Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31
WHISPERlNGS OF THE WHEEL

A bicycle thief now in Jail at Blair in all
probabilities will never again be guilty Of
approprating another wheel to his own use.
This particular thief went into the store OF
the Nebraska Cycle company last Monday
n orni Il an asked TO rent . wheel. Cap
tain Tom Nickel of the Omaha Wheel club
was in charge of the place and thinking that
the man looked suspicious informed him
that he would have to deposI a $40 note as
a guarantee that the machine would be re-
turned safely when he would receive his
money back. The man who gave his name
az Jackson deposited is ten and was handed
over a rent wheel valued at perhaps $50.
1t was afterwards learned that he went
north on the road to old Fort Omaha and
made inquiries as to the best route to take
for the Dakota wheat fields and after as
certaining this left word at several saloons
that he would be along Tuesday morning at
4 o'clock on his way to Dakota. A little
piece of bad luck in the way of a puncture
delayed his starting a bit as it was doubt
less his intention to use the macine he had
rented for the trip and never return it. He
was not much of a repair man himself so
he returned the rented wheel, paid the rem
tai and damage and received his deposit.
Mr.. Nickel was busy at the time and did
not notice that when the thief walked out
he straddled a new racing machine, the
property of the captain, which was stand
ing in front Of the door, and rode off upon
it. The wheel was not missed for some
time and when the theft was finally dis
covered Nickel visited the address left by
the fellow as his residence and
found that he had left word
that he was going to Dakota. With
this clue to work on Nickel telephoned to
Blair and learned that a man answering the
thief's description had just passed through
the place going north. The authorities at
Tekamah were communicated with and told
to arrest the man If he reached that place.
Nickel hunted up Herman Volunteering
and together they started in pursuit of the
thief on wheels, They reached Blair in a
short time. After stopping for refreshments
a few minutes and making some inquiries
they started for Tekamah. About fifteen
miles north of Blair they discovered bicycle
tracks in the dust leading into a farm
house. They turned into the yard, sat
their wheels in front of the house and went
around TO the back door. The thief saw
them first, and made his escape out the
front door, leaving the stolen wheel behind
1t did not take long for them to run him
down, and Captain Nickel. who is a pretty
husky athlete himself, proceeded to give the
thief a thrashing he will doubtless remem.
Der for the rest OF his days. He then made
him mount the stolen wheel and ride bach
to Blair, where he was turned over to the
marshal and locked up. Volunteering and
Nickel both returned awheel, reaching this
city about S o'clock, making eighty-six miles
In one afternoon, which is considered a re
markable ride.
Arrangements for Wheelmen's day at tn,
exposition, which has been set for Angus
IS, are progressing rapidly and at the pres
ent time everything points to its being
gala day for visiting bicyclists. Committee
were appointed at a meeting held last weel
and have already commenced working gu
the details. Badges will be given TO thOs
with wheels at the gates and these badge
will be good for reduced rates at a numbe
of the Midway shows and will also entitl
the holder TO take his wheel into tn
grounds. There will be a big wheelmen'
parade on the grounds at I o'clock in tn
evening and all wheelmen are asked I
decorate their wheels and participate, Ar
rangements will be made for checking tn
bicycles inside the grounds, Wheelmen ar