Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-04
Promise of the Most Successful Meet
ing L. A. ", Has Ever Had.
CROWDS CONTINUE POURING IN
PhiladeIp hiaWheeImen Exert Them
selves to Entertain the Visitors.
J. II. CLAPP'S LONG JOURNEY

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, August 4.-The
visiting wneelmen to the big L. A. w.
meet were astir early this morning and
were soon in complete possession of the
smooth asphalt streets and suburban roads
and park drives. AS the days set apart
for racing approach the registration OF
visitors indicates that the meet of 1897
will far exceed that of any previous year.
When the registration ceased late last night
| more members had registered than during
all the days of last years meet.
AS early as I o'clock this morning the
doors of the headquarters were thrown
! OPEN and the work of registration contin-
ued. Judging from the carly morning
crowds this work will take up a large por-
ton of the day. The arrivals today were
even far in excess of yesterday.
Greeting to Visitors.
Members of reception committees and
other local league members were at every
railroad depot and road approach to the
city and greeted the visitors. Ex-Chair-
man Howard e. Raymond of the racing
board was one of the first to arrive, and
was soon in conference with last years
chairman, George Gideon. Albert Mott of
Baltimore, the present chairman, was also
visitor at the headquarters this MORN
ing, and held consultation with Thomas
Hare, chairman of the executive commit
tee of the meet, and Abe Powell, the Of
fetal Handicapped for this district.
The list of entries was carefully gone
over, and the record of each man in the
amateur 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,
Riser, johnson, Cooper, Sanger. Butler,
Starbuck, Parsons, Mertens, Stevens, Ea-
ton, Wells Hamilton, Stevenson and many
others, amateurs as well as professionals,
are expected to be in their quarters by to-
morrow morning. The major portion will
locate near the track at Willow Grove.
fourteen miles from PHILADELPHIA ana will
spend tomorrow. in preparation for the
trials Of Friday and Saturday.
Formal Opening Today.
The meet was formally opened this morn
ing at 0 o'clock with a scheduled run to
Andora nurseries and return, distance of
about ten miles. The visiting riders turned
out in large numbers, under the escort of
the local committee. The air was sutry,
but beyond this the day was perfect for
riding. T. =
The sun kept behind clouds for most of
the time, and the run was through one of
the most beautiful sections of the city and
Paramount Park. This afternoon the WIS.,
| itors were given another run out Lancaster
pike, one of the finest macadam roads in
| the country, and past the country homes OF
| many of Philadelphia's wealthiest and
| most substantial citizens.
The wheel women from other cities are
being looked afterGby ladies' auxiliary
committee. Headquarters have been Sc
| cured in the Odd Fellows Temple, and
every care and attention is being given the
fair riders of the League of American
Wheemen. TOMORROW night a reception
ard lunch will be given at Belmont man
SIGN in Fairmount Park in their honor.
After Next Years Meet.
The Indianapolis contingent are sparine
no efforts to make sure of next years
meet. The first faint streaks of early dawn
were just beginning to show themselves
this morning when the labors of yester-
day were concluded, and the sun was moi
SO very old when they were at 1t again
with Mayor Taggart and Postmaster Lahm
at their head They have headquarters al
the Hotel Walton, and their parlors are
open night and day. Invitations are being
extended to all the league members to give
them call, while the rank and file is busy
bringing in the crowds and pledging them
to Indianapolis for the next meet The
city will be selected when the national di.
vision holds it's annual meeting
So far the visitor who has Travelled the
farthest to attend the meet is G. H Clapp
He came all the way from Johannesburg
the capital city of the South African re-
public, and predicts that the present meet
Will be the most successful ever held