Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-11-24
BRAVE BICYCLE POLICE.
THEODORE RoosEvELT'S TRIBUTE.
TO THE NEW YORK SQUAD.

lhEODOHE NSOSESCLl ~ ihicS :
TO THE NEW YORK SQUAD.
Three Typical Members who Haye Great
" Distinguished Themselves by Per-
sonal Gallantry - Proficiency on the
Wheel Joined to Exceptional Nerve'
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt has pa
per in the Century on "The Roll OF
Honor of the New York Police" Mr..
Roosevelt says:
The members of the bicycle squad,
which was established soon after we
took office, soou grew to show not
only extraordinary proficiency on the
wheel, but extraordinary daring. They
frequently stopped runaways. wheeling
alongside of them, grasping the horses
while going at full speed; and, what
was even more remarkable, they man.
aged not only TO overtake, but to jump
into the vehicle and capture, on two or
three different occasions, men who were
guilty of reckless driving, and who
fought violently in resisting arrest
They were picked men, being young
and active, and any feat of daring
which could be accomplished on the
wheel they were certain to accom-
plish.
Three of the best riders of the BIZ
cycle squad, whose names and records
happen to OCCUR to me, were mon of
the three ethnic strains most strongly
represented in the New York police
force, being respectively of native
American, German or Irish-or, more
accurately, in this particular case Of
mixed Scotch and Irish-parentage.
The German was man of enormous
power, and he was able to stop each of
the many runaways he tackled without
losing his wheel. Choosing his time,
he would get alongside the horse, and
seize the bit in his left hand, keeping
his right on the crossbar of the wheel.
By degrees he then got the animal un-
der control. He never failed to stop
it, and never lost his wheel. he also
never failed to overtake any "scorcl!er," I"
although many of these were profess
sional riders who deliberately violated
the law to see if they could not get
away from him; for the wheelmen coon
get to know the officers whose. beats
they cross.
The Yankee, though O tall, power
full man and very good rider, scarce
1y came up to the German in either re-
spect; hepossessed exceptional ability,
however, as we'll as exceptional nerve
and coolness, and he won his promo
ton first. He stopped about as maHy
runaways; but where the berse WIS
really panic-stricken he,Nsually had TO
turn his wheel loose, getting a firm
grip on the hogses reins, and then
kicking his wheel so that it would fall
out of the way of injury from tbs
wagon. On one occasion he had IL
fight with a drunken and reckless
driver who was urging to top speed q
very spirited horse. He first got hold
of the horse, whereupon the driver
lashed both him and the horse, and
the animal, already mad with terror,
could not be stopped. The officer
had of course kicked awey>his wheel
at the beginning, and after being
dragged along for some distance he
let go the beast, and made q grab at
the wagon. The driver hit him with
his whip, but he managed to get in,
and after vigorous tussle overcame
his man, and disposed of him by get,
ting him down and sitting on hiD..
This left his hands free for the reins.
By degrees he got the horse under
control, and drove the wagon round to
tho station house, -st.if sitting on his.
victim. "I jounced. up and down on
him to-keep him ql.ietwhen he turned
ugly" he remarked to me parenthet-
ically. Having disposed of the wagon,
he took the man round to the court,
and on the way the latter suddenly
sprapg on him and tied to throttle
him, Convinced at last that patience
ceasad to be virtue, he quieted his
assa;lapt with smash on the head
that to9k all the fight out of him and
he was brought before the Judge and
fined. Like the other ''bicycle cops, ;"
this officer made number of arrests
OF criminals, such as thieves, high
wayanen, and the like, in addition to
his natural prey-scorchers, runa-
Ways, end the like.
THE third member of the trio,
t.tll, sinewy man, with flaming red
hair, ,thich rather added to the ter
Tor ha inspired in evil doers, was
usually stationed in q rather rough
part uf the city, where there was q
tendency to crimes of violence, and
incidentally an occasional desire to
harass wheelmen. The officer was as
good off his wheel as on it, and he
spes sdily established perfect order OH
his beat, being always willing to "take
chaAces" in getting his man. Hewas
no 1aspecter of persons, and when it
becsme his duty to arrest wealthy
mai, for persistentiy refusing to
have his carriage lamps lighted
afte. nightfall, he brought him in
with the same Indifference that he
displayed i'll arresting q street-corner
tough who had thrown brick at q
whsslnan.