Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
THE TOURIST WHEEL CLUB.

oSodoy ~ liz Ills AlOludy Ill dCl
month. Its stock is S. per share and the
dues 81 per month, payable quarterly in
advance.
THE TOURIST WHEEL CLUB.
The Tourist Wheel club, now a fourishihg
and popular organization, is next to the
oldest wheel club in the city, having been
organized on March 5, 1890. Its organizers
were: H. X. Smith, Richard Belt, Jack
Eastman and Bob Young, and a more popu-
lar quartette of wheelmen than these never
straddled wheels in Omaha. The Tourists
from the date of their organization have
been strictly a riding club and have made no
pretensions to being a social organization,
therefore their motto, "In the Saddle" is a
well chosen one. At the close of the rid
ing season Of 1890 the membership reached
forty-six. The club had no quarters, but
met at a prominent bicycle store on Fiji
teenth street and Capitol avenue. Regular
weekly club runs were adhered to. In 1891
the club membership increased to sixty
three and the club mileage was greater than
that OF any other club in the city at the
time. In 1892 the membership ran up to
ninety-one, and in 1898 to 11S, the club
mileage increasing accordingly. In the spring
Of 1898 the club moved into its first club
quarters, which were located at Twentieth
and California streets. On July 22 OF that
year the members held a most successful
race meet, clearing several hundred dollars,
which they used to advantage in furnishing
the club rooms. During the winter OF 1898
"a some enjoyable social sessions were held
In the club rooms and everything ran
smoothly until the summer of 1894. when
many of the members became negligent and
neglected to pay their dues. They were
forced to give up their quarters and came
very near disbanding, but a few of the loyal
members managed to hold the organization
together, and after some hard and persistent
work succeeded In effecting a reorganization
which drew the few remaining club men
together, but at the close OF 1894 the roster
.nnt .Al n l.s,tw as-1t np,A In th n
spring Of 1895 things began to come the
clubs way, and before the season closed Its
membership numbered $50. This was by far
the most prosperous season the club ever ex-
perienced, as to club members, mileage and
finance. Its total mileage for the season
was upwards of 10000 miles. At the close
Of 1895 the club fund itself entirely out of
debt with a balance in the treasury and a
road record not enjoyed by any club west
Of Chicago. Last spring they moved into
pleasant quarters, in the Creighton block,
free from debt and with a large and loyal
membership. Many club runs were taken
during the season and enjoyed by nearly all
Of the members. rsnAt the present time the
club is cosilyq quartered in rooms In the
Shelly block and Is in a fourishing condi-
ton. 1t has the names Of about twenty
women upon its honorary membership roll,
all of whom are enthusiastic wheelwomen.
SOME, CENTURY RIDERS.
In the spring of 1898 the Tourist Century
club was Organized, ana us membership
now numbers sixty or more, all of whom
have ridden atslesat one century, and some
Of them many more. At the beginning of
the riding season of 1890, shortly after the
organization OF the club. a gold medal was
voted to the member who should have the
greatest mileage at the end of the season.
This plan was adhered to until the past
season.
The following is a list of the medal win
ners: 1891, H. X. Smith; 1892, E. l.. Potter;
1898, John Hynes and w. A. Kingsley; 1894,
E. p. Walker; 1895. W. G.. Bouk. The club
has always fostered racing. and has had
several racing teams In the field, all OF which
have been winners. Among the prominent
racing men who have ridden to victory under
Tourist eolors are the following: j. II. Kast-
man. W.. J. Morris. Billie Schnell, Russell
Condor, Louis Flescher, G. X. penman. e.
L. Potter, Lester Holton, ". M. Barnum,
Jack Gully, Il. A. Proulx, w. A. Pixiey,
Deal Wertz, George Toozer, Harry Edghin,
H.. C. Hattenhauer, II. Il. Tagger and Il. r.
Walker.
The following Is a list of presidents and cap
tains who have served since the clubs organi-
cation: 1890, Richard Belt, president; IL. X.
Smith. captain; 1891. J. H. Eastman presi-