The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-24
4 WINDY OUTING DAY
BieyeIists and Drivers Vie
With One Another on the
Boulevard = CoIored
Mans Mishap.

The beautiful weather OF yesterday
was thoroughly appreciated by all cy-
clists. All day long and far into the
| night the Boulevard was crowded with
bicycles and carriages. though not SO
many of the latter as of the former, thus
demonstrating the popularity of the
wheel. To the pedestrians who were out
in great numbers yesterday the wine was
most agreeable, and 1t was even pleasant
to whcelrnen, especially when they trav-
elled in the direction of the Point. The
breeze which exhilarated the riders made
them forget that there is an ordinance
prohibiting them from riding more than
| twelve miles an hour, and the bicycle
cops were kept busy warning them to
moderate their pace. The Boulevard was
in excellent condition for wheeling. The
| roadway was lard and smooth, and pre-
scented a fine riding surface; also the
centre roadway, which was originally in
tended for horses and carriages, is com
ing to the front, and is being used con-
siderably by bicyclists. 1t was formerly
| covered with a layer of fine pebbles, but
these have entirely disappeared and the
middle of the road is much patronized by
| riders.
Although it is early in the season. the
shore front over in Greenville and Bay
onne were crowded yesterday and the
stands along the roadway did a rushing
business. There was also a large number
sail UP the Bay. AT Salter's Casino, in
Bayonne, the bicycle racks were packed
to tn men u ! pss cap !s 2 p;Tnhhiis, was was also
Donald's shore. at Bergen Point.
The usual number of club were out
yesterday, on their regular weekly runs.
Among fhaGa Barn thu (lino s. tho RIISi-
nessmen's Cycle Club, the Mercury Wheel
men, the Catholic Club Cyclers and the
Areanum Wheelmen. Several large dele,
New York, riding to the Boulevard by
way of York street., to Mercer, thence
to the Boulevard, and after riding up as
far as Union Hill, turning around and
riding down to Beals Shore House, at
Bergen Point, where dinner was served
After a short rest they started for home
that visit the Boulevard IN Sunday the
road is getting to be one of the most pop
ular in the country.
A very amusing scene was Witnessed
yesterday afternoon by a number Of peo-
pie on the Boulevard, near the bridge
which spans the cut over the tracks of
the Newark branch of the Central Rail
road. A crowd of youngsters varying IN
age from six to twelve years were play
ing bal! in a lot nearby when a little fell
rode up to where they were playing, on
a bicycle, which looked as as though it
was large enough for a person twice his
size, and after d-ismounting and laying
the wheel down in the lot, proceeded to
join them in their sport. Two colored
men who had been watching the boys at
play for some time, began to discuss bi-
cycles. Finally one of the men, whom
his companion called ABE" said to his
friend, Bob, I bet you can't ride that
thing" at the same time pointing to the
bicycle that was lying. in the lot. The
fellow called Bob said he could ride a
wheel "as good as anyone" and proceed
ed to make good what he said. After get
tiEg the little fellows consent to use the
wheel, he took 1t out on the Boulevard,
and after several unsuccessful attempts
to mount he finally got started. Bob
was getting along nicely until he reached
the other side of the railroad bridge,
where there is a small hill. This he
started to go down, but after going about
half way, he suddenly saw a large stone
lying right in his path. He steared the
front wheel clear OF the stone all right.
but, alas, the hind wheel struck it square.
and Bob losing his balance, went hy-
ing over the handlebars into the road,
blowing up the dust with his face for a
distance of five feet. When he arose
from the dust he was a sight; everyone of
the buttons was torn off his vest and the
knees of both legs of his pants We're
ripped. After brushing the dirt off his
clothes, and feeling to discover if any
bones were broken, Bob and his COM
panlon SUNK away up a side street amid
the shouts of the youngsters.