The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-05
CYCLISTS FALL In A DITCH
DUO ACROSS THE BOUJETARD AT
NINETY-FOURTH STREET.

-
One AFTER Another Ihey Cene Creppers ane
Break Thcir wheels-A Bicycle Fouoense
1niurod Flnnliy-Euad 20 90 TO . Hespita'-Nee
Until Then Wore Warning Lamps hauns Vn|
Three days ago q strip OF asphalt about q tooS
wide was taken from the Boulevard NJ Ninety
fourth street. 1t extended from the east curo
diagonaily across to the parkway = IN tne m,uuio
of the street. The purpose OF Its removai was
tho digging Of q trench In which 10 LAY en
underground pipe.
Constant travel over tho; slight hollow thus
caused kept making It deeper and deeper py ING
crushing and tho packing Of the loose mabeIi".
on which the asphalt is laid, 30 that by iast
night there was o depression there OF from Six
to eight inches. In consequence 1t pecamo a
snare and q pitfall for all cyclists who TOOK
their spin on the Boulevard in the evening.
To make matters worse, no lights were put up
by those responsible, to warn the wheeimeh.
and such q popping of tires and orush'ng OF
spokes there has not been for q long time. hse
result the city is threatened with q numper Oh
damage suits for both injuries to wheels ana 70
the persons Of a large number Of cyclists.
The trouble began as loon as darkness came
on. 1t was a fine night, and tho Boulevard was
lined its whole length with a %ceaseless bicycle
| parade. Men and women went whizzing gayly
uptown until they reached Ninety-fourth
bUTOcU. lHBr0 tntJ Wcnb uOWh Wy ~ o1S
Tho famous ditch at tho battle Of Waterloo
which, according to Victor Hugo. defeated the
French, wasn't in it with this one, and ON
looking bicycle-phobists enjoyed It all hugely.
lined up at both ends Of the hollow and watched
developments. Not a sound of warming would
kersmash on the pavement they howled with
glee.
grief in this way, and had not a bike cop bit
tho dust the wrecking might have kept up al
night. About 8 o'clock the parade was at it's
FPedfn M lee sme Forty yards ahead Of him
were a couple OF young cyclists bowling along
m mi app'9f for &"I about rn TWO n minu 1tea and tho bicy-
clepobists were eager for another fall. They
yiSins w II siIea aSd w hee tw Th sG uiFeh F loofed H iiEs
o deep shadow or the trail of q sprinkling cart.
Together they struck it. Tho rims of the front
The riders went sliding headlong on the as
phalt beyond. A bawl went up from the mis-
"Why'n't you tell a feller,' said one Of the
young men as he arose, rubbing his elbow, and
glared at the crowd.
the unsympathetIc response from one Of the by
ISLANDERS, while every one else, chuckled;
chimes ON ON 70 od the Sidewalk and out Of the way
as quickly as possible, forgetting in their dis
comfiture to warn others who were rapidly FOL
lowing.
Meehan by this time was almost at the ditch
He had seen the cyclists tumble and had hur
Tltu vi " IL u WndJ CduScus n Wohioh
also pedalling like a racer to crafty her cur1os
ity. She sped up alongside the policeman. ant
down they went together amid a chorus Of :yelis
The woman was not hurt, but Meehan's RICH
wrist was badly sprained. Both wheels wer'
wrecked. Meehan helped the woman to he
feet. and while she dragged her dismantlet
machine away he went in search of a foot pc
liceman. Having found one he explained tn
danger at the ditch, and red lanterns were pu
Welt Hospital and had his wrist dressed, afte
which he went home, being no longer able t
ride his wheel.
The red lanterns having spoiled all the fu,
for the bicyclephobists, the crowd at the ditto
soon melted away. One of the wheelmon, VIII
was toppled over took the names of a larg
number of witnesses. He said he was going t
sue tho city for damages and persuade ever
ono else who suffered to do likewise.