The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-02
WAS THIS FIRST BICYCLE
Claim by Rev. Sam Small That He
Had the Honor of "Header" From
From the washington Post.

FROM the washington Post.
From time to time there has been in cy-
cling circles a discussion as to when the
crank machine first appeared in this coun-
try and who was the first to ride the new
tangled affair. At one time a gentleman
In Chicago claimed to have title TO the
pioneership in pedaling what was then
known as the improved velocipede, but he
was promptly turned down by a man in
Central New York, who claimed to ma Te
constructed his own machine from Illus
trations in the Scientific American of the
vehicle as built by the French improver--
Magnin, perhaps. But this party claimed
to have made his wooden wheeled horse
and used II for exhibition purposes In 1868.
The Chicago man sets his date In 1869.
The real truth of the matter is that the
new French cheval-a'-pied came to this
country in the late summer of 1867 and
was first ridden in public In the city of
New orleans by couple of young men,
one of whom Is now a noted citizen of
Washington Rev. Sam Small, an old
time southern newspaper man, more Ie-
Gently famous throughout the country as
an evangelist and lecturer told the story
at the Jefferson the other night.
The first one of the improved veloci-
pedes that ever came to America was
brought from Paris to New Orleans I'm the
sun mer months of 1867" said Mr.. Small
The records of the custom house in New
York and the files Of New Orleans news
papers of that year will fully corroborate
this statement l was one of those who
saw the wheel unpacked and made the frst
effort to ride, and finally did master its
motions and ride it eXpertly."
What Is the story of its coming here?"
You viii remember that in 1867 Emper-
or Napoleon III accomplished his project
for a universal avnAstttnn in
assembled there what was then the most
marvellous grouping of arts, inventions
and manufactures the world had ever wit
messed. 1t came only two years after the
conclusion of our great American civil
war, and thousands embraced the oppor-
tunity to visit Paris, forsake war scenes
and feelings, and gather inspiration for
those future triumphs in the arts Of peace
that our country so much needed-espec-
tally our southern section of it, Among
those who went to Paris from New Or
leans, where | was then resident, was II.
Marsh Denman of Denman, Hollingsworth
a. Co., the largest dealers in fine vehicles
etc, in the Crescent City. He went over
to study the new things In carriage build
ing and to import special orders for many
of the New Orleans people who affected
the French-built vehicles While pursu-
ing this purpose i'm the French carriage
section of the exposition he saw the new
machine-the improved velocipede with
crank axle and pedals to the front wheel
Before that time as the old editions
OF the cyclopedias show, the velocipede
was pair OF wheels tandem, with a rid
ing saddle and guiding bar, propelled by
the alternate foot action of the rider
pushing himself and machine along the
road. An ingenius Freedman conceived
the idea of attaching cranks to the front
axle with pedals, and permitting the rider
srlt H..
work his own passage In a way mmeas-
urably less webbing and wearing than as
formerly was the case. Mr.. Denman took
a fancy to the new machine, and through
one of the factories of which he was a
liberal patron, secured one OF them as a
curiosity in vehicles to be exhibited to his
patrons in America lie brought the con-
traption over with him among his personal
effects and had quite an amusing expert
ence with the customs inspectors in New
York, for they had never had to appralse
and pass on an animal of that breed in all
their previous service. They finally com
promised the compromising situation by
classifying It as a 'child's veocipede car
riage, and thus having it's status fixed in
one of the ordinary tariff schedules, it ac-
qured naturalization and citizenship in
this country with its permanent domicIle
fixed at New Orleans.
when Il arrived at New Orleans by ex-
press l was present at the carriage rooms
OF the firm when the machine was I'M
packed A large crowd Of Mr.. Denmans
merchant friends around the vicinity Of
Carondelel and Grevier streets, has been
invited to inspect this remarkable nouve-
aute-deParis 1t came out a fantastic
looking affair of wheels and brackets,
main post, and riding bar, deliberately
painted and polished in yellow and black
"a sort of skeletonized mechanical ieop-
ard. When various gentlemen had been
vainly importuned TO mount the gorgeous
Gallo geldlng. and had affrightedly back
ed away from the invitation. Mr.. Denman
said to me; Here Sam. you're not afraid
of II. Get on the saddle and | will hOld
the pony on the groundY / did not need
any urging, for ] was a curious and ven-
turesome kid. so ! bestraddled the ma
chine, and 1t suddenly became alivel I
might as well have essayed to ride
and guide an electric eel on wheels It
grated, gee'd and haw'd without orders.
sea-sawed bucked. bolted, banged itself
and me against posts, chairs and specta-
tors without warning or excuse-and final
ly laid down with me. very hard! In fact,
! was very much IN the midst of It. and
1t was altogether among and around me!
RESCUED alive and encouraged with the
promise that might have the machine II
] would master il, / retired TO the seclu.
sion Of the top-loft OF the building and
there wrestled with the brindled Bucep-
halus. l was Joined by Dave Holings-
worth, my chum, who agreed 10 share
bruises, sprains, and skin-scrapings with
me n J would share 'hoss and boss with
him In the beast when We had gotten MIN
well broke. After a week OF patience,
para Dolic projections. pains and bisters.
we caught the peculiar knack OF the nag.
and reioiced 10 find ourselves almost adept
In making him 60 all his gaits We were
too tmid however. to tempt the public
gaze in the center Of the city az first We
went out under cover Of the dusk upon
suburban shell roads 10 test our skill ana
acquire confidence. but our strange ap-
pcarance out there among the truck gar
denefs aroused their superstitous fears.
and we had 10 nee back 10 the city 20 es-
cape being loaded up with duck shot
Then we concluded 20 brave the world,
and. in the language Of the great Adams.
survive or perish ] took the lead In the
venture and started down the broad.
smooth banquet or sidewalk. Of Canal
street an The most traversed portion Of
SIS course Men. women. children beg
u1rs. ana dogs fed from my approach os
n I were the yellow fever plague on brim-
stone rollers They gathered on the curbs
and watched me as s'eered the con-
glomeration Of cast-irOn and chrome paint