TTTT3 OMAHA DAILY 1VET3 : SUXDAY , DECEMBER 0 , 1800. 10
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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-
