The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-21
THROUGH SAGE BRUSH
The Cross-Conntry Wheelmen
Have a Hard Ride.
naFE ARRIVAL At SPOKANE.
lvog W. p. Babcock, Who. With A.
1 :. Turner. Is wheeling TO Boston,
Tells OF Their Experiences.

& vv.s W. r. Ra5coci<. OF this city. ard
IL. Turner, OF Port Toyngerd. who Left
- OF June for q trip across the CONT
81 .sr, TO Boston. had pretty hard ride
ii ..yass the state 20 Spokane. A letter from
8r~of gabeock, dated az Spokane. June Is,
les ar interesting account OF the ride
3yas letter follows:
awhen planning our wheel trio east
1~.,s from Seattle. Dir. Turner and my
10 had concluded that we would and this
-. the hardest 10 cross We have not
n. the least underestimate the work, for
-. rad planned TO be in Spokane some
|7-s~se from the 18th 10 the 18th. and Mon
3Ssv evening. the 18th, found as here In
Is.sriy good condition with the exception
Ia a slight cold. the result Of climbing the
3rzsrsdes in two days OF rain.
i ITO start with twenty -efght-pouna
4~hsels and sixteen pounds Of luggage in .
3,.gn and head wind for a t.ooo-r1iie ride Is
-, very encouraging. and after we had
1.,ehangsd good-bys with the dozen OF
-. wheeln1sf who escorted rs 20 the city
4s,n.ts Of Seattle we found a sheltered
r,ot and exchanged opinions What they
3~srs Will not record here. but the
Leather man and the road supervisors
4..rss In for their share OF attention. We
LA struck the country road. and where
H. hills were not too steep for wheeling
- mud made II impossible. From South
/seattIa 10 Renton we pushed our wheels
I,hrough the mud. consoIIng ourselves with
1shs thought that beyond the Cascades We
8vouts fsnd different weather. and We have.
Aeonetirnes we wish we hadn't
n sEat 10 continue the record. From Rem
I,sn. on the Columbia a. Puget Sound rail-
4raad. we found wheeling very rough as
lar as Maple valley, being obliged 10 lead
Assr wheels much OF the way where the
Irosd had been recently baiiastsc. Just
In the middle OF the long treEtie west Of
7usnle valley. we were surprised by the
passenger train. and not having time TO
beach the end or get down. did the next
list thing-cra down on the cross
is4sus, held our wheels. and wished that
Ic.rtictfJar train a safe journey across the
lbrldxe. Yes, OF course II was Jolly. but
|Iva didn't care for so much fun on our
larsf day out
i I'VE took supper at Maple Valley, ana
1dept at Black Diamond. Al both these
Isaces. as az most others where we have
Jropped during the week. our arrival bad
lb.en expected. and our machines were the
Iabsecfs Of acute inspection and much con-
4msns n Is impossible 20 give an idea OF
Ike absurd questions which are asked Us.
Isut people never forget 10 ask how long
'Ivs expect 10 be on the road. and whether
I've get tired. Mr. Turner. who IL some
jemes funny. told one inaulsltive section
Irau that az long as we could keen our
Ivhsel. thoroughly tired. we would probah-
In escape that complaint; the man didn't
Imlle. and probably never Will again
through he Tunnel.
arrorn Franklin we crossed through the
Ivooas 10 Cumberland and followed tho
r. &C. A HIT &nrtnga
I.rrtvtng at p. m. wet 70 the skin, but
IA warm sulphur bath and brisk rub
Inade us feel as good as new. The Hot
.Isprings hotel seems to be favorite place
lar uheeimen and two or three fast riders
lave been training on the track near the
'Ikesei. Although II was great tempta-
1ton 10 remain a day at the springs. We
Issre anxious TO get over the summit. We
lkfs the hotel At a. m. and found the
Israde to the summit rather steep. and we
tvere obliged to disnaiint continually for
Irssties. eulvsrts and sidlngs. Took lunch
Ia Stampede. and through the Kindness or
In Mcintyre. the operator, secured
lantern and entered the tunnel. trundling
Ienr bicycles along over the ties Inc
Humping OF the wheels and the sound or
lenr footsteps echoed and re-echoed with
IA weird holiownsss as we kept on.
j .syyheu part way through the tunnel We
Ianeluded that our lantern might be made
H. burn more brightly. and so uniointed u
H. raise the wick. when II suddenly went
|sut We hunted through cur pockets but
lhnsd 10 ind a match and were Obliged 10
Humble along in the dark. We Kept
Ieraght ahead. for we had Just been list
Isainr 10 the story OF how Tacoma man
iame 10 grief on similar trip lie start
L. IN az the west entrance without any
lantern and when nearly through the tun-
-. 1axx- Ia 49, ~ a
Islches In the wall and waited for the train
IA pass and the smoke 20 blow cut. lie
itAen continued his Journey. which seemed
4 "a him interninahie. He finally came our
nto the sunlight and looked around In
Ihsildered way. then going up TO the 'eie-
Israph station he addressed Mr. Mcintyre:
"'Dld you see me so into the tunnel an
hour or 80 ago~
~ think ad,'
"'Am at the west entrance now~
"'ycu certainly are
We'll. how in the devil ala I get here:
II ought 20 have been on the ether side
THE poor fellow had gone the wrong
Isay after tire smoke had cleared away.
We we're more fortunate. for after 60
Ihs short distance farther we found the
tncanaescent lamps lighted and a gang II
Inea AZ work The track near the summit
Peers pushing NJ and the company Is now
Ianderarchng II IN order 20 overcome tha
Sreulty. The tunnel was lighted the re-
aainder of the way. and the of repeated
PRESTON. How are YOU EesnE 60 Fet
IAraagh the tunnelS- was soon answered.
leaving the lantern with the operator
i a the east entrance. We started out With
ne assurance that the road was welt bal
asssE and fair weather the rule Up 20
BE time that we reached the SUNNI.
sardly an hour passed without rain. but
as side 90 the Cascades we have not
sssa dron.
snown tho grade Ne flew. with an occa.
| soaai stop Tor a tresste or snapshot With
'Ae camera. sill We came 20 Essten. whore
found an excellent county road We
| sssfl make frequent mention % The ccaii-
ssaa OF the roads. since that subject seems
. ae az paramount Interest "a whesimea,
| 80 Il IL what Ne most readily observe
6any scereher Wishes 30 take a fn~ spin.
~ make century ran let him start from
j tasfon towards EllenshUrw The roads
Pr n excellent condition. aaa car past
No days experiences had made uS appre-
tasfve or smooth. easv grades We let
- several links IN speed. TIE pointer o.
n eycl0weter moved regularly around as
I've Turned che curves through groves
wight with q prosuslcn 81 towers. past
seatifol orchards. Over vel b3sift bridges
W vel kept roads Nothias hnt poverty
saeais keen resident of the Yasirna val
y from owning wheel. Tor the roads
AZ superb
Al Cle-Eluul we took supper at ?. n.
70 theh rcfe - FilrHshuVv. tWentv-eluhf
aNss 6istanf From Seattle 20 Eiiensburx
y Cd net have a punctgra or pufnn un
Nt tires. ! meatian This because ! ssts-
- Fat ne coulfs't So & agate Ia tYvcHfv
tailay trips Thursday forenooa several
Il ne EIlrasburE whselmea showed IA
so>si ne tnwn. ans al ? = ~ when Ne
- oGr chains ser a rev start Mr..
| shTe3er. AR nExen aH& several ether
srasnsssnt wheslnea were aa hand 20 run
lsst ten miles with US