The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-05
rHoUsANDs OF WHEELMEN.
Philadelphia Filled With Bioyciers 10 Attend the l.. A. W. Meet.

Philadelphia Filled With Bicyciers to Attend the l.. A. W. Meet. Philadelphia, Aug. 4.-Close, sultry weather characterized the opening day of the eighteenth national meet of the League of American Wheelmen, but it failed to suppress the enthusiasm or ,, lessen the number of arrivals. The number of wheelmen already registered is far in excess of any previous two race meeting and up to late hour to- night every railroad train brought ad- ditional visitors.
 Prominent among to-day's arrivals were Albert Mott of Baltimore, chair man of the National racing board; | Herbert w. Foltz chairman of the ln- dianapolis racing board; Abbott Bas- sett, secretary and treasurer of the Ma l tional L. A. w.; Sterling Elliot, ex- president of the league, and w.. Il. Clinker, secretary of the Associated | Cycling clubs of New York city; G. K. Kast president of the Louisville League of Wheelmen, who will act as clerk of the course, arrived to-day. Ex-chairman of the racing board, Howard B. Ray mond, came in on an early train and was in conference with George Cid con, last years chairman.
 During the morning Chairman Mott, Thomas Hare, chairman of the race meet executive committee, and Abe Powell, official handcapper for this dis ltrict, went carefully over the list of entries and examined the record of each professional and amateur. Two entries delayed in transmission were received | to-day. They are J. Frank Mohler and Andre Bouling of the City of Mexico. They are the amateur champions of Mexico, and are reported to be very l fast riders.
 From the first gleam of daylight until 1 long after midnight the asphalted l streets, suburban roads and park drives were crowded by riders of both sexes. Although the humidity was high. the sun was behind clouds most of the day and lessened the discomfort considerably.
 The first scheduled run of the meet was started at o'clock from the na- I tional headquarters. Over fifteen hun dred riders, many of them women, cov- cred the ten miles to the Country club house of the Century Wiheelmen, rid ing along the river drive in Fairmont park and the picturesque Wissahcon valley After refreshments the return was made and a much larger number rode out the Lancaster, the finest ma- cadam road in the country, passing the homes of some of Philadelphia's wealth. lest and substantial citizens.
 The Indianapolis delegation, headed by Mayor Thomas Laggart, Postmas- ter Lahn and Superior Court Judge Hackney of shelbyville, spent nearly all of last night and all of to-day se- curing privileges for their 1898 meet. This morning Omaha began to rival their efforts, headed by w. J. Shrader. Edgar B. Henderson and l.. T. BrOad- stone.
 By midnight many of the racing cracks made their appearance, most of I whom went immediately to the track at Willow Grove, fourteen miles from the city, and established themselves in their quarters. Johnny Johnson of Min neapolis met with an accident late last night and may not be able to enter. He was being paced on the Willow Grove track by Jack Lindley when the l latter's rear wheel broke and threw Lindley. Johnson spilled" over him and severely bruised his right side. Lindley was slightly scratched.
 Between thirty-five and forty of the New York riders arrived here shortly after o'clock. The few that dropped out came in later by train. The run
 was paced by J. F. Starbuck, but no at-
 tempt was made to break any records.
 The two women who started, Mrs. F. c. Kimball, of the Commonwealth Bi- cyclists of Boston, and Mrs. Etta Hud-
 ders of New York, were among the first
 to arrive. sa
 Tonight all the visiting l.. A. w.
 members were given a ride on the Del
 aware, followed by an entertainment at Washington park on the Delaware To-
 morrow will be devoted to runs and an
 all night smoker at the national head quarters.