The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-05

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
lesson the number of arrivals. The
number of wheelmen already regis
tered is far in excess of any previous
two race meets, and up to a late hour
tonight every railroad train brought
additional visitors.
Prominent among today's arrivals
were Albert Mott, of Baltimore, chair
man of the national racing board:
Herbert Foltz. chairman of the In
dianapolis racing board; Albert Bass
EFT, secretary and treasurer of the
National l.. A. W.; Sterling Ellicott,
ex-president of the league, and Will
liam II. Klinker. secretary of the As
sociated Cycling clubs of New York
city. A. ID. Peck, secretary treasurer
of the Massachusetts division, who
will act as a starter in the races, ar
rived safely after having wheeled all
the way from Boston. G. f. Kast,
president of the Louisville League
Wheelmen, who will act as clerk of the
course, arrived today. Ex-chairman
of the racing board, Howard Il. Ray
mond, came in on an early train and
was in conference with George Gideon,
last years chairman. During the
morning Chairman Mott. Thomas
Hare, chairman of the race meet exc
cutive committee, and Abe Powell,
official handicapper for this district,
went carefully over the list of entries
and examined the record of each pro-
facciopal anH Tun pntriaS
delayed in transmission were received
today They were ]. Frank Mohler,
and Andre Bouling, of the City of
Mexico. They are the amateur cham
pions of Mexico and are reported to be
very fast riders.
STREETS DOTTED BY RIDERS.
From the first gleam of daylight un-
til long after midnight the asphalted
streets, suburban roads and park drives
were dotted by riders of both sexes.
Although the humidity was high, the
sun was behind clouds most of the day
and lessened the discomfort consider
ably. The first scheduled run of the
meet was started at o'clock from the
national headquarters. over 1.50O rid
ers, many of them women, covered the
the Century Wheelman, riding along
| the river drive in Fairmount park, and
| the picturesque Wissahickon valley
| After refreshments, the return to the
city was made, and a much larger num-
| Der rode out the Lancaster pike, the
| finest macadam road in the country
| passing the country homes of some OF
| Philadelphia's wealthiest and most sub
frl l,eit hA Tn to-, ,rIf Il
| egation, headed by Mayor Thomas Tag
| gart, Postmaster Lain and Superior
Court Judge Hackney, of Shelbyville
| spent nearly all of last night and all
of today securing pledges for the '9S
| meet. This morning Omaha began tc
| rival them in their efforts, headed by
w. ]. Shrader, Edgar B. Henderson and
L, Il. Broadstone.
THE RACERS APPEAR.
| By midnight many of the racing
cracks had made their appearance, most
of whom went Immediately to the track
at Willow Grove, fourteen miles from
the city, and established themselves ir
| their quarters.
Johnny" Johnson, of Minneapolis
met with an accident late last night
and may not be able to enter. He was
| being paced in the Willow Grove tract
by Jack" Lindley, when the latter:
rear wheel broke and threw Lindley
Johnson Spilled" over him and severe
| ly bruised his right side. Lindley wa!
slightly scratched.
Special attention is being given tn,
women visitors, by an auxiliary com
mittee of local wheelmen. Headquar
! ters have been opened in the Odd Eel
| lows temple, across from the nationa
headquarters. Tomorrow night a fett
will be given in their honor at Belmon
mansion in West Fairmount park.
Word was received today that tn,
first section of a large delegation o
New York city riders left Jersey Cit.
this morning on bicycles to attend tn
meet.
Between S5 and 40 of the New Yorl
riders arrived here shortly after
o'clock. The few that dropped ou
came in later by train. The run wa
paced by ]. f. Starbuck. but no attemp
was made to break any record. TIL
two women who started, Mrs. F.
Kimball, of the Commonwealth Ricy
clists, of Boston, and Mrs. Eta Hud
ders, of New York, were among tn
first to arrive.
Tonight all the visiting League O
American Wheelmen members wer
given a ride on the Delaware followe
by an entertainment at Washingto
park on the Delaware.
Tomorrow will be devoted to runs, an
an all night smoker at the nationa
headquarters.