Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-05
RUNAWAY MOTOR CYCLE
George Sherman's Performance Recalls the
70 Famous John Gilpin Ride.
Something Gets Wrong With the
Battery and His Motor Cycle
Runs Fast Away.
From Today's New York Journal.

It has arrived at last-the runaway motor
cycle. 1t made it's first bow in Brooklyn
yesterday afternoon and conducted itself
with a wealth of eccentricity that would
have cheered the soul of a colored supple
ment artist.
This particular machine is the invention
of one George Dunton of Jamaica, L. 1. 1t
is formidable-looking tricycle., with a
small storage battery tucked away near
the axle OF the front wheel. Dunton, who
cherishes it as the apple Of his eye, took
it out for trial trip on Tuesday. While
he was humping sedately over the cobble-
stones of East New York, the power gave
out, and he found himself becalmed. In
this predicament, he trundled the vehicle
to Grant street and Glenmore avenue
where George Sherman conducts the dual
trades of bicycle repairer and electrician.
Sherman looked the machine over, saw
what was the matter and promised the in
ventor to fix 1t over night If he would leave
1t. In his secret heart the versatile Sher-
man was yearning to take ride, but he
dissembled his feelings, and Dunton, sus-
pecting nothing, rode back to Jamaica on
trolley car.
Mounted the Monster.
Sherman applied few deft touches to
the brushes in the motor and the machine
was as good as new. Yesterday afternoon
he left his shop in charge Of boy, took
the tricycle. into the street and mounted,
having utterly neglected to make his will.
The lever was set against dial plat on
which various rates of speed were marked
Sherman was resolved to preserve a modest
pace, 50 he set the indicator at the five
miles an hour mark. Even as he did so
the tricycle. leaped forward with such vio-
lence as to nearly unseat him, and sped
down Glenmore avenue at a rate that Sher-
ard 10 -a6c Il ~ fnn OF
least mile minute.
The riders hat blew off at the first bound,
and he found it necessary to cling to the
guides like grim death in order to avoid
being thrown. Whenever the wheels struck
n hole in the roadway the ma chine rocked
from side to side like a cookie shell in the
wash of ferryboat. Disengaging one
hand, he tried to shut off the current, but
the lever would not bulge. This alarm
ing discovery left but one course open to
him. as a man of resource and presence
OF mind, to trust in God and keep in the
middle of the road. Applying all his intel
happy Sherman resigned himself to what
ever fate might have in store for him. In
cidenta.ly. he screamed at the top of his
voice and kept the gong changing without
intermssion
Bicyclists along the avenue joined in a
unanimous "sauve qui peut." Some rode
into the gutter and others into side streets.
A Mrs. Smith. who is a townswoman Of the
motor machines inventor did not get out
of the way quickly enough. The rear wheel
OF her bicycle was struck by one of the
rear wheels of the runaway machine and
she was thrown to the ground, but not
badly hurt.
Thought Him ScOrcher.
Two bicycle policemen caught sight OF
Sherman as he tore along on the phantom
tricycle., which gathered momentum with
every block and reached the simultaneous
conclusion that he was the most depraved
type of scorcher they lad ever laid eyes
on. Bending over their handlebars they
started in pursuit, followed by a small
army of civilian wheelmen.
There seemed to be method in Sherman S
madness. When he reached the corner OF
Enfield street something prompted him to
wheel into that tnoroughfare. Thence he
turned into Broadway, the clickety-clac
of the motor sounding above the cIang of
the gong. The bicycle policemen, who
had warmed up to speed of at least twen-
ty miles an hour, hardly gained on him at
all.
From Broadway Sherman and the tri-
cycle whizzed into Shore avenue. The road
way there was badly cut up. Gangs OF
Workmen were excavating trenches for the
Woodhaven Water Company. Sherman
saw his peril and at the same time his OPP
portunity. He steered the monster that
had taken him captive against the softest
thing in sight-a huge pile of dirt. 1t halt
ed even more suddenly than it had started,
and threw the misguided Sherman head
first into the ditch beyond.
AS he clambered out, groaning from his
bruises, his pursuers arrived.
why didn't you stop when we shouted"'
they demanded in a breath
BECAUSE, responded Sherman, as he
bent down to look at the battery 1.-The
wires were crossed"