grand jury.
Arrested for Arson.
About o'clock Saturday morning a
tenement house, occupied by a negro
named John Cess, on the Berger place,
about two miles from this city, was
found to be on fire. and Johns actions
were so queer that he was this morning
arrested charged with having set the
place on fire.
The immigration Convention.
The immigration convention (which
Governor Oates has called to meet in
this city on next Wednesday promises
to be very largely attended. The gov
ernor and the commissioner of agricul-
ture appointed 800 delegates-six from
each county nd 1t is expected that
a bout 300 of them will attend. Others
who have not been regularly appointed
are also expected. as the invitation is
general to all who feel an interest in the
cause of immigration and the matter of
an exhibit at the Chicago Cotton States
fair The railroads have given a rate of
one and one-third fare for the round
trip.
Old, but Good.
Montgomery has Just passed two ordi-
nances which almost every town and city
In the land has had in force for many
| years One requires that fire escapes
shall be placed on buildings more than
| three stories high. and the other requires
| that all persons must secure a license
| from the city before they can erect or re-
| pair buildings inside of the fire limits of
| the city. Montgomery's present city
| council is disposed to be up-to-date in all
| matters of Improvement. a5
Official Appointments. II %
The governor who returned from
Washington Saturday. made the follow
| ing appointments this morning. 5fs
| A. H. Merrill, notary public. Eufaula.
| Samuel A. Kington, justice of the
peace Pushmatah Choctaw county.
| ]. A. Davis, notary public, Dothan.
| G. M. e. Mann. notary public and eX-
| officio justice of the peace, Boaz, Mar
| shall county.
| Frank w. Walter notary public and
| ex-officio justice of the peace, Brisco,
| Morgan county. fNts
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