The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-04
Greatest Gathering of Wheel
men Ever Seen
Assemblies at Philadelphia for
the National Meet.
CRACK RIDERS COMING
All the Fast Men in the COun-
try Are Expected.
One Rider Comes All the Way
From johannesburg.

Philadelphia, Aug. 4-The visiting
wheeInen to the big national L. A. w.
meet were astir early this morning and
were soon in complete possession of the
asphalt streets and suburban roads and
park drives. AS the day set apart for
racing approach, the registration OF
visitors indicates that the meet Of 1897
far exceeds that of any previous year.
When the registration ceased last night
more members had registered than dur
ing all the days of last years meet. AS
early as z o'clock this morning the
doors of the headquarters We're thrown
open and the work of registration con-
t1nued. Judging from the early morn
ing crowd this work will take up a large
portion of the day.
The arrivals today were even far in
excess of yesterday Members of re-
ceptlon committees and other local
league members were at the Union de-
pot and greeted the visitors. Ex- Chair
man Howard E. Raymond. of the rae
ing board was one of the first to arrive
and was soon in conference with last
years chairman George Gideon. AL
bert Mott of Baltimore, the present
chairman was also a visitor at the
headquarters this morning and held a
consultation with Thomas Hare, chair
man OF the executive committee of the
meet and a. B. Powell, the official hand
icapper for this district. The list of
entries was carefully gone over and
the record of each man in the anna teur
ranks examined. By tonight nearly all
of the racing men will be in town. The
Asbury Park races yesterday detained
most of them, but Titus, Bald, Kiser,
Johnson, Cooper, Sanger Butler Mer-
tens, Stevens, Hamilton and many 9TH
er amateurs as well as professionals
are expected tomorrow morning.
The major portion will locate near
the track at Willow Grove, IA miles
from Philadelphia and will spend to-
morrow in preparation for the trials of
Friday and Saturday.
The meet was formally opened this
morning at o'clock with a scheduled
run to Andorara Nurseries and return
a distance of about ten miles. The Wis
1ting riders turned out in large num-
berS under the escort of the local com
m1ttee. The air was sultry but beyond
this the day was perfect for riding
The sun kept behind clouds for most
of the time and the run was through
one of the most beautiful sections of
the city Th1S afternoon the visitors
were given another run out Lancaster
Pike, past the country homes of MANY
of Philadelphia's wealthiest citizens
The wheelWOmen from other cities are
being looked after by a ladies' auxiliary
committee. Headquarters have been
secured in the Odd Fellows Temple and
every care and attention is being given
given the fair riders.
Tomorrow night reception and
lunch will be given at Belmont man
sion in Fairmont park in their honor
The Indianapolis contingent are spar
ing no effort to secure next years meet
The first StreakS of early dawn were
just beginning to show themselves this
morning when the labors of yesterday
were concluded and the sun was not
so very old when they were at it again.
with Mayor McTaggart and Postmaster
Sahm at their head. They have head
quarters at the Hotel Walton and their
parlors are open night and day. In
vitatfOns are being extended to all the
a
while the rank and file is busy bringing
in the crowds and pledging them to In
dianapOlis for the next meet. The city
VIII be selected when the national dl-
vision holds its annual meeting
So far the visitor who has Travelled
the farthest to attend the meet is G.. II.
C1app. He came all the way from 10.
hannesburg, the capital of the South
African republic, and predicts that the
present meet will be the most success
full ever held.