The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-06

military service is to be made next week
by Major r. P. Davidson, commandant of
the Northwestern Military Academy, near
Chicago. He intends taking company OF
young men. students of the academy, from
Chicago. through to Washington city The
trip will be made under the seyerest mill
tary order, and military discipline will be
enforced. There viii be 10 effort made at
rapid time though the company will be
pushed TO the full limit of its ability, con-
sstent with the health of the men. The
company viii be made up of from twelve TO
twenty men, and perhaps more. They Will
carry a camping outfit, and will take the
road as soldiers in every sense. A message
will be carried from General Brooke at
Chicago to General Miles. The route has
not yet boen definitely marked out, and
may not De announced but it is probable
that the party may come through Indian
apolis in order to strike the National road.
The bicycle is already used TO some ex-
tent in the military service. Nearly all the
forts on the Western frontier have bicycle
companies, TO which courier duty is chiefly
assigned. General Miles is enthusiastic over
the possibilities that may result from the
use of the bicycle. He was interested In
a number of experiments which were made
during the time he was stationed in the
West. He received the message carried
from Washington by relay riders which
President Cleveland sent TO him at Denver.
He had a good deal to do with the tests
made of couriers at the Western posts.
Major Davidson has been for seven years
stationed at the Northwestern Military
Academy as instructor in military tactics.
He has organized a bicycle corps OF twenty
eight picked young men, and from TINS
number he will select his party to make the
trip with him to Washington. They viii
be young men of average physical develop
ment from seventeen TO twenty-five years
old. Each man will be required to carry
ais personal baggage and his share OF the
camping outfit and some rations, as well
as cooking utensils. BESIDES, every man
Davidson has taken his corps out on eX-
tended trips through Illinois and Wiscon-
sin, but never has he undertaken any Such
an extensive trip as this. From Chicago
to Washington, by way of the highways,
is about 1000 miles. 1t is expected that
the distance will be covered in ten days
without injury to any of the riders.
MAJORS RULES FOR RIDING.
Major Davidson was interviewed about
the expedition some time ago while he was
in Washington, and discoursed upon it in a
most interesting manner. He said among
other things:
My object is to bring the company into
Washington in such splendid physical con-
diUion that II it were necessary the men
force them beyond their strength, for L
want to see just what can be done with
average men under average condltlons,
We shall probably start from Chicago
about the 10th of June. at a time when the
roads are not at their worst nor at their
best. We shall probably ride for an hour
in the early morning, and rest ten min
utes, taking care not to cool off too rapid
ly; then another hour or hour and half in
hours for dinner. 1t has been my expert
ence that the best progress can be made
by maintaining a STEADY pace OF, say ten
miles an hour, and keeping this up, with
frequent rests, throughout the day. Eight
or ten hours of such work would not tax
the average man too severely, and under
favorable conditions a great deal of ground
can be covered in this manner. Sometimes
on my trips have been met by wheelmen
who would come out to meet us and escort
us into town, and they would suggest that
we ought to make better time. But have
found that the steady pace, maintained
faithfully, yields the best results
i have also found it profitable to OBJ
serve Sunday as an absolute rest day. In
my former trips l have made it a rule to
allow no riding at all on Sundays, except
perhaps for distance OF five or six miles
stlnened. But / am thoroughly convinced
that such a course pays in the end. 1 have
round that after the rest OF Sunday the
boys would be in the best of condition,
healthy and inVigorated and eager for the
days ride. In coming to this city we shall
probably leave Chicago about the middle of
the week and rest Sunday, and / am con-
WINGED that / shall more than make up the
time lost in the Sunday rest before the end
OF the journey
Before starting out l shall take the ply
steal measurements of each enc in the COM
pany, and when our destination is reached
a measurement will take place in order to
ascertain exactly how each man stands the
long ride. L shall require the men to rub
down every evening" and will endeaVor to
bring each one through the whole way in
prime condition. If any show signs of
weakness or exhaustion, the pace of the en-
no et-s Oh nod
date him. Cherries will be ripe just about
the time that we will make our experiment
and shall have 20 watch the boys very
carefully TO prevent sickness. 1t is my de-
sire TO bring every one of the party through
the whole trip. and unless one of the boys
should become really sick and unable TO
travel | think it can be done
Upon our arrival in this city we will
avail ourselves of the privileges of the Co
iumpla Athletic Club, which have been very
kindly rendered by the board of governors
The use Of the gymnasium and bathrooms
the party.
We will not bring cook with us but
each man will be expected to prepare his
own food We viii depend largely upon the
hospitality of the country through which
we pass for our lationS as | do not nropose
L. carry put limited supply with us at the
start. / have found that the concentrated
FOODS prepared for such trips do not serve
Waeeimen well after two or three days
AFTER that time they require a supply of
wholesome fresh foods and meat and we
snall obtain these from the stores and farms
along our road.
In addition to the equipments each man
Will carry for use in making camn az
night extra parts of wheels will be broleht
along. Each man viii carry one extra
spoke, and distributed throughout the com
pahy Will be the extra parts of one entire
bicycle. one man will bring a medal an
other crank hanger, and SO on; SO that
IN case of breakdown there NAV be no
unusual delay in getting under way again.
require every member of nv cycle
company TO be thoroughly familiar with
the parts of his machine and to be capable
OF taking II apart and assembling il to-
gether again. He must also be able to
make all ordinary repairs, such rs straight
eplng out bent frame replacing q broken
spoke repairing a puncture etc Unless
he can do these things, he has no business
III a bicycle company the road
When we make our trip each man will
have note book with him. in which 10
make record of accidents and Incidents
of the journey. Afterward | shall. collect
these and make a tabulated account of
the trip, which ought to contain some in
teresting and useful information on the
subject of moving bodies of infantry across
country on bicycles"
bicycling and Health.
Mrs. Eta Morse Hudder lectured before
the Brooklyn Health Culture Club on "Cy-
cling in its Relation to Health" A New
York paper quotes her as follows: