davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

dent, H. X. Smith captain; 1892, w. M. Bar
nun president. n. l.. Potter captain: 1894,
II. p. Tagger president, n. p. Walker cap
tain; 1895, e. p. Walker president, II. X.
Smith captain; 1896. John Parish president,
Tom Spencer captain. The officers at the
J. d. Howe, vice president; L. d. Harrison,
secretary; D.. J. O'Brlen, treasurer; Tom
Spencer, captain. Meetings are held on first
Thursday after the first Monday in each
month, and the dues are Sc per year.
THE OMAHA TURNER'S.
The next club of size and Importance is
the Omaha Turner Wheel club. IL was or
ganized in April, 1895. by f. e. G. Kuehn,
w. +. Weber, william Bloedel, J. August
Doyle, II. Heyn. Ed Schurig and AL johnson.
1t started with a membership of eleven, and
has grown to nearly 100. 1t occupies com
modious quarters on the second floor OF
Turner hall. Eighteenth and Harvey streets.
The wheel club is an auxiliary society OF
the Turnverein, all members of the Turn
vervein being eligible to membership in the
wheel club. While the club operates under
its own rules. 1t is also amenable to the
rules governing the Turnverein. The
wheel club has no dues outside of the mem
bership in the Turnverein, which are SO
yearly and entities members to all the
privileges of the society. The Omaha Turn
verein Is a branch of the Turnerbund OF
North America, which has societies in all
the principal cities in the country and any
member travelling can procure a card which
will admit him to any society wherever he
may happen to be. The uniform of the
wheel club is similar to the Turner UNIFORM,
with the exception that the wheel club
members wear knee pants. While 1t Is not
compulsory for members to appear in uni
form, II is generally insisted for all club
runs. The members of this club have
always exerted themselves in the interests
of wheeling and to promote good fellowship
among the different clubs of the city.
The present officers of the club are: F. d,
G. Kuehn, president; Fred Krug. jr., vice
president; Fred Wallway, secretary; Philip
Windheim, treasurer; Phil Moeller. captain.
Delegates to the Associated Cycling Clubs:
]. II. Minds, Fred Krug, jr.. and Phil Wind
helm. Entertainment committee: r. u.
Kuehn, Theodore Banner, Paul Wurl, Fred
Bill, Fred Wallway. The club also has a
women's division with sixteen members, of
which Mrs. Herman Beselin is captain.
SOME OTHER WHEEL CLUBS.
In April, 1895, less than a dozen employees
of the Union Pacific railroad, all d~evotees
of the silent steed, made a Saturday after
noon run to Lake Manawa and it was there
that a temporary organization of the Union
Pacific Wheel club was effected. w. Il.
Reid OF the auditors office was chosen cap
tain. Quite a number of enjoyable trips were
made during that season, but at no time did
the membership exceed thirty. On February
%, 1896, a permanent organization was
effected. Richmond Anderson, auditor of dis
of the Union Pacific, was elected
president and Captain Reid chosen to Sue
coed himself.
1t is only fair to state that the club owes
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
SOME 1897 BICYCLE LAMPS.

be held next Decoration day. The association
has saved local wheelmen many dollars In
different ways. During the past season 1t
succeeded in interesting the police depart
ment in the wheelmen's welfare and on
several occasions people were arrested for
throwing glass In the streets and other Ike
%offenses. 1t seeks to benefit every individual
wheelman in the city, as well as the clubs,
and 1t is hoped that during the coming
season every club in the city will become a
member of the association and thereby help
a good cause along. The officers for 1897
are as follows; j. H. Minds, president;
j. e. Reid, vice president; John u. Howe,
secretary and treasurer.
CLUBS IN THE ASSOCIATION
The following is a list OF the clubs that are
members and their delegates to the associa-
ton: Omaha Wheel club, w. II. McCord,
G. w. Johnston, e. M. Cox; Nebraska
division League of American Wheelmen, e..
B. Henderson,, A. ]. Grover; Union Pacific
Wheel club, +. NJ. Hess, F. A. Gordon, w. e.
Reid; Turner Wheel club, Philip Windheim,
Fred Krug, jr., j. II. Minds; Tourist Wheel
mon, w. G. Clark. y. w. Fitch, w. C. Bouk,
John ID. Howe. Meetings are held monthly
at the rooms Of the different clubs, al
ternately, that are members.
OF the numerous cycle clubs that have been
organized In this city during the past fifteen
years, but have since disbanded, the Apollo
Cycling club was probably the most prom
inent. 1t was organized in July, 1889, as a
GU u "HA CT thal Niiiit ~ hua nv
distinction Of being the arst Juvenile club
of any prominence in the country. Its first
officers were: Roy Arnold, president; Elmer
Neville, vice president; William Walker,
secretary; w. r. Search, treasurer, and w.
A. PiXley, captain. The boys started out
with a membership Of fifteen, which had at
the close of the season grown to over forty, all
young fellows under Is years of age. 1t was
but a short time, however, until many of
the members became too old to be longer
eligible to membership, and as many older
wheelmen had expressed a desire to become
members, it was changed from a Juvenile
club to one admitting any amateur white
wheelman of good moral character. Club
rooms were engaged in the Shelly block,
where the organization thrived for some
time. It's racing team won distinction all
over the west, and thus advertised the club
a great deal. 1t was forced to disband in
1892 on account of mismanagement and lack
of interest.
Among the other clubs that have dis
banded are the following: Ramblers, organ
lied in 1887 and consolidated with Metro
politan Wheel club in 1888, disbanded in
1890; Idlewild Wheel club, organized 1891,
disbanded in 1894; Triangle wheelmen, organ
lied 1891, disbanded 1896; Columbia Wheel
club, organized 1895 and disbanded 1896.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
THE RUB.
Advice of an Expert on the selection
of n Mount.

Advice of an Expert IN the selection
of n Mount.
The following advice from an expert rider
is worth reproducing:
"You are the prospective purchaser OF a
bicycle, perhaps, and you want a wheel to
which you can devote all the loyalty OF a
cyclists heart and upon which you can
rely with absolute and implicit assurance.
'If such be the case, what Is the first
step In the course OF wisdom? The acquiring
of information, consultation with expe-
rienced friends. the building up of that con-
hdence which will enable you to make your
choice with no final hesitation or uncer-
tainty.
9TH candidature Of the multitude Of BIZ
cycles is so confusing that the best plan
To pursue Is to select the names of those
that are really eligible, according to your
personal ideas of weight, model, finish. etc.
Then seek out from among your friends the
riders of these respective wheels and in
quire concerning the merit of their mounts.
'You will find appreciation and disappro-
baton; you will hear minute details mag
niied and glazing faults condoned. But
heed steadfastly the principle on which you
first nroceeded-that of elimination--and you
viii at length discover the bicycle that pos
sesses the minimum number OF drawbacks
and imperfections and the maximum num-
Der of eXcellences.'
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

snug little sum- rsil OF which was used to
help furnish the club house. In the summer
of 1891 the club wHs awarded the state meet
by the divislonl officers and II was held on
September 20 nj the old fair grounds. From
a racing standpoint the meet was a success
full one, but fnancially 1t was a failure.
In the spring Of 1898 the organization
known 40 the t0maha Wheel Club Googlers
was BORN hesGoqglers' club was organized
by about a dozen oof the clubs jolly mem
bers, who conoeiyed the idea OF forming a
secret society In the club. Their meetings
were held at high noon or midnight and
their social session at all times of the day.
For violation Of any rule a member was
fined so many "decoys." Just what "decoys"
were perhaps no one outside Of the members
OF the society ever knew, but suffice it to
say the members were always very careful
not to violate many Of the sacred rules.
Since their organization this jolly band of
funnakers have been prominent figures at
the inherent state meets eacn year and al
ways seem to enjoy themselves and furnish
much amusement to others.
MOVING IN HARD LINES.
The Omaha Wheel club continued to pros
per until the spring of 1894, when interest
In the club began to die out. The mem
bership decreased rapidly and in a short
time 1t was too small to keep UP such ex-
pensiye quarters. In July Of that year a
committee was appointed to look for new
and cheaper quarters. Rooms on the third
MOOR or Boyd's theater building we're en-
gaged ana on August 1 the club occupied
them. Everything went smoothly in the
new quarters for a time. The membership
increased and the organization again -four
ished. During last summer II was the same
old story. Club interest waned and some
thing had to be done to keep the club on
It's rect. A committee was appointed to
nold a Deneht race meet to raise funds for
the club. The meet was extensively adyer-
tised, a splendid prize list offered. the
entries OF the fastest riders In the west
secured and everything pointed to a most
successful meet, which was to have taken
place on September 26. Bad weather, how
ever, necessitated a postponement of the
meet Tor one week and when the day came
1t was anything but a pleasant one. The
races were run as per schedule and we're
among the finest ever seen in the west. But
the public did not patronize them. therefore,
when the expenses were figured up. 1t was
round that the club had lost nearly 500.
Notwithstanding this financial misfortune,
the boys went to work with a will to nut
some new life into the organization. New
quarters on Eighteenth, between Farnam
and Douglas streets, were secured and the
club moved into them on November I. 1t
is now in a prosperous condition. having
but recently thinned out the poor-paying
members. added a buffet to the quarters
and made many other much-needed i'm
provements. The officers are: j. l.. Live
sey, president; f. H.. Siefken. wee presi-
dent; G. w Johnston. treasurer; C.. V.
Light, secretary, and +. S. Mccormick. cap
tain. The club is incorporated under the
laws OF the state of Nebraska and holds
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
STORY OF THE WHEEL CLUBS
Rise and Fall Of the Twentieth Street
0ttoes.
0MAHA'S FIRST BICYCLE ENTHUSIASTS
sketches of the Organizations, the
Members of which, During the
Summer Months, spin Along
the Highways.

In the spring Of 1879 Jim Stephenson, while
on a business trip to Chicago, purchased
six bicycles Tor that many young scions of
wealthy Omaha families. The wheels, how
ever, were not ready for shipment until
May Of that year, and when they arrived
nearly the whole population of Omaha con-
gregated at the depot to get a look at them.
And such bicycles as they ~were-wooden
wheels, spokes, fellows, and iron tires and
weighing in the neighborhood of fifty pounds
each, but they were bicycles, and bicycles
we're something new and something that
everybody could not ride in those days, and
therefore they were appreciated more by the
youngsters than a modern high grade safety
would be by an Omaha boy now. The boys
soon learned to ride their iron steeds and
were envied by every youth in town who
was not fortunate enough to possess one.
These six boys conceived the idea OF forming
a bicycle club, and early in June, 1879, the
Twentieth Street Ottoee, as they named their
organization, was born. AS these were the
first bicycles ever brought to Omaha, the
club was the frs one OF It's kind ever or
ganized in the city. Its charter members
were: George ID. Miner. Allen Marsh, viii
Gown, jim Stephenson, jr., Ned Blair and
Walter Mir er. The club rooms were To-
Gated in Stephenson's private barn, Nine
teenth and Cass streets, where the boys held
all of their meetings and assembled to start
upon their runs, which we're generally called
to Walnut Hill or some nearby place. The
club existed for a year or so and seyerai
new members were added, but the novelty
finally wore off and they disbanded. BY
this time the bicycle had become a common
sight upon the streets of Omaha, and a
whirling wheel along the thoroughfares was
a spectacle of such frequency as to familiar
ize all with it's mechanism, its graceful
beauty and desirability as a source Of most
delightful exercise.
GIVEN A NEW IMPETUS.
1t was on the evening of March 10. 1881.
that a select coterie of friends, principally
wealthy young men, assembled at w. ].
Broatch's office on Harvey street for the
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
GONGs OF THE BICYCLIsTs.

Chicago Post.
Distressing is the clang! clang! clangt
We hear it all around;
A hundred gongs are going bang"
n hundred whistles sound.
start, we dodge and wildly jump;
We run this way and that;
In spite of all we get a bump
That likely throws us fiat.
For every wheelman has a bell,
And blows a whistle, too:
It's quite as p~u!zzling as-oh, well.
1t must be plain to you.
With cable bells and other bells,
And men who shout and swear;
With angry roars and startling yells
We've all that we can bear.
Just kill the 'scorchers' as they're
caught r 90
That's much the better way;
For thus alone can fools be taught t.
The lesson he'd convey.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
POETRY or THE WHEEL.
1 Remember.

Xix II. Il. Grimm in the Cycling West.
I remember, | remember,
The wheel / used to ride,
The good old ordinary.
Which. when TO mount. | tried,
Would violently spill me
In Il heap beside the track,
While the little wheel would Kick me
And carom on my back.
J. remember. l remember,
When | first went out to ride
How | chose a piece of roadway
That was smooth and long and wide;
How | wrestled on despairingly
It'll dusty, tired and hot
Il blanked the thing unsparingly
And sought an acre lot.
] remember, / remember,
How the farmer used TO swear
AS he saw me wheeling toward him,
WIFI a proud, insolent air;
How his team would turn and scamper
Farjadown the dusty trace.
iWhile a flood of maledictions
Swept melliiuously back.
J remember, | remember,
In the happy days of yore
How l loved in fields and byways
Natures mysteries to explore.
All the dear, emembere places,
Brook and dell and vale l see,
Blu the dreams, while lettering near then
Ne'er again will come to me.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
SOME NEW CYCLoMETERs.

In space &c with a showing of the Columbia
and Hartford wheels. The Columbia-what
a name-everybody knows the Columbia, the
highest grader known. -
Mr.. II. e. Field Of the Pope Manufacturing
company and II. w. Fit will have charge
OF the exhibits and will be as entertaining
as possible on all occasions.
There are so many new features IN the
Columbia this year that a great deal OF In
terest is being engendered as to just how
much better this famous wheel could be
made.
The Hartfords at SIS, $50, $50 and s45 are
said to be equal to and often better tnan
most high grade wheels, the Columbia ex-
Cepted, of course.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
Cause for Anxiety,

Detroit Free Press: "Your wife's Just
met with an accident, wilkins" said a man
who rushed into a grocery. She ran over
a dog while riding her bicycle, and they've
carried her to the hospital"
The man sitting on the cracker barrel
rose to his feet excitedly. and his face turned
pale,
did you notice" he asked in a trembling
voice. whether II was a liver colored dog
with two white spots on his fore shoulder"
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
THE CYCLISTS OPPORTUNITY.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.

oh, this has been a winter dear
My sweetest girl and l
Have tasted of the best OF cheer,
And drained its nectar dry.
We haven't missed a single play,
Each concert we have heard.
We've ioated through the ballroom gay
She dances like a bird.
Our games of cards can't half be told
With players shrewd or dense
And. an, the birds and bottles cold
She's downed at my EXPENSE!
And yet i know-that's why I'm glum-
She'll toss poor me aside
The cycling season soon VIII come
Alas! 1 do not ridel
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
party and of securing good roads in New
York City and state.

Charlie Thomas will have charge OF all
bicycle racing at University park this year.
A better man could not have been selected
for the work. He Is a good rider himself
and Is as thoroughly posted In racing and
racing rules as any man In the state.
The proposition to permit pacing by
electric and motor cycles on cycle race
tracks in England seems to have met with
opposition from the professional cycle rae
ing men. Certain OF them anticipate the
most terrible results from accidents that
may happen IL the mechanical pacing in
struments are sanctioned. They imagine
any number of men mixed up with a
''slipped-up' motor cycle on the track while
its pedals, wheels, cranks and piston rods
continue violently in action, ripping out the
mems vitals and generally tearing their
bodies into ribbons.
Two or three years ago a man connected
with a large bicycle establishment remarked
in conversation that he believed the time
would soon come-and the limit he set was
three or four y~ears-when no bicycles would
be built especially for women, but all
women riders would be using diamond frame
wheels. There is no indication that his
prediction is coming true. On the contrary
there are many signs that what is some-
timea termed rational costume" for women
has had it's day and is on the decline In
this country. Observation during last year
showed fewer "bloomers'' worn by women
than in the previous year, although the
number of women riders greatly increased,
and evidence in the same direction may be
obtained by inquiries at the headquarters OF
the principal bicycle companies.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

The number of colored riders In this city
has increased wonderfully during the past
year, which Id in keeping with the advance OF
cycling. AS a rule the colored rider is proud
of his mount and In many instances he is
the possessor of a high grade machine.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

The show season is on and this Is the time
of the year when the cycling papers print
much, but say very little, to interest the
cycling public.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

Charlie Ashinger, an old Omaha rider who
won fame here In the years of ~1SS7-S-9, Is
now a professional track builder and they
say the one he recently completed in Toronto
compares fayorably with any in this country.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
A Domestic View.

Detroit Free Press: Mamma. what is tho
bicycle Industry"
"Well, 1t must be the way we all have to
hop round and walt on your father when he
takes q notion to clean his wheel"
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

A new English saddle is supported by three
ordinary rubber balls, which do away with
the slightest jar, it is alleged.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

An expensive cup has been given by the
king of Italy to the winner of a big amateur
road race.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

A part of the Bots de Boulogne, Paris, over
a mile in length, is exclusively reserved for
cyclists.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

Jack Prince. who now grayitates between
Memphis and Nashville, Tenn, wants to ride
Mccall OF this city a series OF races for a
good sized stake. Jack will be here this
week.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

The chainless cycle Is a subject which is
exercising the expert not a little One has
been sold to a syndicate for EGO. 900.
A crack professional rider tried 1t the other
day and found that 1t ran much more easily
than he expected.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

The cycle shows have great attractions
for the gentler sex. Within the past year
hundreds OF Omaha women and girls have
taken up the sport, and they will certainly
be curious to see the newest designs In
ladies' wheels and accessories.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

SPOKES FROM THE WHEEL.
American bicycles made a hit at the Dublin
cycle show.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

its regular business meetings on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in each
month. Its stock is S. per share and the
dues 81 per month, payable quarterly in
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

The Mckinley and Hobart Wheelmen's
league of the state OF New York has been
formed into a permanent organization under
the name Of the Union League Wheelmen Of
the State OF New York. The objects are
to maintain an active and representative re-
publican organization OF wheelmen In that
state for the purpose OF advocating and dis
semlnating the principles OF the republican
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

The interest in tandem riding Is evidenced
by the fact that some bicycle concerns which
have been In the business several years are
now making tandems for the first time. The
most popular tandem appears to be the com
bination frame--that LIZ. with a diamond in
the rear and a loop in front. One company
makes a double-loop tandem, but II has not
been widely used, and other manufacturer
are not likely to take up the idea.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

Many Of the patrolmen OF the lifesaying
station on the Long Island coast use bicycles
for night service. They declare that they
can cover their beats In one-half the time
required in walking. and can also make a
great saving In time when reporting a wreck
to their stations. The wheel cannot be used,
however, when there is a high wind and
heavy surf, which epoils the beach for riding
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-17
MRS. s. Nj. STALLS STORY.
A Hartford City WOman's Experience
on the III-Eated Steamer

CHICAGO, Aug. 16-"As we neared the
shore the boats drew together and we all
sang the good old hymn. Nearer. My God
to Thee " The speaker was Mrs. S. NJ
Stahl, Of Hartford City, Ind, one of the
passengers on the steamer Mexico which
wrecked off the southern extremity of
Alaska on Aug. s. She reached Chicago
yesterday and continued her journey home
to-day. Mrs. Stahl, who was visiting the
family of her son-in-law, Hugh c. Beel-
man, of sos Warren avenue was returning
from a visit to her son, E. c. Stahl for
merly editor and proprietor of the Alaska
News, at Juneau.
1T was an exciting experience" she said,
in speaking of the disaster. But it was
more so for the others than it was for me,
for 1 was too seasick most of the time to
appreciate the situation. The steamer had
been delayed on the trip to Alaska, and to
save time they put out from Sitka into the
open sea instead of following the inside
passage, as usual. AS result 1 was hor-
ribly seasick. The steamer was making a
short cut, intending to regain the inside
passage at Dixons Entrance. There had
been d heavy fog all the evening of the 4th.
and the steamer was moving slowly. The
rock on which she struck is called Devils
rock and we were supposed at the time to
have been at least seven or eight miles
from it.
Il was asleep when we struck but the
violence of the shock awoke me. My daugh-
ter-in-law, who, with her hfteen-months-
old baby, shared my stateroom, put her
head out Of the door and asked what was
the matter. We could hear unusual noises
from all parts of the vessel, and we became
seriously alarmed when we were told 10
dress ourselves as quickly as possible We
did so and when we got on deck we found
that the lifeboats, seven in number, and a
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-17
Signs of Fail Time in Georgia.

Cittin' clost to fall time-know it by the way
The wind comes crost the mountains at the
breakin' o. the day;
An the twitchn in my jints is a most I'M
That they re tunin up the fiddle fer the boys ter
fail in line!
Gittin' clost ter fall tme-know it nv the way
The smoke is curtin up ards in the mornin' S
You Kin hear a whip a-crackin 'erost clover
field or two,
An you think o rides by moonlight with a
Sweetheart clost to youi
Gittin' clost ter fall time--let il come along,
Spring IS rich an rosy, an summers sweet with
song
Every seasons good enough-but give me frost
an fall,
IA balance ter yer pardners, an kiss yer sweet
hearts ali!
Frank L. stanton.