The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-05
[. A. w. NATIONAL MEET
WORE OF THE INDIANAPOLIS DELE
CATION AT PHILADELPHIA.
Efforts to Secure the Honor OF Enter
ing Cracks Gathering.

PHILADELPHIA. Aug. Aft Indianap-
oils does not get the next national meet of
the League of American Wheelmen it will
not be for lack OF effort. Every man in the
Hoosier delegation is working day and night
to secure the prize. Mayor Taggart is
bringing his knowledge OF political wire
pulling to bear on the delegates and is Sc
curing many pledges. Postmaster Sahm
and Judge Hackney are the mayors chief
lieutenants and are also working with I'M
firing energy to land the 1888 meet. The
chief competitor of Indianapolis is Omaha.
The Ind:anians have headquarters at the
Hotel Walton, and their parlors are open
night and day. Invitations are being ex-
tended to all the league members to give
them a call, while the rank and file is busy
bringing in the crowds and piedging them
to Indianapolis for next meet. The city will
be selected when the national division holds
it's annual meeting.
Close, sultry weather characterized the
opening day of the eighteenth national
meet, but 1t failed to suppress the enthusi-
asm or lessen the number of arrivals. The
number of wheelmen already registered is
far in excess of any previous " race
meets. and up to a late hour o-night every
train brought additional visitors. Promi-
nent among to-day's arrivals We're: Albert
Mott, of Baltimore, chairman of the nation
al racing board; Herbert w. Foltz, chair
man of the Indianapolis racing board; AL
bert Bassett, secretary and treasurer Of the
National l.. A. W.; Sterling Elliott, eX-
president of the league, and William IL.
Klinker, secretary of the Associated Cy-
cling Clubs of New York city. A. d. Peck,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of the Massachusetts
division, who viii act as a starter IN the
races, wheeled all the way from Boston.
c. Il. Kast, president of the LoulsYlIle
League of Wheelmen, Who Will act as clerk
OF the course, arrived to-day.
During the morning Chairman Mott and
Thomas Hare, chairman of the race meet
executive committee, went carefully over the
list of entries and examined the records OF
each professional and amateur. Two entrles
delayed in transmission were received TO-
day. They were j. Frank MohIer and Andre
Bouling, of the City OF Mexico. Tney are
the amateur champions OF Mexico. and are
reported to be very last riders.
from daylight until long after mldnlght
the asphalteo streets, suburban roads and
park drives were dotted by riders OF both
sexes. Although the humidity was high,
the sun was behind clouds most OF the
day, and lesSened the discomfort conSid-
erably. The first scheduled run of the meet
was started at . O'Clock from the national
headquarters. over 800 riders, many OF
them women, covered the ten miles 70 the
country clubhouse of the Century wheel
men, riding along the river drive In Fair
mount Park and the picturesque Wlssa-
hickon valley. After refreshments the re-
turn 10 the CITY WdS llduS, ddAO q mum
larger number rode out the Lancaster pike
the finest macadam road in the country,
passing the country homes of some OF Phll-
adelphia'S Wealthiest citizens.
By midnight many of the racing cracks
had made their appearance, most of whom
went Immediately to the track at willow
Grove, fourteen miles from the city, and
established themselves. in their quarters.
Johnny Johnson, of Minneapolis, met
with an accident late last night, ana may
not be able to enter. lie Was beng paced
on the Willow Grove track by Jack Lind
ley, when the latter's rear wheel broke
and threw Lindlcy. Johnson spilled over
him and severely bruised his right side.
Lindley was slightly scratched.
women visitors by an auxiliary committee
Of local Wheelwomen. Headquarters have
been opened in the odd Fellows Temple,
across from the national headquarters. To-
honor at Belmont Mansion, III West Fair
mount Park.
Word was received to-day that the first
section Of the large delegation of New York
city riders left Jersey City this morning on
bikes to attend the meet.
So far the visitor who has Travelled the
farthest to attend the meet is g.. II. CIapp.
He came all the way from johannesburg
the capita city of the South African re-
public, and predicts that the present meet
will be the most successful ever held.
York riders arrived here shortly after Z
o'clock. The few that dropped out came in
later by train. The run was paced by j. f.
Starbuck, but no attempt was made to
started, Mrs. f. C. Kimball, of Boston, and
Mrs. Eta Hudders. of New York. were
among the first to arrive.
Tonight all the visiting l.. A. W: mem
bers were given a ride on the Delaware.
followed by an entertainment at Washing
ton Park, on the Delaware. Tomorrow
will be devoted to runs and an all-night
smoker at the national headquarters.
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