The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1898-12-29
COAL OIL TRICYCLES.
GREAT SPEED MADE BY A
CYCLIST.
Recklessly Fourier Turns Curves While
Going at Dizzy Speed - Said to he n
Thrilling Sight When He Files Along
at 45-Mile Clip.

Like the question OF reducing to
three days the time it takes to cross
the Atlantic, the increase of the BIZ
cycles speed to a point where the rider
can travel as swiftly and as safely as
on a railroad train Is one of the things
that seems bound to be attained. 1t is
as surely a coming achievement that
awaits us in the future as is the per-
fecting Of the machinery of the ocean
greyhound SO that the present speed
of the marine flyers can be doubled.
In the days when bicycles run at a
speed OF forty-1ve miles an hour a
clear track will be absolutely necess-
sary, so that with locomotive engine
pace will have to come a special track
for the wheelmen, a desirable improve
msnt that will be welcomed by all
lovers of the wheel. The attainment of
the speed named for the bicycle seems
to be In the hands of Henri Fournier,
Of Paris, who has become known as the
king OF Automobiles. What Fourier
does not know about the petroleum tri-
cycle may as well be omitted from the
wheelman's education.
At present Fournier, who uses the
petroleum tricycle. of the Dion-Bouton
kind-with n and a half horse power
machine--averages forty kilometers an
hour He machine he uses is COM
paratively light, easy Of manipulation
and powerful. 1t is fitted with a motor
OF from n to three horse power, it's
hill-climbing and speed capabilities be-
ing gagged thereby. The big and
heavy automobile carriages have
trouble in mounting hills, but the low
ly and Dutch barn style Of tricycles
goes putting right up to the top, and It's
rider is in nowise affected with fatigue
in the task Of making the ascent.
Fourier is in deadly earnest in his
determination to attain a speed Of
forty-five miles an hour. He has made
a series of tests with his automobile
that show that, given a straight,
smooth track and the machine working
at forced draught, the express train
will find the petroleum tricycle. a dan
gerous rival in the matter of speed.
To see Fourier on one of these test
trips Is a sight never to be forgotten.
He flies along with bullying eyes fixed
on the ground over which he is flying,
hair streaming in the wind and the
putting motor working at such a speed
as to make one tremble to think of the
fate of the rider should an untoward
accident cause a spill. Fourier seems
to know 40 fear when going like the
wind on these risky trips. By constant
practice he has become an expert in
the manipulation Of the petroleum tri-
cycle, and will turn a curve while going
at the dizzy speed of forty-tlve miles
an hour with all the recklessness of a
boy.
His performance suggests the grave
danger that would accompany trips
such as his on a road where similar
machines are dashing along. Four
nier alone on a level. smooth road,
with no one to kill but himself, and no
machine to smash but his own, is a
sight sufficiently thrilling. Multiply
the sight by ten. and imagine that
number Of Fourniers mounted on flying
automobile tricycles, and the spccta-
tors cannot help thinking that this
would make a novel and sure method
Of committing suicide.