Evening star., 1896-07-04

least 500 membership before the end Of the
month.
sion OF the League Of American wheelmen
began yesterday, and will conclude this
afternoon at the Park cycle track at Cam
Iridge. Nd. Among those from this city
who attended the races We're Capt. William
jose Of the Washington Road Club and F.
w. Hutchins, one Of the two pro. meh In
the city. Hutchins rode in the one-mile
and two-rnile fandcaps and the third-of-a-
mile dash races for professionals at the
meet yesterday. After the close of yes
terday's races the two Washingtonians
came back home to attend the races this
afternoon at the International Park. The
entrance fee to the races was 81, which
admitted the entrant to one or all Of the
races on the program a radical departure
from the methods in this city.
The Christian Endeavor convention, which
opens next week, is expected to bring an
unusually large number of cycle visitors
to town, and preparations will be made for
their reception. All OF the churches have
some idea of the number OF cyclists that
will be in the city, and are making ar
rangem ants accordingly. In all Of the down
town churches there will be special racks
constructed to hold the wheels of the visit
1Lg Endeavorers while the owners are at
tfbding divine worship. The Congrega-
torel Church. corner 10th and G streets.
will have racks in the basement of the
church, capable of accommodating fifty
wheels. but 1t Is thought there will be more
wheels than that to be cared for.
X 4 X
The Park Cycle and Athletic Association
OF baltimore have arranged for a meet
next Saturday at the Park Cycle track
There are only four events on the program.
1 he first is a one-nlile novice, with a prize
gold medal. valued at SO. The second race
Is one-mile professional, with Sl5, $40 and
- cash as first, second and third prizes,
respectively. The third event is a one-mile
hterclub amateur race for Maryland club
teams OF three men each. The trophy will
pe the crawford cup and $50 medals to the
winning team, and 80 silver medals to the
second team. The final race will be a two
mile handicap race, with first prize of a $l5
sold medal; second prize. a pair of Sl0 tires,
ana the third prize of a s. bicycle lamp.
X x *
The repeated refusals of Chairman Cid
con or the league racing board to permit
FRED Sims TO race outside of the city
are regarded here as sample of the con-
tfary work OF the man VIII occupies such
a responsible position. Other local men
nave been given permission to DO outside
racing, but the line is very unjustly drawn
WIN Sims in a seemingly very arbitrary
manner. There is no reason in the world
why Sims should be so treated, having
been refused three times within as many
weeks to participate in outside races
The Arlington Wheelmen will shortly
open the watermelon season by giving a
melon feast at the International Athletic
Park to their many friends. Admission
Will be by card only. and 1t Is expected to
carry out many lef:ies as men After
The feast there will be dancing on the
grand stand promenade. The watermelon
run VIII be given the latter part Of this
month. the date being as yet undecided
Ihis is only the beginning Of a series Of
runs OF the same order that will be held
at the park. Several other clubs have
the matter under consideration. and they
VIII most likely follow in line. The atten-
dance at these events will be limited, so
as 10 keep away any of the Objectionable
element. which, as rule will frequent a
watermelon feast or any other wheelmen
event that is free.
The colored wheeImen of the city are
taking steps to form an organization of
their own. similar to the working of the
United Wheelmen. This is a good step
ana should be encouraged. as it will tend
10 keep the wheelmen bound together by
common ties for the promotion of cycling
The new organization will most likely be
known as the Cyclists Federation of the
District The chief mover in the matter
OF the organization is Samuel +. Lacy a
son or Detective Lacy, who is an enthusias-
Tic wheelnan. meeting will be called
Tor some evening next week. at which the
initial steps toward making federation
VIII be taken With the perfec ton of a
local federation of co,ored cyclists of both
sexes. steps will be taken to start simi-
lar movement in the surrounding cities
ana gradually work up national organi-
zatlon. conservative estimate places the
total number Of colored riders in this CITY
between 1900 and 1909.
III everything is carried out as now pro-
posed, the colored riders will have a quar-
ter-mile track of their own. upon which
they will hold their races. There are a num-
Der OF prominent colored people behind the
scheme. A tract Of land containing six
hn0 heaop
Run. and this will be the site of the pro-
posed track. The land is perfectly level
and naturally adapted for a track, the cost
OF building one being comparatively small.
it is easy Of access by the steam or cleo
trio railroad, with a good road for cy-
clfsts and vehicles.
The park will be the headquarters of the
originated in 1892 as one Of the leading as
sociationS of its kind in this city. Lee A
Cornish, the well known racer. who is now fin
Boston, training for coming races. is one
OF Its members. Other members are S.
E. Lacy. Thomas c. A Gray. Thomas W.
Edwards and Thomas H. Wright In fact
the membership includes some of the best
known wheelmen in the District. 1t is
contemplated to make the park pleas
ant resort for the better class of colored
residents of the District. 1t is calculated
that there are about s. 0O colored people
who live here. yet they have no particular
use and the projected park is designed to
fill this want.
The bicycle contingent of the Columbia
Athletic Club has no run scheduled for to-
morrow. There will be a number of short
trips made by various squads Of the or
ganization. the wheeling officers leading
the main run. which extends through the
Shenandoah valley. The cyclists left the
city last evening by rail for Harper's
Ferry. and upon arriving at that historical
place mounted their wheels and rode to
Charlestown. which they reached late al
night. After remaining over night at this
place the riders started out this morning
and rode to Winchester. and thence to New
Market intending to stop over night at the
latter place. Tomorrow morning the ride
will be resumed and the men proceed to
Staunton. The return home will be made
by rail. Among those who went on the trip
were Messrs. Beall, Wells. Fowle. Good:Ie,
Brown. Stiles, ]. B. Miller, Charles Nc
Guiggan, Won Lindgren and Cabrera
Capt. Eugene Harmon Of the cycling con-
tngent is in Cincinnati on a two weeks
visit His bicycle is with him.
First Lieut.. Harry c. Stiles has started
in tandem riding, and almost every even
ing last week was out in training with a
good companion.
Next Sunday the c. A. c. Wheelmen will
make run to River View returning home
in the evening by boat.
At the regular meeting of the washinD