The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-28
BRHVEDFIREAND WATER
THE "GOOD OLD ORDINARY"
WHEELS SURVIVED BOTH.
Parade of the OId-Tfme Bicycles to
Broad Ripple and Retarn, with
Numerous Incidents.


Ripple yesterday morning a pro-
nounced success and the hfty-seven riders
who made the run all stated that they en-
joyed themselves more than they ever did
on any other kind of a bicycle run. Every
man who could borrow, rent or steal high
wheel was in line when the procession lett
the starting point, at Hay & Willis retail
store at 9:40 o'clock Great crowds stood
on both sides of the street admiring the
veteran wheelmen as some of them made
staggers at mounting. Many of the spec
tators took off their hats to the men who
were successfully perched on the old steel
steeds that were the go years ago. They
were applaud'ed and as the procession
moved southwark to Washington street, the
admifing spectators wished them sue
cessful trip.
The wheelmen proceeded to the State
house. where they had their pictures taken
on the south steps of the Capitol Then the
fun began in reality and the long string of
antiquated bicycles wended it's way north
on Meridian street, both sides of which were
lined with interested spectators. AT the
corner of old Seventh street the brigade
turned west as far as the canal, With no
mishap being registered. There We're sew
eraI spills, none of which was graceful,
when the gang reached the canal bridge.
Once over this obstacle, however, the pro-
cession lined into Indian file and started
north on the towpath.
Everyone expected this part of the route
to be the cause of many headers but,
strange to relate, only one rider was pre-
cipitated into the canal. That was j. +.
Wilson, and as he struck midstream all
those riders behind him greeted the Incl
dent with uproarous applause 1t was a
oYl's fv
to man. No one knew who might be the
next to take the involuntary plunge, but
each man kept close watch that it was not
himself. After many hair breadth escapes
from disaster the party reached Broad Rip
pie and dismounted at Mrs. Brenneman's
hosiery. 1t was then 11:30, and the crowd
had one hours time in which to prepare
themselves for a bounteOus dinner. That
time was passed by the mer: as would bent
a lot of schoolboys on holiday. Tom Hay
started the fun by climbing high into the
branches of a nearby tree, where he calmly
perched himself and dared the others to
follow suit. Dares did not CO. and ac-
cording there was an Immediate rush by all
hands for neighboring trees. Carl Fisher
reached the same limb on which Hay was
seated, the two balancing themselves with
arms entwined as alfectionately as though
tho Outing team had not administered q de-
feat to Fisher men one week before Busl-
being laid aside ana the dealers on cycle
row who fight each other the hardest in the
race for trade Joined hands like May
party and vowed eternal friendship TO eaCn
other Hay remained on his lofty perch
after the others had regained the ground,
when Harry I1earsey suggested that prize
be given to the man first hitting nay with
any article in reach. The proposition was
accepted and everything from a small sized
pebble to q rocking chair was hurled IN
that direction. Matters finally became too
warm for Hay, who clambered to the
ground vengeance bent. 1t dldnt take long
before he had secured a handful of ice,
which he safely deposited down the back
Of Frank Staley's sweater. Staley suffered
a congestive chill but was finally renewed
of the cause of it ALL When F. H. Hennlng
picked him up by the heels and literally
shook the ice out of him. By this time din
ner was announced and in less time than
it takes TO tell it, hfty5seVen hungry ta{ry
cyclists were seated around long taple
spread beneath the trees. Hay, VINO
had announced himself as being the pos
SCISSOR of an enormous appetite, was call
ing loudly for more chicken, when Carl
Fisher suggested that Hay be carried
ropes within sight of the gorglng crowd.
The man who would have been most IN
terested in this proceeding objected to the
proposition, although l.. S. Sergeant voted
1t as being a capital idea. In the midst of
the feast some loudly shouted fire. and
hasty glance into the road showed flames
leaping high from a mass Of ordinary blcy-
cles which had been secretly piled theTe
over a heap of paper by Lew keck While
the rest were at dinner Immediately there
was a stampede, every one rushing, except
Fred Van Sicklen, who took advantage of
the opportunity of the others absence to
dispose of about nine-tenths of the gruo.
1t was later learned that Van had got
colored man to secrete his wheel in the nay
loft OF the BARN. When dinner was over
the party boarded the big Broad ga; Ripple
prank was played, and accepted, as mat
ter of course. Then all the wheelmen
clustered together at the bottom of the
popular songs. The captain of the boat
stopped this feature when he pointed out to
them the fact that the combined weight
conferred on the bow had lifted into the air
the paddle wheel located at the stern. Then
Lew Wainwright suggested that double
quadrille on the lower deck. would be the
proper caper This proposition was en-
tered into with a will, and the most gro
tesque dancing ever seen in these parts
was on. Hearsey and Sergeant favored
the crowd with a dreamy waltz, which can
best be described in the language of the
peach By way Of advertisement, Frank
Henning, who was at one time an Ohio
steered the boat over a mile OF It's trip.
Then Harry Hearsey, who had never been
steamboat pilot but was well up on
came within ten feet Of running the boat
ashore. While Hearsey was at the wheel
Tom Hay purposely stood upon the rope
which connected the wheel with the steer
ing apparatus, and all OF Hearseys efforts
were in vain. The return trip to the city
on the wheels was filled with exciting in
cidents, one of the most ludicrous Of which
occurred when the party had stopped for a
few minutes rest. When the signal was
given to mount Lew Keck discovered that
some one had stolen one of the pedals from
his wheel. Upon making this discovery,
Keck declared that the wheel was useless
with only one pedal, whereupon he threw
it far out into the canal. He suspected that
Frank Henning had a hand In removing
the pedal, and was not contented until the
latter's ordinary had followed his machine
into the stream. Then these two boarded
car for the city and the remainder of the
party continued on the homeward trip.
Among the wheels ridden We're two wooden
velocpedes of the vintage of 81, two
Crypto-geared ordinaries. two Stars and
two Eagles The following participated in
the run: Frank StaIey, Tom Hay, Harry
Hearsey, l.. NJ. Wainwright L. J. Keck,
c.. c. Fisher, F. H. Henning, George G.
Stacey, Ed Eads L. S. Sergeant, E. v.
Minor, II. c. Langdon. w. G. Ribble, Fred
Van Sicklen, ]. A. Allison, Fred p. Ross,
F. E. Hunter, CIV. E. Davidson, E. J. Ma
honey, L. G. Sergeant, O. M. Carter, Rus
sell Bruenig, Charles Hoffman. w. "A Nc
Cain H. n. Roetter, w. G.. Herberhart. g.
Buzatt W. Off, j. p. Wilson, j. 7. Ellis,
R. Z. Smith, William Kopp, c. S. Max
well. George thinner, f. Zmmer ]. Alley
Fred Comstock, w. Wolff, II. Howe, II.
Newland, w. II. Carpenter. Glare Cameron,
E. L. Dynes, Will Hall, II. Goth, j. w.
Rosemyer, w. Rosemyer, w. H. ArbuckIe
b. A. Sunderland, NJ. r. Thompson and
Frank 7. Day.
THE Y. NJ. I. PRIZES.