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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1896)
TTTT3 OMAHA DAILY 1VET3 : SUXDAY , DECEMBER 0 , 1800. 10 c < < c < : < < < % t 17-11 B l &vNa uuu uw s n Vv > j > &ji < x / > ViKocv Nvv t vTv"gw 5' > % % vi' Samples of the 18D7 blcyclo have been placed on exhibition In Chicago , Now York and other cities , and attract the eager curiosity of the cycling public. Six months ago manufacturers nMcrtcd that next year's whrcl would bo a duplication of this year's , but later on eome new features were de cided upon In order to catch the up-to-date trade. The changes worked out are of a minor character , and would tax a me- cliuiilcal expert to find. The first thing the average manufacturer says when asked about a ' 97 model Is : "It Is now ; new hubs , new cranks , new shafts , uow fork crown , new systems for setting up the scat post and handle bars. " Still ( ti'a lines and details of ' 90 will be * adhered to by almost every maker. There Is a jfljlght change In the weight noted ainojip. ' many of the new wheels , the ten- < lencyt being to make them somewhat heavier. This la not characterized as a step backward , because It Is believed the wl.i'olu are rendered more suitable for road driving. Inside connections by means of flush Joints are "Been almost everywhere and are prov ing' vfry satisfactory. There arc also ex panders for fastening the seat peats and handle bars In place of the old compression clamp. The makers have dispensed with the Old way of setting on cranks by mriiw of the center pin. Now one and two-plcco cranlcs and shafts are used. Many of the ' 97 wheels show new handle bar and Beat-post clamp devices , which are exceedingly Ingenious , and other minor Im provements. In general appearance the now wheels shown are very handsome , greater care than usual having been taken with their finish. The prevailing price will be again $100. As the wintry winds howl around the cor ners the full-blooded cyclists who ride their wheels the year round are giving some at tention to dress matters for the cold weather. Warm but loose-fitting clothing Is absolutely necessary to comfort In cold weather riding. Most wheelmen and whcclwomcn find It a difficult matter tb keep the hands and feet warm In the face of a stiff , cold wind. HI- cycle gauntlets may be all right In their way , hut n pair of heavy woolen gloves which will reach well up the wrists seems better. A silk or cotton Blocking under the regular golf hose , with a plcco of paper fitted be tween the two stockings Is guaranteed to keep out the cold In the mosfljltter weather. Mrs. Herman Davis of New York has ridden her wheel over the great St. Hernard Pass. She Is thu first woman who has accomplished this dlfllcult and picturesque bit of riding , nnd not many men can duplicate it. Ac companied by her husband , she has traveled 2.000 miles on her wheel during her summer vacation In Europe , making between sixty and sixty-flvo mllis a day. Which wears out a blcyclo faster , standIng - Ing or running ? A correspondent puts this question. Of course , If a whocl In repose Is properly cared for It will last longer than If It Is constantly used. The chances are moro than oven , however , that the bicycle that Is In regular service will bo In bettci order at the end of the season than one which Is taken out occasionally. The stored machine Is rarely oiled or polished and be comes clogged and rusted , which Is a good deal worse than getting scratched and shaken. Hesldes , a well made wheel nowa days Is constructed of such fine material that the friction has comparatively little effect upon It. The difference between a bicycle that Is ridden and one that Is laid up Is very much the same as that between a liorso that earns Its oats and ono that Is left In the stall or the field to eat Us head off. The New York aldermen , by a vote of 22 to 2 , have passed an ordinance saying : "Any person riding a blcyclo In the city of New York shall not bo allowed to carry or trans port thereon any child under- the ago of Ii years. Any violation of thli ordinance shall bo punished by ft line of not to exceed $10. " An attempt was made to enforce a similar - < fc law In Chicago , but the wheelmen took the f crusaders Into court and scorched them lo a finish. Judge Stump of Talbot county , Maryland hns rendered a decision thai is of interest to all wheelmen. The commissioners had passed an ordinance compelling owners of bicycles to pay 1 license , and to have a number corresponding to the number of the license attached to the wheel. The wheelmen of the stale fought this law , which the court declared. Invalid. The court said : "Tho commissioners of Easton unques tionably have the Hghl to rcgulato the tnarner of using blcycks , to prohibit their use on the sidewalks , to reasonably regu late the rale of speed , to require lights at night , etc. , but this particular ordinance Is most unreasonable , the opposite of bene- ficlal to | Hie town , and Inconslstcnl with the laws and policy of the state. The general policy of the stale Ij Ihat tne citizens of a tmyn and all strangers who may happen to pass through or reside therein shall at their pleasure have the right .of free pas sage over the streets of said town , either on foot or In ordinary private vehicles. A bi cycle Is a vehicle In general use. As such It has received legislative recognition and protection. " Starting out with the Idea of producln'r something that should do away with the awkward too clips , a New Yorker has set to work to design a pedal that will serve not only Its normal purpose of a rest for the foot In propellng the machine , but will hold the font firmly as well. After a series of experi ments ho baa achieved success. Ho now haa a model In hlu possession that ( Ills the bill cxactlv. Tile pedal looks like almost nny other bicycle pedal and weighs only a trifle jiioro. The moment the foot presses on II the side clamps contract and hold the solo of the shoo 1,0 firmly that It la simply impossi ble for the foot to slip. And these side clamps release their hold the Inalanl the pressure of thu foot Is relaxed , The side clamps arc adjustlblo , BO that they can be made to fll any width of shoe. The pedal U thus adapted for women's as well as men'whccU. . The action Is Induced ihrough strong but light springs. The pressure of the foot on the pedal operated them , and as tlio pressure of thu foot Is withdrawn the springs are re leased. The pedal , as designed. Is a neat de vice and adds to the attractiveness of a bi cycle. The smallest known bicycle In the world , or , rather , the smallest pair of bicycles , arc owned by the famous Count Magrl of Home , who ialncd fame and Incidentally a fortune by marrying the widow of Tom Thumb. The count Is exactly thirty Inches In height and his spouse Is two Inches shorter. For some time they have been familiar to Itoinan citizens , riding In a tiny carriage drawn by two diminutive Shetland ponies , The turnout was o gift from Queen Victoria , The count and his wife got the blcyclo crazu and gave an order for two machine * to o Boston firm of manufacturers. The weight of the \\hcols Is tun pounds each and thn diameter of the front and rear wheel Is ten Inches. The machines coat J2.0 apiece and are built for rouch work. It Is nn unusual thing far the count lo wheel fifteen or twenty miles , which Is equal to fifty mllvk by a man nf ordinary stature. \Vlillo It Is absolutely iicifenary , of course , for llrcmon and apparatus to reach the g.-fiio of the outbreak of flame In the short- f t possible , tlmo. It la often even more Important that the fire patrol uhould be flist on tin nil. Thta Is better known as the Insurance patrol , , and thu duties of the members consist of covering with tar paulins all tbc goods which are Insured In the building where the flro hat broken out. These duties makeIt advisable for the luiuranco patrol to reach a burning building In advance of the firemen If possible , In order that they may perform at least a portion of their task before streams of water begin to play upon the blaze. There has been for many years the strongest rivalry between lire companies. particularly those of volunteer departments , as to which should first reach the scene of the conflagration. The bicycle will add to rather than lessen this spirit of ilvalry. for It will now be the best rider , Instead of the befit runner , who la champion. The steam fire ciiKlnc. however , will not be mien on bicycles just yet ! obviously Its weigh Is too great. Hut so far as applied , this diversion of the wheel to arduous service will probably meat with success. 'TO HACK A nilliK A JIIXIITH. I _ Truck AVIiiM-lini-ii llrllovi * tin- Kent Can Hi * A--iiinillnli | . Will the tlmo for the wheelman on the cycle track reach n mlle a minute ? Iload riders and a racing man paced by a locomo- tlvo have approached the mark , says the Chicago Chronicle , and promoters of circuit ovcnto are wondering If the fcnt will ever bo achieved under their auspices. Certain It In that If the wheelmen of the next thrco neations show the Increase In speed that hao been manifested since 1S93 the tlmo of the steam engine will bo rivaled on the dlsk- ulmpod courco. i John S. Johnson , tlio wonderful Mlnncapo- lla rider , recently rpcd n quarter of a mile In the wake of triplets and quintets In the mar velous time of twenty seconds. This was a clip of thrco seconds off the former mark and for the mlle was a 1:20 : clip. Of course Johnson could hardly keep up the tremendous deus gait for the other three-quartern , but with the In.i'rovemcnts that are bound to como In cjrlcs the mlle In 1:20 : and even faster is fecKlble. The difference between the record for the mlle on a tiack at present and 1:20 : Is ap proximately the same as the mark of Hamil ton's and that established by Johnson thrco years ago at Independence , la. With condi tions similar the theorist on cycle per formances Is probably warranted In pre dicting a proportionate clip In a given time. Johnson's old record for a mile , which made the cycle world skeptical , was 1:55. : Hamil ton recently made the distance under the Bamo conditions In 1:3 : ! ) , which Is u differ ence of thirteen seconds. Only a few weeks before Johnson made the fast tlmo at Independence Zimmerman had ridden the fastest mile for a cycle track , his mark being 2:01. : The difference In the rcc- ordn for the distance In three years Is clos on to twenty seconds. The big men of the country have not yet made much of an effort to eclipse Hamilton's time , and It Is pre dicted that before January 1 cither Fountain Kerry , New Orleans , 131 Paso , Coronado or Denver will boast of a mile on a track In close on to 1:30. : Wheelmen will then have halt the task of six years accomplished. They will have approached the mlle-u-mlnute mark thirty seconds and have an equal clip to make. Records of the roads have undergone * a big change In the time that It has required the track mark to come down from 2:00 : to 1:39. : Up to the tlmo of Johnson's performance on the Tonawanda boulevard In Buffalo wheel men ridiculed the Idea of a mlle being rid den on a road In quicker time than a per formance on n track. The miller surprised oven himself by going the distance behind a half dozen multicycles In 1:3S. : Kdwards of California brought the mark still farther down by going the distance In three seconds faster. Green , an aspiring Wyoming youth , approached 1:20. : Dennis , n Denver rider , was credited with the performance of 1:11 : , and n fellow townsman Is said to have re cently made the distance In less than a minute. Anderson's performance behind a Incomotlvo ln , < l03 ; was , according to report , cast In the sliade , i With these figures before them Illustrating the rapid clip In the mlle figures for the road riders , track promoters are taking a serious Interest In the mlle-a-mlnuto prospect. With a track as srroothy as a board and the mast modern pacing apparatus , the cracks ask themselves why can't the wheelman on the track equal the performance of Dennis or his townsman. Will not multicycles take the place of a favorable wind wlion the won ders on the road were achieved unpaccd ? .Tom Kck. the veteran manager of racing teams. Is said to have devised a mechanical device to bo substituted for the pacing cycles , Johnson has been able to follow the pastest pace In the world for short distances nml It la Kelt's theory that he can keep In the wake of any speed. The principle Is practically the same as that uaod by Ander son to acompllsh his mlle In 1:03 : behind a locomotive. Kck believes that steam or elec- trlclty an bo .usctl to propel n machine so constructed that a practical vacuum can be obtained for the Minneapolis man. John son could thus keep directly In the rear of the mcchM.lcal pacer and follow It for the distance. Johnson himself la of the opinion that no vacuum Is necessary. Provided some ma chine can bo built of the cycle type by which the speed of a mlle a mlnuto can bo attained ho thinks ho can keep up to It using the rear wheel to guide him around the circuit. \ < \ 1:1 , wffiinx < j IIViiH Olrliriitt-il mi lll < - ) < -l < > H Ite- < --ntly lii I'lilliiilflnlilii. The novel spectacle of a man and woman dressed In bridal costume riding on yoked bicycles up to a clergyman and going through the forms of marriage was wit nessed by an audience of over COO curloua people In the gymnasium of Temple college - lego Sunday evening , relates the Philadel phia Record. Mr. and .Mrs. George W. Hobb , active members of Grace Daptlst church , whoso happy wedded life Is of eighteen years' standing , were the central figures In the act , and they took their wedding vows anew before their pastor , Rev. Russell II. Council. The central part of the floor was ropej. off , and as Mr. Conwcll took a position at one end of the enclosed space , a door at the opposite end swung open and n pair of daintily attired llttlo llower bearers role forth on coupled wheels. After making a few turns around the arena , they were Joined by five sots of bridesmaids and ush ers , and finally by the brldo and groom , all similarly mounted. The attending couples were Louis Klrlln and Miss Marian Nelsser. Frank Harto and Miss Ada Tracey , Charles llrlgga and Miss Ola. Hummel , Frederick Wlshart and Miss. Olive Logan , Llewellyn Propert and Mrs. Frederick Wlshart. The flower bearers were Master Harrison Barcua and Miss Edna Wlmer. Pink cycling suits , with leggings and Jaunty caps to match , added to the charms af the fair maids. Their escorts were knickerbockers and had pink carnations on their coats. The bride and groom were white costumes and rode on white machines , the carrying a big bunch of chrysanthe mums and he displaying a big bunch of red and blue on the lapel of his coat. Slowly they circled about and ( hen lined up In front of the minister , dlsmou-itcd , and the pledge : of eighteen years bcfcru were renewed. _ A lHU\'tJlii3 I''IHiaT > i'l > . \IlT.'lII3.\T. ' All llio i : < iuiimciit lo I'mpi-lU-il liy Si-iiri-lii-rN. A fire department on bicycles Is the latest lead the United Slates U gMng the world. A bicycle-making firm at Raclno , Wl9. . Is preparing to equip euch a department In rvery detail with wheel * , not simply for the firemen to rldo , but for them to draw the until o flro apparatus to the place It Is needed. Tlio moat notable feature at the apparatus and by far the most elaborate , Is the blcyclo chemical engine. U Ii built on tl.o tandem pattern , althouch there are accommodation ) * for thrco wheelmen. The onglno Is ulmllar to that In u o by many flro departments ; c < | tilpped with the regulation lantcrr.9 , tire axes , crowbars , pike-poles , etc. , and It * r- rlc9 also the chemical fluid. H will bo ob- nerved that llio firemen In the rear , who help propel the machine , are riding In a fashion that Indicate ? a gigantic trlcyclo rather tban a bicycle. Tlio rider In front Is the ono who Is scorching , and If appcarnncco Justify opin ions , ho has by no means the lighter ! task to perform. The hose cart , with Its clanging neil , when equipped with the bicycle attachment , be comes again the hose reel. It Is propelled by three riders , In much the same manner as the chemical engine , tiling much lighter , however , the pace Is far greater , and It Is likely lo beat the engine to n flro by about half time. There never was n team of flro horses , fast as they go. that could get nn apparatus to n fire In as short n space of time as It can be moved there when It de rives motive power from the bicycle. There Is stnnll danger of accident , except to the leader or pilot , and he can scorch without danger of molestation by persons In blue coats and brass buttons. The llttlo chemical flro extinguisher , ono of the most useful parts of the apparatus , also runs on three wheels , but the motive power Is In the single wheel at the rear , In stead of nt the front , ns In other cases , and for speed there has never been anything like It In a flro department. Then there Is the hook and ladder. This Is the most dtlllcult apparatus of all the lire department to move. It Is always very long and very unwieldy , hard to manage , anil In variably n llttlo Into In getting where It Is wanted. To make a quick turn with n hook and ladder , even though the best tlllcrman In the world was at the wheel Is a task which no ono who knows cares to attempt. It would seen , therefore , that especial diffi culty confronted the two wheelmen who rldo at the head of the bicycle ; hook and ladder apparatus. A number of runs have beei ina.ilo , however , and not only has the np paratus steered well , but competent Judge who have had the opportunity to witness th new contrivance's performance declare tha the prejudice against the bicycle hook am ladder truck Is unfounded. TUP. AMiiiic.mien. . Shliii-a All Over tin- World In Oren \llllllnTN. American bicycles must certainly be preferred ferred la all ports of the world to any otho makes , If the values of the exports of blcy cles and cycle merchandise , as given by the United States Treasury department , are n criterion. Few persons beside these dlrectlj Interested have a fair conception of the. Im mense number of wheels that nro monthly exported to various foreign countries. The great demand for Amerlcan-mado wheels la a great tribute to the skill of the manufac turers of this nation and the quality oC their productions. During the month of September the value of blcyclo and cycle sundries exported to foreign countries was $302,832. Estimating the value of each wheel to bo $23 , that would be an equivalent , to the sale for ex port alone of 12,113 wheels In ono month , or 4SI wheels per day. These figures arc for exports only. They will convey a fair Idea of the magnitude of the cycle Industry in this country. During the nine months of 1S9G Including September , the value of the exports of American bicycles and sundries was $3,155.- C57. Allowing $25 as the average value , these figures would equivalent to 120,010 bicycles shipped In nine months , or an av erage of H.OCS per month , or 563 per day. Thus Is will be seen that the exports for September were somewhat lower than the average. Great Britain was the heaviest purchaser , the exports to that country for the month amounting to $108,714 ; for the nine months , M.029,791 , a decrease of nearly $3,000 from the average for the nine months. The fig ures for the nine months show an average shipment per month ( allowing $25 per wheel of10.S3S wheels , which Is at the rate of 1,537 per month ( twenty working days to the month ) , or 181 per day. Certainly there mist bo some superiority of American-made wheels over British productions when the demand for American cycles Is so great use o require an exportation of an average of l.COO wheels per day. The following table shows the value of blcyclo shipments : Shipments for ' September nine months Country. shipments. of WW. i Great Britain $10(1,714 ( $1,020,971 Canada 12,822 .101.910 Australia 83,313 232,911 Kriinc.- 4,107 118.7CO Other European coun tries 21.831 SW.9GG Mexico 3..S21 87.G.S7 Porto Rico JIK ; 7X81 Santo Domingo l)3 ! ) ITS IIr z'l ' l.Sfl : 10,810 Colombia 3,9 1G.4ST. Ublmi 1,557 7.113 Africa 8,783 2C.02S \VlilHpt-rliiKN of Hit * \Vhffl. It Is now al-noyt an assured fact that 3niaha will have another cycle show some time during the coming sprihg , as poveral blcyclo clubs as well as other cycling or ganizations have appealed to the National Syclo Hoard of Trade for sanctions , and even If tlictio applications were all refured the local dealers would undoubtedly go ahead with the show without a sanction , as the lat ter Is not nn absolute necessity , but merely a matter of form. Last year's show , which was held In this city under the aupplccs of Lho Omaha Guardu Wheel club , and ono of the moH successful local showo over held In the weal , wao not a functioned affair and therefore. It the National board refusea to sanction n show , ono will bo held regardless 3f It. Local dealers who participated In last year'8 ahow were unanimous In saying that It was the cheapest advertising they could possibly have gotten , and are , there fore , warmly In favor of another thlo year. The only drawback to the show question ; that tliero will bo so many of these cxhlbl .Ions held throughout the country during February , March and April that local dealers will find It ahnout an Impomiblllty to get lumples from the factories to show , owing to the large demand for UIMO lamplcs or fhow wheelj. Au far as construction ils concerned these wheels are practically the same ao t'tock ' wheels , with the exception that n great leal moro pains U taken In the enameling md finishing of them. Therefore , It Is loped that the promoter ? of the Omaha Dhow , whoever they may be , will hold It late enough o Insure n complete representation of all of .he wheelu that arc sold In tills occtlon of .he country. "Ned" Reading , Omaha's soldier bicyclist , who has been training for the great Intel- latlonal six-day blcyclo race which opcnu at Madison Square Garden , New York , tomorrow evening , left for New York , accompanied by Jack Klnnamon , his trainer , on Wednwday aft. Reading la In good condition and feels confident that ho will capture a place In the big event. The Omaha Cycle Hoard of Trade , which vas organised early last spring , and which vas composed of the leading cycle dealers of this city , Is reorganized again , The ob- ect of this organization was to prevent trice cutting , rcgulato the price of second- mud wheels , etc. , but It failed to accom- ) lish Us purpcsc , as many of Its members vere the leaders of the price cutting which irevalled In this city during the past sea son , An organization of this kind Is badly iccded to protect dealers , and until there s a good , strong local board tliero will be iut llttlo money madci In the business here , What wo mean by a strong board Is one hat consists of the majority of dealers , and one whose officers and members are men of their word and will live up to the rules of the organization and not try to knife one another at every chance , as was the case with this year's board. And then , too , ncmbors must bo compelled to put up a deposit of $50 or no , to bo forfeited to the > oard upon a violation of any rule , and hen there nbould be very strict rules In regard to payments , guarantees , repairs , to , With a good local board of trade there a no rccnon why Its members should not nake money In the blcyclo business , but here will bo but little roado until this U accomplished. The Omaha Wheel club Is now eotnforta- ily Bellied In Its new quarters' on Clgh- centh and Douglas streets , and Is In a air way to again became the strong and lopular wheeling organization that It was Wo years ago. Many of the old members Uio dropped out Just before the club moved ram Its quarters on Seventeenth and Chi- ago streets arc Joining again , and It U nero than probable that by next fall the lub will be In condition to accept the offer of a local trust company , to build them a modern club house on the aoutheat corner Over $411,000,000 Paid to Policy Holders 'F ' in Fifty-three Years ! ) L RICHARD A. McCURDY , President , IS THE COMPANY Who will pay that mortgage on your home if you die before How much will your admin' it's lifted ? istrator have to sacrifice yqijr A life insurance policy will estate to force quick assets ? ' do it , and the cost to you is IN TWO GENERATIONS 1843-1896 An Installment Policy for only the annual premium paid $100,000 will leave your family to the company. It is like pay The Mutual Life Insurance Co. , of New York , $5,000 yearly income for 20 ing a little extra interest on years , in any event , and if your your mortgage to insure its re has paid $246OOOOOO to its living members. stated beneficiary is then living lease if you die. he or she will be paid $5,000 Has been the benefactor of women and children yearly during life , to the extent of $165,000,000. A 5 per cent Debenture fof $100,000 will leave your wife of the Mutual $5,000 yearly income either foj ? The resources members til $4ISMQQiB ) Life of New York exceed the Has pid its m over , , 20 years or until her death iJ combined capital of all the na prior thereto ; then $ JOO000 ; will tional banks of New York City , be paid in one sum. A possible , Chicago , Boston , Philadelphia , return of $200,000. St. Louis , Cincinnati and Balti more. FOB i is m , A duty delayed is a duty shirked. Let a man convinced IOWA and NEBRASKA if to mu lor on of responsibility secure adequate protection and at once. FIRST RATIONAL BANK BUILDING , SIXTH AND LOCUST STREETS , oi it & * INSURE IN THE NOW OMAHA. DES MOINES. Jl $ ! ! ! ( Of If ! MUTUAL LIFE. Wanted in . s JSvery County. A Policy of Insurance in the Mutual Life is the quickest The true business man acts asset you can leave. H. S. WINSTON , Special Representative. Omaha. oromptly. Get our rates at once , of ElKlitccnth and Douglas streets. Among the applications for membership now on llio are those of W. H. McCord. E. 1) . Smith , D. J. O'Urlcn and \V. D. Hlne. Tom Eck's method , to'.exact . fast hcata In competition was tried at the Coljsciim track at Memphis , Tenu. , which received an auspicious opening. EqkJs , , method requires that each contestant apptar once at the lead of the field bcforoth9r'bell taps for the last lap or bo disqualified.s < a result , heats and finals had the desired. Interest and It Is very probable that UiU , method will l > e almost universally adopted , In thU country next season. , , . , Starbuck , the American , IOIIR distance rider , and Michaels , the llttlVelsh wonder , arc matched for an hour's raceto occur In con nection with the grand international six- day race at Madison ciuare garden , Now York , next week. Communications addressed to the blcyclo editor for League of Amgrlcan Wheelmen In nrmatlon will receive , attention In these columns. On application membership blanlis will bo forwarded. The American Wheelmen discredits the authority of the Information that Zimmer man Is to return to the track. The llearlnfia claims the authority of .U by a remark of ho ox-champion's father. The American Wheelmen challenges It by the receipt of a lenlal over Zimmerman's signature that he vlll not return to the track next year. The lefereo claims the distinction of a direct ntcrvlow with Zimmerman , In which the alter gave expression to a desire to meet any of this year's stars. Verily , great mlnd.3 llffer , but the point to bo observed U that 11 are rlqht. Zimmerman was willing , grow uncertain and has ended the suspense by anccllng any hopes his admirers enter- alncd. ICrlmt'H ( if ( InTiiurlMt AVliccliuoii. Last Sunday ended the riding season of the Tourist Wheelmen for the year 1SOO. A laneo over .ho register shows that the ggrcgate mileage Is 23,518 miles , ngnliut 0,390 miles In ISO.x Thu tendency this sea- on seemed to bo for the members to go out n small parties and spend tlia day In some hatly park rather than to go on "culled uns ; " hence , while perhaps there was as much riding done during the past summer y the members , It does not appear on the lub register. The next regular meeting of the club will > o held In the now quarters , room 20C ihcoley block , Thursday evening. December 0. A full attendance Is requested. Leonard Hartson deserves a vote of thanks or the addition to the reading room of ono f the leading cycle journals of Chicago. Hliera might emulate his example by brlng- ng In copies of papers received by them and lius Increasing the reading matter of the lub. The near approaching banquet seems to > o the all-absorbing topic of conversation [ round the club rooms nowadays. The en- crtalnmcnt committee announces that the ate set for holding It Is Monday evening , ) ecember 14. at the Mlllard hotel. The lead olllccrs nf the leading wheel clubs of ) maha and Council Bluffs will bo tendered ivitatlons and a general good tlmo Is an- Iclpatcd. T'io following program has been rranged for this occasion by W. Q. Clark , resident of the club , who will act as toast- nastcr : P. W. Kltch , ' 'Law and Cycling ; " > . J. O'firlen , "Leaguo of American Wheol- len In Nebraska ; " W. 0 , Ilouk , "Cycling nd Its Helatlon to the I'rces ; " M , O. laxon , "Centuries ; " John D , Howe , liumor- ) iis , subject to bo announced later ; Tom pencer , "Clubmatea and Club Runs. " The bovo will be supplemental ] by toasts and capotes from the several presidents of ocal wheel cul ] > s present and U. H. Ilender- on on "Tho Aasoclated Cycling Club and la Workings. " Every member of the club hoiihl make It a point to hu present on his occasion and make It a bonttliii ; wind- p of the close of the riding season. They honor centonarlnni In a remarkable way In Franco. At Olivet the other < lay , vhen M , Mlchaut. tho.Unvn hall librarian , ompltitcd hlg 100th year , the event was imdo 'tho ' occasion of a vJllago festival , They : arrled : thu old man ito the town hall , > rowvd a rum punch for him , complimented tint In set upevchcs and -had the villagu poet nail seine enthusiastic stanza * about him. Jhlldri'n presented him With llowt-r * . and n the evening tliero was. a banquet In hU toner , with la torchlight procession later. Helmut's -wlfo died twi > ity-flvo ! yearu ago , nd ha U now taken cut < a'of ' by two older ) v vonicn , who are Bald to' watch over him vlth slsturly solicitude. OUR AMERICAN ARCHIPELAGO Strange Scenery and Eich Products of the Eonmutio Plcrida Koys. HAPPY HUNTING GROUND OF SEMINOLES Inland Moiiiiiiu-iilH Unlit by Corn ! In- NUUH SpoiiKi * I'MxIiliiKr mill I'iiu uplile ( Jroivln ( In-Cliluf . IllllUNtriC'H. The word "key" Is Incorrect as applied to an Island. It Is a corruption of the Spanish word "cayo , " meaning a small Island. "Key West" Is wrong , too. Its true name Is "Cayo Hueso , " or Uone Key ; but wo have Anglicised , and got it as far wrong as pos sible , It Is not even the western key of that chain. Such distinction belongs to the Dry Tortugas , many miles further west. The Dry Tortugas Is fortified and was a naval post of Importance during the late war. It was also the prison of military con victs. It Is a small , low , sandy Island , pro jecting but a few feet at any point above high water. To the east , several small keys Intervene before Key West Is reached. The latter Is but a few hundred acres In extent ; but on account , of Its possessing a fairly good har bor , a commercial city of about 25,000 popu lation has been built on Its rocky face. Prom the channel leading up from Florida straights , It presents a most picturesque ap pearance , with Its low-lying shore , fringed with the long-armed and high-tufted cocoanut - nut palms outlined against the sky , and Its llttlo squatty dwellings. Its aspect lu purely oriental and tropical , and there Is not a port In America bearing the least resemblance to It. Of late years the main town has as sumed American airs , anil several large buildings have been erected ; but. Happily , tha shore still presents a vision of far Cathay. Here Is another stone fort now utterly useless , except as a tomb for Its garrison risen In case of attack , Modern ordnance would riddle It as though It were pasteboard. Yet , In case of war with a naval power , Key West would bo an Important strategic point. Sponging , fishing ami cigar-making are the principal Industries of this tropical city of ours. It Is the headquarters of the sponge trade of the western hemisphere. The fishing Industry Is also an Important one , and well It may be , for the waters fairly teem with fish of all descriptions and strangely enough , Havana receives a largo part of her fish sup plies from Key West. The run across the straights Is only eighty miles , about as far as from Now York to I'oughkcepslo ; and the Cubans seem to prefer catching their IUh with a sliver hook to gathering them from their own waters. THE COHAL HUILDEKS. From Key West the line nf keys Is one unbroken chain for J50 miles northward. Some are largo and uomo small. litre Is ono thirty miles In length , and next Is one half a mile long , The Interval between Is generally a fairly wide channel , and the Islands themselves all long anil nar row. The basis of the whole chain Is coral rock. In these clear , warm waters the coral Insect builds rapidly. Ho lives out his llttlo life , anil dying , his petrified body Is joined to myriads more , until finally the coral reef pushes Its way up to a point between low anil high water. Then begins the works of land building and the operation Is curiously Interesting , The shores of thu mainland are heavily frlngrd with a tough , bushy tree called the mango , which bears , prollllcally , a llttlo pear-shaped pod , containing the germ of Us own life. Thtao pods , when dropped Into the water , do not sink like other seeds or nuts , but arc buoyant , and float off lu great quantities with the tide. They como drifting along to where the coral-tips project Just above the surface of the water of half-tldo , and when they conic In contact with this obstruction they ( illicitly strike down their tiny ten tacles Into -tho mimerou.i crovlres of the porous coral , and firmly fix themselves , The seed ripens , and bursts , ami ulioolK down Its rooU Into the wet roi'ia. Pres ently a llttlo net work of obstructions Jiau grown up , and this catchon all sorts of Moating substances , and gradually fornm a mat. All the while the mango has been ucndlng upward Us tangled bushy growth , It sheds Us leaves , and tlicao are added to the mold. Soon trees of larger size be gin tn appear , their seeds havlngfalso been floated to the spot from some * distant habi tat. The key IB a nines' ' Oft tingled bush and trees and It continues to catch moro and moro flotsam until a sortnof soil Is formed. Probably In no colder waters could such a growth take placet but the waters of the sea at thin point'arc so very warm , summer and winter ( I have seen It In July at SS degrees ) ' that animal and seed life are not only never1 'checked , but are stimulated to a degree Incredible to those accustomed only to colder scaa. These keys now exhibit every stage to this progress from a tiny coral point , Juat pushing Us head timidly above low water , to Islands thirty miles long , two miles wide , containing farms and plantations. DUNNING UP A PAHM. Wo went ashore on all thu keys worth visiting. On ono an extensive pineapple plantation was In thriving condition , and wo walked out to Inspect the fields ami talk to the planters. They were planting. A pineapple Is propagated by means of Its crown , or its "suckers , " of which It has usually from four to ten. When the fruit Is shipped to tliU market these suckers arc usually either removed or else mutilated with a knife , to destroy vital ity. Planting consists merely In punching n hole six to ten Inches deep In the earth , with a dlbblo such as cabbage planters use , and dropping cither a crown or a sucker Into the hole and pressing the ground around It. The uneven surface of the coral rock was covered by a light mould formed from decayed forest leaves , the timber having been cut off by the planter ; and this boll wan BO thin that the men would often try In several places with their dibbles bpforo they found a crevice In the rock deep ( 'iiousli. My companion was smoking n jiipo as a means of relief from the myriads of mosquitoes , and when he presuiitly knocked out the ashes , accompanied by u llttlo flic , preparatory to a fresh "illl. " two of the men Jumped toward him frantically and commenced to stamp vigorously nn the earth around him. while no less vigorously venting their opinion of a blooming ten derfoot who would como around there "net ting fireto the earth. " Then "I discovered that this light soil , composed largely of leaf mould , wac as combustible as tow , and that there was always u Furious danger of setting the very earth afire and burn ing up everything on the Island , including thi ) real cstato ! Hut the lira Is scarcely less to be dreaded on the keys than water. ICach year when the hurricane season comes. In August , September and early October , the deni zens of thcEO enchanted Islands sec the ocean rlso high enough to cover them from end to end with seething billows. They toll about a largo ship found , when a hur- rlcano had passed , lying high anil dry In the uooil.s , a inllu from 11u > sea. Yet , de spite flru and water risks , many of the keys are Inhabited , though the moro tlulfty don- l/.ons make a visit to Key West during the hurricane months , juit to keep their nerves steady. THE SKMINOLK REMNANT. Who has not read of Osceola and Billy Dewieg'j ? Thereon .lepends a ploco df diplo matic fiction. When llio Florida war was over. It was believed tint practically all of the Semlnolca. one of the most warlike anl capable of all our Indian tribes , had been gathered up and escorted lo the In-llan terrl- i tory. Hut this was .1 mistake. A number of those gallant warriors lietook tlicmsolvca lethe the Evci-gladcs , where troops cnuld not follow - : low them , and thuro among thusio fertile ' and picturesque Islands they have lived ever since. I havn < 'cn mitny In < ] lnnn , but tills ' remnant of the Somlnoles aro. the finest npccl- ' mcns I ever saw. It U not dlfllcult to bll vo ' In Cooper after being among them. The , men i > .ro fino. lithe , sinewy follows , wl'h ' bright , quick Intelligent faces. They w < T.r a , liat of vast proportions and curloim make. V j 1 shaped like a big clu > o o , with n roiini' ! hole In the middle for the head , tint holu going clear through the hat , Thuy ucar a < wool'tn hunting shirt , and tliolr Laic leg * look Ilka shafts of mahogany , They aie > armed with repeating rifles , and know how - to shoot. The women are lees hovvy. bt.t . appear woll. They wi'.ir cotton ilrosnei , ! bought In Key Wcat , They ere nald lo bo [ upright anil honest In tholr dciillngN , and I wea ( old that tluy were superior lo the wliltCH In all the cardinal vlrtucm , The divorce Qourt of the aemlnolo la a very slii- : plu and ellclout ! , plcco of mechanism. When an action la laid on statutory grounds , and thu plaintiff gets a decree , thu defendant and co-i'fcpondont are both promptly nhot , Three Indians are extremely jealous of oncroaclunonlu of whlto mm. Tlioy nro In ( rjiiHtaiit fear of another deportation na I learned to my sorrow , I Iad resolved to gain access to their haunts In the Evurgladt-s , nml had laid In a trunk full of trlnkittu to smooth my pathway. When wo got to thu vuty last Chlch mtcr'n I.nci : > ! i Dlnuiunil llrnnif. 'ENNYROYAL P8LLB Orlalnul an * ; * l-cmilnc * . BArc. alw T nllaMe. LADICB tik . rulil for ClIctoKr * A'nvJI' * / " " " ' " " " " 'In llcil nl I.VUniFli tM. ! ! wlih Mat rlll ti. Tnko nCthcr. Rtfiin dangf rout tuMifu * OHinndtnltaHoni M I > rughli.rnead4c. In lUmpl for rinkutiri , litlmcDlili nd "Heller for l.o.lli . . " In Im/r. I , ; return Mull , lo.llim Tr < ilnifrIMv .Vant I'afir. _ UirChrtiilT' < 'i > .tMa4l > nu/vjuiii < * Mali t > 7 ill iulili. I'MJoilii. , 1'ik \Vo ttuJ thu Fronrh Itcmrily CALTHOS ! > < < - . ( n > C. O , ! > ) oJ IrKBlguuraiitcotliatCALTIliM will HTOI * IMtrhurcrft utid KmUtloiift , i'UltK rprrtnnturrlirn.urlcurvlo ami lt > TOIIi : Loit VIBor. Ute it andpaytfsatiifitit. VON MOIII. CO. , 332 Q , Sol * Anti-Iran Amfs nrlmiill , Ohtn. key , wo were close to the Evorgladca. Hero we met a trading party of Semlnoles , and I madti my pi ins for being taken In a canoe on a trip through that famous wlldorneHs. My guide and oarsman was a yoiind Indian known as "Key Went Hilly , " hrcaiMo ho had once been at Key West , am ? l > iil his plclmo taken. Hut Hilly must filst get permission of his chief , "Old Tlgerta ! ! . " who ruled the- nation with an Iron discipline. No stranger WES permitted to invade - vado the haunts of the Indians , unless ho was vouched for. So one of the old settlers vouched for my companion and mj-kelf , and we got along famously with our preliminaries with Hilly. Hut , as bad luck would have It , my companion had In the recesses of hl.s trunk nn old picture of mynclf In uniform. In an evil moment his desire to Impress Hilly got the better of his judgment , and ! m rushed off to the boat anil came back with my old military portrait In his hands. Our host saw the catastiopho from afar and tried to stop him. but Illlly's eyes were too quick. Thn mlHchlof was donu. Ho took one look at the picture , then a long lool ; Into his face , and lilt , own visage fell. In vain did. our host explain that I was a "good" soldier man once , and was no aoldlor ut all , now. Hilly was In the sulks. Ho went off to sco Tlgcrtall , and never camu back. I was furi ous and vowed that I would engage a darkey and go up anyhow ; but my host explained that to pcnctratn tlio wilderness under such circumstances meant certain death , and that no fellow would row me over the routo. for any price after what had happened. Thnso Indlaim are not recognized by the govern ment and rccolvu no attention nor bounllvH. The diplomatic fiction Is that the Semlnolc.i have been removed to the Terrltoryi On the other hand , there Is nothing those Scmlnnle.i want so much as to bit let alone , and they naturally look upon u military man who over owned or were a uniform as a military spy , So , utter traveling 1,100 miles to BOO Ilia SoinlnolcH In their Kvcrglado homes , I had reluctantly to turn back. SPONGi : FISHING. Florida sponging differs from the Mediter ranean. In the latter tiea the vpongcs nro mostly obtained by diving. Hut In Florida a much easlur method prevails. The spongn fleet IH mostly composed of email ncl > oonr > ni , each NUpllod with several small tklfftt or " Unifies. " The water Is inarvuloui'ly clear , and Ihu Bponpos growing In their HUhmarlno garden. ! are plainly vlslhlit when the iturfacn of the water in unrulllcd by the wind , The men illBrcrflo In the small boats , after reach. Ing the ppot.glng grounds , each man armed with a long-toothoil Iron rake at the oivl ot a twenty foot pole. This ho reaches down with , tears the sponge from HH rooti and du- poilln It In the boat Hut , ordinarily , tlier watir Is riilllod at the suifaco , and the re fraction rompolH resort to a method of oh- talnlng n smooth surface artlllcliilly. Thin IH titmplo cnti'gh , ' .on like Columbiih'H CKK > when you or.mo to think of U. A cummin wooili'iiatcr pall with a glass bottom , or Homc'tlmcH with nonu at all , IB uxrd. The sponger leans over tlio nldu of hlu boat , thrusts Ih ? pall down a few Inches below the surface , ptiNhos hU head Into tha pall , r.ml there lies the whole lint loin In plain vlow without any refraction by surface rljiple-u. The [ iorewhen ; taken out ( if thu water , Is covered with n dark , tough iikln , which mum bo n-nujvoi ) . This Is done by the pro. Tens of rnttlut ; It. The t > pongnR nro cult Into a halo dug In the handy beach and covered up. In a few days the ultln It dead , and ready ( o drop to pieces , The sponges are I lion put Illicit Into Ihu water In Blockade * , where the lln : soon uL'olly dlHappcam , and the xpoilga U ready to become an article of commorcu. If t'lysaou had curried his crinv to nuc.Ii a luid , Homer would have been compelled to rhronlclo nothing moro striking than tlio mutiny of hlu crew , and the casting of tlio captain overlortnl In a nt of rlghleoua wiuta-
