The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-17
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
THE L. A. W. INCREASING ITS MEM
BERSHIP N GEORGIA.

i'm the Percentage COIumn-FOrt-
unes Made in cycle Racing.
"SpoOner's Tourists" Not to Visit
savannah.
The Georgia division Of the League Of
American Wheelmen is making rapid
strides in the increase of membership
The last issue Of the league bulletin
which will be received by members to-
day, contains the name OF sixteen ar-
plicants for membership from Georgia.
The following thirteen are from Savan,
nah; B. Palmer Arson. Walter Coney. A.
L. Chapeau, T. T. Chapeau, Robert P.
Canon, Arthur B. Elliott, Frank L. Purse.
Capt. J. c. Postell, W G.. suobhar. Ed
ward G. Trenholm, J. II. Strous, Henry
Chalmers and F. a. Webster.
Georgia now has PIG league members,
and is entitled to a division. No state
with a membership of less than 30 is
chased as a division
All Of the state divisions held elections
for officers on the 18th Of this month.
Georgia was not considered a division IN
der this election, as the state did not have
Oct. l. In states where there are no di-
visions the officers are appointed. Presi-
dent Potter will most likely reappoint w.
E. Grady chief consul and William Den
hardt secretary and treasurer of the Geor-
gia division for the coming year. Next
year Georgia viii be entitled to hold an
election on its own account.
The long looked-for and long worked
for hundred thousand membership mark
Of the L. A. W. will soon be attained. The
total membership is now 9,516.
The time occupied in rolling up this
vast membership has been over seventeen
years. a period that has seen the bicycle
advanced from a playthng and luxury
to a vehicle of common use and almost of
necessity.
1t Is interesting to note the evolution Of
the wheel and the remarkable growth Of
cycling in seventeen years. In this period
the bicycle has-by successive stages eyolv-
ed from the high-wheel ordinary of buck
ing tendencies and great weight to the
light modern "safeties,' with their air
cushioned tires that are ridden by both
sexes Of all ages.
Since the organization of the league
the record for one mile has been reduced
from the nelghborhool of three minutes
to a little over a minute and half, while
a mile has been ridden in a minute. Where
fifteen miles in an hour was considered
remarkable riding on a bicycle then, pres
ent day flyers go more than thirty miles in
the same time.
The out door cycle track racing season
has practically closed though a string of
cracks are now touring the country on
their way to the south and Mexico.
Considering the work of all the profes7r
slonals ia is conceded that Eddie Bald OF
Buffalo should receive the credit for be-
ing the best all around man in competi-
ton events He started out with a de-
termination to head the list and while
he suffered some defeats, he maintained
a decided lead in the number of victories
over all competitors. Tom Cooper, the
Detroit rider who trained in Savannah
last spring, was a disappointment to his
admirers. Cooper was Balds most for
midable rival in 1896, and it was expected
by some that he would be the man of
this year, but he rode in indifferent form
and in no sense crowded the Buffalo boy
for the honors.
While Earl Kiser has beaten Bald, Bald
has beaten Kiser ten times. Kiser Is,
nevertheless, essentially the man of the
year, as ne has jumped from the second
rate class to rank with the cracks. Kiser
won some of the biggest purses of the
year. and some of his victories stood out
more noticeably as result of this. He
did not follow the circuit as closely as
Bald did. however
One of the surprises of the year has
been Mai. Taylor, the Boston negro rider
cd n Ia
ginning of the season as even good Sec
ondrater, but he is now considered form
liable opponent by the fastest of the
cracks.
Fred Loughead, who also trained in Sa-
vannah, won two of the national cham
pionships at Philadelphia and number
of firsts in big races. He is looked upon
as a conner in 1898. Other riders, who won
some big races and earned a good income
are A. c. Mertens, Nat Butler, S. McFar-
land, F. Hoyt, o. Stevens, owen Kemble
and Arthur Gardiner.
1t evidently pays TO be speedy" rae
ing cyclist Some of the riders have made
good-szed fortunes on the track this year.
1t is said that Eddie Bald won $4,000 in
money prizes the past season. Jimmy
Michael, the little welsh Rarebit," pock-
eted about Sc 500 for one weeks work in
September besides a liberal salary from
the manufacturer of whose wheel he rides.
Glen Lesna at Springfield and 800 bonus
at the same meet In the three-cornered
race in Boston. among Lesna, McDuffie
and Michael the latter won $1,000 of the
s., 900 purse, and, when he defeated Lesna
for the third time at Manhattan beach, he
received $4,000 And all of this was in one
week Several others of the fast men
have made incomes which run in the thou
sands.
The party of racing men who are now
touring the country have left date in
their itinerary for Savannah, but there
is very little probability of their stopping
here Situated as the track is, without cars
running to it, it would be found impossl-
BILE to make enough money to warrant Of
fering purses large enough to attract the
big men 1t is understood that there would
have to be hung in prizes about $500, and
anyone acquainted with the conditions Of
cycle racing in Savannah will see that
such an amount could not be given. The
wheelmen, and particularly the riders who
take an interest in racing and the racing
men, will regret to learn of this.
INDOOR BASE BALL TEAMS.