Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-15
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The bicycle taxing ordinance, by which
the authorities OF Chicago hoped to gather
In 500, 600. had brief, precarious existence.
1t went into operation on the ist Of Au-
gust and was electrocuted by the courts on
the 7th. The validity OF the ordinance was
raised in Judge Tuleys court and was
promptly declared unconstitutional and the
collection OF the tax enjoined. The court
held that the power OF the city to exact
a license was limited to Occupations and
that bicycle riding could not be so cassed.
Nor has the city tho right to impose an
independent tax on the bicycle, because 1t Is
included in personal property already taxed
and double taxation Is prohibited. The out
come OF the contest caused much rejoicing
among the wheeling multitude. and is re-
garded as a quietus to the various schemes
of Chicago aldermen 10 collect revenue from
cyclors.
A Brooklyn bicycle hater, driving a milk
wagon, deliberately crowded three bicycllsts,
one OF them woman. to the curb, In such
a way that the woman was thrown down
and seriously hurt When her escort and
several oJher wheelmen placed themselves
before the mikman and ordered him to
stop he made his horse spring forward to
run them down also. Their agility saved
them, aud the cowardly driver seeing other
wheelmen gathering to secure his arrest
started his wagon at full speed in retreat.
Finally, however, he was cornered, IN
bad neighborhood where, when the story OF
his brutality was heard, the cry OF Lynch
him!" was raised. But the police took
charge OF him, and took him to the station,
where his address was recorded, so that a
warrant could be issued for him. but the
sergeant decided he could not be held In
the absence of such warrant. The brute
left the station declaring he would run
down" blcyClists whenever they got in his
way You bet I'm bicycle hater," he
exclaimed, If there was peculiar glory
In the appelation.
Material for thrilling fin de steele romance
Is found in the story which comes from
Shelbyyllle, Ind. \ yoCug Lochinvar loved
a maiden fair. but could not secure the favor
of her stern father. He determined on an
elopemenL and she met him in the suburbs,
where he had two swift steeds-bOth 1897
modcls-in waiting. They mounted ana
were scorching down the pike at a police
court rate when they heard the report of a
revolver behind them. Thcy looked pack
and saw the old man riding a 20 ordinary,
trying 20 overtake them and blazing away in
their direction meanwhile. He was bet
ter marksman than he was scorcher ana
managed to puncture the rear tire ot the
wheel ridden by the girl. Nothing daunt5d,
however she leaped to the ground and IL
& second vas up behiud her lover, VINO IN
spite OF the extra load speeded away from
their i-ate pursuer and were soon ullteu
BY ready justice OF the peace in the next
town. At first thought it would seem that a
tandem is the most appropriate vehicle for
clipping couples, but the result OF this Ven-
ture shows that the young man was pos
sessed OF remarkable foresight in proVlulhs
separate wheels.
Charles Schilling of Railway, n. j., was
killed last week while riding his bicycle
by running into one Of the shafts OF wagon
which was coming toward him. Schiillng'
with some companions was returning nome
from Elizabeth aud attempted to outspeed
his friends, After the fashion Of many cy-
clists he threw himself forward and bent low
over his hande-bars in the enort TO increase
his speed. The result was that ne faleu 10
see the wagon, and dasblng on W!th ue-
mendous momentum he impaled himself on
the shaft which was driven into his breast
m the depth of four inches, killing him al
most Instantly. If he had been sitting erect
on his wheel he would in al probability nave
seen the approaching vehicle ana saVeu us
life. The habit of leaning over the handie,
bars OF the bicycle is not only an ungracetuI
and unhealthy, but dangerous one, anu
should be abandoned.
Down at Dayton, o., the police department
has adopted a novel patrol wagon, II II may
he so called 1t consists OF tricycle. I'M
front and rear seats of which are occupied
by police officers, while the third seat Is re
served for the prisoner. Thls seat Is lur
nlshed with handouts, and on the axle are
pair OF stirrups, with locks to clasp the fee
of the prisoner The advantages of the ma
chine are obvious, since better time can d.
made with 1t than with patrol wagon ah'
horses and not only the initial cost but th
maintenance of the machine is, of course
far lees than that of a patrol wagon an'
team.
When a call for the police comes in tw'
officers spring to the saddles and pedal ava!
70 the place. II a drunken man or unrull
customer is to be handled, he is speedil!
placed on the seat and his wrists and ankle
bound with the steel clasps. He is thus ren
dered harmless, since he can neither inter
fere with the progress of the machine no
trouble the policemen. 1t Is pecularl!
adapted to a small city, where riot calls arr
infrequent and not more than one prisone
is often arrested at a time.