The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-26

ST LOUIS. july g.-Tae Twenty-ffth
infantry bicycle corps reached this city
last night. completing the 100 mile ride
from Missouia. Mont, IN - days. b
of which were actually spent on the road.
During the day thousands OF people visited
the troopers. While here the officers.
Lieut. J. NJ Moss and Surgeon ]. NJ. Ken
nedy. will be entertained by prominent
citizens, while the troopers, who are coll
ored men, are the guests OF local bicycle
clubs. Later they will De transferred 10
Jefferson barracks.
The Twcnty-ilfsn infantry bicycle corps
left Fort MissoGla June ii.
Surgeon Kennedy and Edward Fl. Boos.
official reporter. and twenty soldiers
lected from the four companies stationed
at Fort MisSoula- During the trip one
of the men was returned to Fort Mis-
Souia on account Of NOT being able to
keep up The first tweiv days wee
rairy and disagreeabie, but good time
was made. II was during these days
that the main divide of the Rocky mount
aims WAS crossed, as We'll The great
part of Montana. There were a few
pleasant days while the corps was III
Montana. and excellent runs were made.
In crossing the Crow Indian reservation.
heavy rains fell, and the corps was stuck
ip the gumbo mud much OF the time.
All the way across Wyoming rain ham,
pered the progress of the company. and
many hardships arose from lack Of good
water.
Tie southwestern corner of South Da-
kota was crossed fifteen days being oc
cupied in this state. The sandy roads
were bad and the prairie beside the road
was a field of prickiy pears, making
travel on wheels very tedious and tire
some work. A stretch of good but billy
Off yo1t ssysr
mont. and the run from there 10 the Mo-
braska line was made In short order.
As soon as Nebraska was reached new
troubles confronted the corps in the shape
of sand hills and heat. After Alliance was
reached and for a distance of nearly A0
miles the send in the roads was eight 10
ten inches deep. The road was given UP.
and the railroad was used. the men rid
ing as much as possible. but walking the
greater part of the time. While in this
desoiate country there was no good water
to drink, and 4 number of the men were
taken sick. After four days of suffering
the sand hills were passed.
The corps passed through Grand Island.
Lincoln and Table Rock. Neb.. and out of
that state into Missouri on July IL at
Rulo As whole. the roads through
Nebraska were good. but far from being
level. short. steep hills being continually
encountered.
The roads across Missouri were bad and
hilIy. and with the exception of q few
gravel roads were the worst on the entire
trip. When away from the railroad the
people were inhospitable, and in one in
stance sufficient water for cooking was
refused, and no reliable information re-
gariing the roads could be gained. Tho
heat for the last three days Of the trip
was severe, and the men suffered con-
siderably.
The distance covered on the trip was
1890 miles. the average per day being So %
miles. After leaving the Nebraska sand
hills the average Was over sixty miles per
day. The bicycles stood the trip remark
ably well. and but few accidents Of seri-
Gus nature occurred, those that did occur
being through careleSsness. In an inter
View Lieut.. Moss said:
THE trip has proved beyond peradyer-
ture my contention that the bicycle has
place in modern warfare In every kind Of
weather over all sorts OF roads We aver
aged Atty miles e. day. At the end of the
Journey We are all In good physical con-
dillon. Seventeen tires and half a dozen
broken frames Is the sum Of our damage
The practical result OF the trip shows that
an army bicycle corps can travel under
any conditions twice fast a. cavalry or
infantry and at one-third the cost and
effort. / am not sure whether we will re-
turn or our wheels or not but will knew
as soon as orders ara received from Wash
!ngton."