The Washington times., 1911-07-25
Dissolution of Organization
Marks Last Step in Wan
ing of Popularity.
DARING FEATS ARE
FOUND IN RECORDS
Once Rendezvous of Social Elect,
Home Gives Way>to City's
Advance.

Abandonment of the bicycle as a We
.hicle of pleasure has brought about the
dissolution of the Capital Bicycle Club,
the Oldest organization of it's kind in the
nation. This week the books and photo
graph albums-the only visible evidence
OF long runs, of races, and Of different
feats performed on wheels-are being
taken from the club rooms, 400 Fifteenth
street northwest, and the club home is
being deserted. abandoned.
The death of the club is said by it's
members to be the tribute eXacted by
THE human craving for ever-changing
pleasures; OF new sensations. and great
er thrills. Typical of the change in the
likes of the members who brought the
club distinction in the early days is that
of Rex Smith. During the sos Mr.. Smith
got his ''thHhl' by riding a bicycle. He
was one< the first to descend the Capt.
tol steps on the old high-wheeled. hard
rubber-tired machine. Later he took 10
automobiling, and now his pleasure, as
well as his business interest, is found In
aeroplanes.
For more than a score of years mem
bers of the Capital Club made annual
bicycle tours. They made century runs
IN single days, and there were tours
consuming four and five days time.
There were games Of polo on wheels;
there were fancy drills, and there wera
daring feats of all kinds OF course, the
first tricks were performed on the old
high wheelers with the small wheel In
the rear, but later the Star wheel with
the high wheel in back and the small
wheel in front-the first safety bicycle
came in. 1t was on this type of wheel
that Bert owen descended the Capital
steps and Rex Smith followed him soon
RfterwaTd.
Nationwide Reputation.
With the advent of the pneumatic
tires and the equalization of the size of
the two wheels. interest in the Capital
Club made its squirt together with the
craze in cycling, and during the years
from 1890 to 1896 1t was one of the most
popular organizations in the country.
Indeed, 1t gained a nationwide reputa-
ton. But when the popularity of the
bicycle began TO wane and the opera
ton of the vehicle began to be looked
upon as work instead OF pleasure, the
membership in the Capital Club and
also its popularity declined.
Stimulants in the form of pool and
billiard tables were administered to the
club from time to time, in the hope of
making up the strength lost by the
withdrawal of the bicycle. During the
last ten years the club has survived al
most entirely on these substitutes, for
1t has been seven years since the club
has conducted its annual run, and dur
ing the vast years Of the run they were
only echoes of the real runs of the
early days When the club passed out
of existence this week only two of the
members, Henry Calber and DR.. Gar
nett L. Hills, were riding wheels and
they were not riding them for pleasure
but for practical purposes.
The building used by the club for
more than a quarter of century has
been condemned by the Government,
and soon 1t. like the club, will crumble
and be oblIterated in the progress of
the times. Its site will be a part Of
that on which will be built the new de-
partmental building.
History of Organization.
The club was organized in 1879. and
c. E. Hawley was its first president. |
The first clubroom was at S13 Tenth
street. Later the club home was at
412 EIefenth street. and finally at 400
Fifteenth street. where it remained |
twenty-five years.
The first race was run at Iowa circle, |
June %, $50, and at the Garfield fair |
Gasco two years later the club lost $500 |
Bert Owen was astounding Washing |
ton with sensational riding and daring |
feats. J. E. Leaning for many years
was secretary of the club. During the
lived at the club house. During recent
years S. Z. Lewis has been secretary.
Nearly all of the old members have
pictures of the experts during the hal
Cyon days of the club and all have ac-
counts to tell of the runs that were
made.
One of the more recent enjoyable
events of the organization was the "Old
Boys Resurrection Reunion at Raus-
chers, February s. 1909 thirty years
after the club was organized. None
but those who had been members for
twenty or more years were invited, and
there were about fifty in attendance.
But the last ride, the last banquet, the
last meeting of the club has been held
Ii has passed into history after sur
viving longer than any similar club in
the United States
Among the early dav members who
are well remembered are Fred Owen,
who designed the addition TO the White
House: Charles Dodge, author of con-
siderable reputation: Clarence G. Allen,
Ed ROYAL Tyler. who is ir, the Postof-
fee Department: Capt. John Boutelle. of
the Revenue Gutter Service: George
Ruoff J. West Wagner. Warren See
lev. pr. w. +. MOrsell. Seward Bcall.
pr. Fred L. johnson, Frank N. Bote-
Ter. Dr. l. y. Wilson. J. M. Kiiletts,
Rudolph Kauffmann, Charles Burnett,
De Lancev Gill, Elmer D. Sharretts. An
drew Parker. and l.. c. ponn.