Evening Star Newspaper, September 29, 1894, Page 9

Part 2. Che # ening Siar. Pages: WASHINGTON, D. O., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1894—TWENTY PAGES. THE JAPANESE ARMY IN THE SUBURBS OF SEOUL OCELEBR,za _— ING THE VICTORY AT A-SAN. WAR CHESTS EMPTY The Chinese Treasury Said to Be in a Desperate State. NATIVES ARE READY FOR A REVOLT ees Li Hung Chang Will Take the Field in Person. MAIL ADVICES FROM THE EAST ‘The Politische Correspondenz of Vienna says the following information has reached St. Petersburg from China, and attracts the serious attention of the government: “The intense excitement in all the provinces of China and the dissatisfaction of the highest officials in the empire have reached points which indicate a probable movement against the reigning dynasty. The spirit animating the regular army is satisfactory, but the discipline has been much relaxed. ‘The trregular troops, upon which the gov- ernment must now rely, are committing great and frequent excesses everywhere, including the capital. The war chest is as empty as the state exchequer, ani the gov- ernment has the greatest difficulty in pur- chasing the barest necessities for the troops in the field.” Advices recetved in London from Shang- hat say the emperor is dissatisfied with the course events are taking, and that affairs are gradually working toward a coup d etat. A dispatch to the London Daily News from Yokohama says there is a general public desire in Japan to prosecute the war against China in defiance of all obstacles, and a general desire that the government make a desperate attack upon Peking. The Japanese parliament will at once vote war credits, regardless of party opinions. Reinforcements are continually departing from Yokohama, Tokio and ether places in Japan, but their destination is not known. The Shanghai correspondent of the Lon- @on Times says: “It is rumored that Li Hung Chang will be permitted to take the field, and it he will bably have his headquarters at Lutal. It is reported that the Chinese troops have evacuated Corea and are massed thirty miles west of Yalu river.” Explaining Chinese Defeat. Capt. Lang, a former director in the Chi- nese navy and supervisor of the erection of many Chinese forts, said in an interview im London in regard to the Chinese re- verses: “The inherent conservatism and apathy concerning everything outside of China, and the want of esprit du corps, have had their natural results. As a matter of fact the Chinese never expected to have a fight, and their supreme contempt of Japan is a predominant trait with them. Their sea- men are as brave as could be wished, but they have not the slightest patriotism. Their officers are regardless of almost ev- erything but personal advantage, and have always wanted to evade drill and remain ashore. They have hated Europeans and European ideas and are insufferably ob- stinate and conceited. There are admitted exceptions to this rule, however, especially im the case of Admiral Ting, who is con- spicuously a brave and capable officer, whose lead cauld safely be followed any- where. I cannot understand the alleged superiority of the Japanese quick-firing guns. The four vessels of the Ching Yuen class were admirably equipped, and I am not disposed in the light of the present information to give the Japanese the credit they claim.” Capt. Lang ascribed the defeat of the Chinese in Manchuria, as telegraphed to The Star yesterday, if they had been de- feated, to the fact of their having lapsed from their high standard of efficiency since 1800, The on!y Europeans now in service im the Chinese fleet, he said, are acting in subordinate capacities, Trying to Block Navigation. Mail advices received here from China from sources specially entitled to credit, of date early in August, are almost prophetic of what has already occurred there since that date, and if the predictions for the future hold good Secretary Herbert's ac- tion in largely reinforcing the United States ships in Chinese waters will be proved to have been a very wise move. The advices describe the measures which have been adopted by the Chinese to block the navigation of their rivers, and the re- sulting effect upon commerce. For one thing, in the Ningpo district the Sesastus Rock Buoy, the Seann-Yu Spit Buoy and the Nemesis Rock, Blonde Rock and Tiger’s Tail Beacons have been temporarily re- moved. Lights have been also removed and obstructions placed at the mouth of the River Pelko. Although the discontinuance of the lights, the presence at night of a floating boom and the laying of torpedoes are obviously hin- drancés to the coming and going of vessels, nevertheless, with Chinese lines, shipping 1s being carried on as usual, and there are no indications that the merchants are withholding their cargoes. Trade, however, is being adversely affected, as cipher telegrams are no longer accepted, although they can be sent from Shanghai. A feeling of timidity as to the safety of business ventures with Tien Tsin ts natural- ly pervading the business world. ‘The Chinese themselves will not block the port, but the Japanese are likely to do so at any time. An effort was making to insure immunity from capture of Japanese and Chinese vessels plying respectively between their own ports and in common to neutral points, but the consent of the Japanese had not at the date of advice been received. ‘There was, however, a very great menace fo trade from another quarter, and it was the exception of the | this that led to the appeals of foreign mer- chants to their home governments for the Presence of warships in the treaty ports of China. It was generally expected by them that should the Chinese be defeated on their own soil, exactly what happened Thursday, according to cable reports, the Chinese sol- diers would be demoralized and fall to scouring the country in every direction, committing outrages. In that event, ac- cording to the advices, the slender thread which sustains the obedience of the masses to the viceroy would be snapped and pande- monium weuld reign supreme. The Chinese, the advices say, naturally hate the well-ordered management of a foreign community, and, with disorder and confusion everywhere, the peaceable and well-regulated composure of a foreign com- munity is sure to excite the animosity of soldiers inflamed by passion, over whom control has been lost. The great treaty pert of Tien Tsin is believed to be specially threatened in such case. One prophetic statement in the mail ad- vices is as follows: “In proportion to the disasters of war that will surely overtake China, will the in- fluence of the viceroy wane, and should the defeat of the Chinese be a crushing one, he will be absolutely incapable to maintain order. Li Hung Chang has been a rigid disciplinarian, and, with reverses, the masses will turn upon him with the pent-up hatred of years.” As these defeats are coming to pass and as the prophecy has already been verified as to Li's di tion, it will be a matter of serious interest to know how far the re- mainder of this prediction shall be justified by the events of the futul Celebrating a Japanese Victory. The large illustration on this page repre- sents the Japanese, in the suburbs of Seoul, celebrating the victory over the Chinese at A-San. It shows the archway just outside the gates of Seoul. The picture was drawn from a photograph sent home by W. H. Mooney, now serving on the United States cruiser Baltimore. In a letter dated August 24, written to Detective Horne of this city, Mr. Mooney says: “Things go on here without much change. ‘The Japs landed 10,000 troops here yester- day and the day before, and they are now marching to the Yellow river, seventy miles from Seoul, and expect a bloody battle with the Chinese soon. The Chinese march- ed 130,000 troops by land into Corea, and over 20,000 deserted and fied across the Russian border.” THE PEKIN MOVEMENT. Will the Mikado’s Birthday Be Cele- brated by His Troops in China’s Capital? ‘The Japanese are of the opinion that Count Yamagata will reach and enter Pekin by November 3, the Mikado’s birthday an- niversary, says the New York Herald, and will be able to cclebrate the day with his soldiers in the capital of China. The opin- fon is very general in Japan that Field Marshal Count Yamagata, the commander of the army in Corea, is the right man in the right place. He Is a soldier, like Moltke. In dash and brilliancy, he may be lacking, but there are his younger lieuter.ants who abound in these qualities. Count Yamagata would be the needed check for these men. The count has shown himself worthy of the power intrusted to him in the victory at Ping Yang. Easy Work at Ping-Yang. In connection with the battle of Ping- Yang, a correspondent writes: “It is true the Japanese had rather easy work of it; but the significance of the victory is not small. This practically ends the dispute in Corea, and the future seat of war will be in China, and the country which attains and keeps the supremacy on the sea will be the victor. Important as this victory of the Japanese at Ping-Yang 1s, it js not thought that China will sue for peace after this sin- gle reverse. The defeats of the past will stir up colossal China to most effective preparatfons and activity. The Japanese navy has an important work before it. If it can contro] the sea, as it has done thus far, success will be finally with Japan. In fact, it may be said that the war is begin- ning to be interesting.” The Datong, or Tatong river. on which Ping-Yang is situated, is navigable from the city to the sea in junks and light draught steamers. In fact, one American ship made the passage within the memory of people now living in Seoul. The story is a tragic one, and gives a good insight into Corean ways and Corean ctvilizatioa. In August, 1868, the American ship Gen. Sherman, of about nine hundred tons burden, sailed from Chee-Foo for the Tatong river. She reached the mouth, and, finding it deeper than the chart stated, went upward with the wind and tide. In this manner she reached a point of land just below Ping-Yang in about thirty-six hours from the sea, where she went aground. At low tide the Coreans came on board and made iriendly overtures to the captain and crew, and also the Rev. Mr. Thomas, a young English missionary, who had come over to pursue his calling. In a day or two the Coreans bad won the confidence of the new comers, and induced them to come ashere. Here they were seiz- ed, put in irons, and, after some confine- ment, were tortured and put to death, and, about the same time, the ship, after being looted, was burned to the water's edge. Portions of the keel, the knees and ribs are still visible at low tide. ‘The end of Chinese interference in the af- fairs of Corea has undoubtedly come, Her right as a sovereign state will not be inter- fered with by Japan. It is somewhat strange to have to record the fact that it was China’s jealcusy of Japan that really brought about Corea’s semt-independence. Commercial demands first sent us to Japan, and the pertinacity of an American naval officer broke down the walls of seclusion that for centuries had been sustained about that country. The same demands took Admiral Rodgers’ fleet to Corea in 1871, and led him to engage in the conflict which the Herald, at that time, dubbed “Our little war with the heathen.” Japan opened the way for us there five years later, and suspicions ef her ambitious designs induced Li-Hurg- Chang to use his influence to pave the way for Admiral Shufeldt’s treaty in 1882—the first Corea made with the “outer barbarian” —a compact, the mere existence of which struck a heavy blow to China’s ancient — of suzerainty over the hermit king- jom. The treaty made with us in 1882 was fol- lowed in the same year by conventions with Great Britain, France and Germany. The ancient tribute was more tenaciously exact- ed, and a brilliant young Chinese army offi- cer—then twenty-two years of age and a captain of infantry—was sent to Seoul as resident. This was Yuen. The right to make a treaty carries with it the right to send out embassies. In 1887 the weil guarded secret of Corea’s intention of establishing legations abroad was divulged. Yuen used every effort to prevent it, even attempting to kidnap the diplomats. He captured the minister of the United States, who, escaping, stole away to the coast and went on board the United States steamer Omaha, which immediately put to sea. On her way to Nagasaki, with the Corean flag flying at the fore, @ Chinese squadron was passed under full steam for Corea. This last act practically settled what the United States has always claimed and insisted on— that Corea is a sovereign state, which this war will probably complete. Just outside the walls of Seoul is an arch- way of wood and stone about thirty feet high. Under this C re has annually paid her tribute to China. ‘Will she pay it next year? The answer to this question can now be given with certainty. IN LOCAL STUDIOS. Althcugh a number of our artists are still in their summer quarters, and those who have returned are resting in order to get into trim for their winter work, the studios are gradually assuming their work-e-day aspect, which, in a little plainer English means that they present scenes of dire con- fusion and artistic untidiness. A visit to Mr. Hinckley discovered that artist in a becoming, If somewhat eccentric, headdress, busily engaged in sorting out his canvases and clearing up generaily. After a short but exciting journey and sev- eral hairbreadth escapes from the many snares and pitfalls preseated by “wet can- “loaded palettes,” scrubbing brushes, ete. I arrived safely in the middle of the big studio, and took a survey of the paint- ings piled around that point of vantage, and among which the artist strode with a seem- ingly reckless disregard of consequenccs. The work Mr. Hinckiey has accomplished during the summer is wonderfully clever, particularly the bust portrait of Mrs. Geo. Peabody. In addition to this Mr. Hinckley has completed his design for the “Consti- tutional Convention.” As yet but little idca can be formed of the ultimate result, but the groups are well placed and drawn, and the outlook for the colossal painting is most encouraging. An amusing sketch which the artist proudly displays to friends of the family 1s a portrait of his youngest son— now several months old, but painted when the small gentleman had arrived at the ma- ture age of four days. The face is comical- ly distorted by what, judging from its ex- pression of utter woe, must have been a vehement and most audible protest against the fond parent's artistic efforts, Mr. E. F. Andrews returned from hi: travels abroad last Tuesday evening. His arrival was rather unexpected, but none the less welcome, as the office of the art gallery was filled on Wednesday with students and friends anxious to extend their personal welcome. Unless appear- ances prove deceptive, Mr. Andrews has profited greatly by his trip, as he looks much better than for some time past, and announces jubilantly that he has not felt so well and energetic for years as at the present time. In addition to'his new duties as professor of art in the Georgetown College, Mr. Hel: mick will open a class during the winter for the study of composition, and black and white, as applied to illustration. Mr. Weyl has a number of canvases “on at which he is working in a desultory way, waiting, doubtless, for “the inspiration to strike hard” before getting to work in earnest. Miss Juliet Thompson: has returned from a two months’ visit to “The Plains,” Vir- ginia, and is busy preparing for the exhi- bition which she expects to hold in De- cember or January, in the Veerhoff gal- lery. Quite a number of her studies and paintings are already finished, and show an attractive array of delicate pastel portraits and ideal subjects. Her oil work is equally effective; and unusual interest is attached to her prospective exhibition, from the fact that she is considered one of the most talented and ambitious of our younger artists, and is the first feminine votary of art who has attempted an independent ex- hibit of her work, Miss Katherine Critcher returned last week from Shinnecock, L. I., where she spent the months of July and August study- ing under Chase, The work accomplished during that time, although in perfect con- formity with her instructor’s ideas of artis- tic directness and simplicity, displays but few of the motifs usually supposed to be in- dispensable to the proper composition of a picture, Despite this fact, they are fine studies, and display in their handling an in- telligent understanding of true, artistic composition, and an utter disregard for the small trickerles which are resorted to by so many amateur artists. In addition to this summer's study, Miss Critcher has just ccmpleted a most interesting bust portrait of Gen, Whiting of Mobile, Ala. The Corcoran Art School has been entirely gone over and placed in readiness for the students to take possession next Monday morning. Both Mr. Andrews and Mr. Hinckley are thoroughly prepared for their duties, and the general outlook for the students ts a pleasant one. Mr. Lamasure and Mr. Meyer have re- moved their etudios from the Metzerott to the Corcoran building. A new-sketch club has been formed by scme of our younger artists, who are de- yoting to it the most enthusiastic attention. Meetings are held once each week, when medels are posed in picturesque costumes and many clever and creditable drawings made in black and white washes and water colors, The members are Miss Blackford, Miss Critcher, Miss Thompson, Miss Smith, Miss B.V. King, and Messrs. Felix Mahony, Mills Thompson, R, Coleman Childs and George Dunlop. Mr. Hobart Nicholls has removed his stvdio from the Lenman building to the Art Students’ League, on 17th street,where he has the room formerly occupied by Mr. Emil Meyer, Mr. Hoveden is expected to return later in the autumn, and his arrival is awaited with great interest by his brother artists. B. V. KING. REAL ESTATE GOSSIP Business Shows a Sensible Improve- ment in Volume, PREPARING PLANS FOR NEW BUILDINGS The Increasing Spaciousness and Facilities of Private Residences. THE BUILDING RECORD ——— The continua improvement of the real estate market is one cf the features of the past week which has been the subject of more or less comment. It ts not meant to be implied nor is it in fact generally understood that there is anything hike a boom. It Is true, however, that the voluune of business has sensibly imereased and the promise for the future is bright and en- couraging. Although the season for rented houses opened rather late as compared with preceding years, yet during the past week there has been, quite a demand for houses and a lacge number have been rent- e1, The same may be said of the houses for sale, but the number of transactions in this class of property has not been large. However, quite a good deal of busi- ness has been done aad transactions now in varivus stages will be closed out in the near future. Unimproyed property is also somewhat sluggish, but siill something is being done, and altogether the fall business verifies the predictions that were made early in the season. The daily record of the deeds placed on file is gradually expanding in size,and an idea of the present state of the market based on the figures obtained from the office of the recorder of deeds would indicate a renewed business activity. In the building trade, the same encouraging indications may be noted. A good deal of building is in pro- gress and plans for new buildings which have been lain aside for some months have been brought out, estimates are being ob- tained, and it is probable that the coming month will witness an increase in the building operations in this city. Some Substantial Indications. One of the leading auctioneers of the city, who sells a good deal of real estate that Is offered at public sale, said recent- ly that during the past month he had offered a good deal of property for sale, yet he had made but few sales. He explained this by saying that in the great majority of instances the property had been with- drawn from sale, owing to a settlement having been made. He thought that this fact showed that the market here was in excellent condition, as it was evident that those who were delinquent in interest or principal on real estate notes had been able either to make new loans of larger amounts or had in some way raised the money. This condition, he thought, indi- cated an easier state of affairs in the money market. One of the notable facts in connection with the recent financial depression has been the small number of forced sales of real estate. Property has been offered at public sale from time to time, but instead of those ordering the sale being ready to take the highest bid offered, they exercised the discretion, which is usual in the best tines, of withdrawing the property in the event that the price offered did not meet their view of what the property was worth. The same thing ts true of property offered at private sale, and the steadiness of values during the past eighteen months is a pretty conclusive evidence of the substantial char- acter of real estate in this city. Spactous Private Houses. The addition of ball rooms to the facilities of private houses in this ¢ity is one of the recent changes in domestic architecture which marks a more extended style of private building and social entertainment. The dining room of ordinary size is no long- er regarded as sufficient to meet the de- mands, and so spacious rooms designed for the most generous proportions of hospitable mahogany is found in many of the houses of recent date. The residence which Mr. Charles W. Needham is just completing on 16th street, near the corner of Riggs and adjoining the new residence of Mr. Justice Brown, contains a ball room which occu- pies the entire third story, A dumbwaiter is provided, so that refreshments can be sent directly to the ball room from the kitchen. In the fine residence which Mr. Boardman 4s building at the corner of I&th and P streets the library 1s the largest room. This occupies almost the entire frontage on 18th street and is, perhaps, the most spacious room in any private residence in the city. Although this house can be properly classed among the large houses, there are only three rooms on the first floor, not counting, however, a great central hall. Opening out from this hall is a small reception par- lor, then the library and back of this the dining room. As may be inferred, the in- terlor proportions of this house-are on a palatial scale rarely found in a city house. The Building Record. The building inspector’s record for the past week ending yesterday shows that fourteen permits were taken out for the erection of new buildings, aggregating in cost $20,975. This was divided among the several sections of the city as follows: Northwest, four permits, $10,825; northeast, five permits, $15,000, and the county, five permits, $4,650. D. B. Groff of 1107 I street is erecting three brick dwellings at Nos. 329, 331 and 333 E street northeast. Each of these dwellings will be two stories high, with cel- lar, 28 by 25 feet, and built of pressed brick. George Koehler has commenced the erec- tion of a trame dwelling at 1511 Oak street, Meunt Pleasant. It will be two stories high with cellar, 20 by 30 feet. F. W. Booth is the builder. An attractive frame dwelling ts in the course of erection on 7th street extended, Brightwood Park, by Charles A. Devers. ‘The building will be built of pressed brick, 16 1-2 by 40 feet. Messrs, Kennedy & Davis will shortly build five three-story and cellar brick dwell- ings in the northwestern section of the city. They will located at 2102 to 2108 O street and 1340 2ist street northwest. Kennedy & Davis are the_builders. The size of each will be 18 by 37 feet. J. H. Grant ts constructing a brick store and a private stable at 611 Maryland avenue southwest. It will be 20 by 80 feet. J. H. Johnson is the owner. John Tanner ts erecting two frame dwell- ings on Carroll street, in Twining City. They will be two stories high, 12 by 40 feet. George Ammon is the architect. John L. Paine is building a red brick dwelling and store at 1628 Lincoln avenue, Bloomingdale. The building will be three stories high, with cellar, 28 by 22 feet. R. Crump is the architect. Some New Buildings. R. W. Graham will shortly build an at- tractive frame dwelling at Langdon Park. The dwelling will be two stories high, with basement 22x28 feet. R. W. Graham is the architect and builder. John T. Rabit has commenced the erec- tion of a frame dwelling on the south side of Nailor road, Anacostia, It will be two stories high, 20x30 feet. Three two-story frame dwellings wili shortly be erected at numbers 1735 to 1741 3d street northeast, by J. H. Lane. They will be 18x40 feet. J. H. Lane is also the architect. A permit has been issued to Percy Metz- ger for the erection of two frame dwellings on Sheridan avenue, Barry Farm. They are to be two stories high, 14x26 feet, and will be built by A. J. Smith. The construction of a frame dwelling on Whitney avenue has been begun by Lewis Kurtz. Tae dwelling is to be two stories high, with cellar, 19x30 feet. E. D. Farn- ham is the builder, 8. A. Reeves has planned the erection of @ two-story, pressed-brick dwelling on Sherman avenue, Mt. Pleasant. N. R. Grimm ts the architect, and Bennet Taylor & Co. the builders. J. B. Bellinger is erecting a brick ware- house and blacksmith shop at 210 2d street northwest. The building will be built of red brick, two stories high, 30xS2 feet. W. R. Burnham is the builder. A frame dwelling on Grant road, Tenley- town, is in course of construction. The Cwelling is two stories high, and cellar, 14x40 feet, owned by Mrs. T. T. Hurdle. W. B. Shaw will shortly build a hand- some frame dwelling on Anacostia road. It will be two stories high, with steep shingle roof. Carter Dixon is the builder. W. H, Lawrence has commenced the erec- tion of an attractive frame dwelling at 1860 Jefferson street extended, Anacostia. It will have a steep shingle roof, two stories high, 35 1-2x36 Messrs, Tuss and 61-2 feet. Harper are the builders. id James Lansburgh is building a handsome pressed-brick dwelling at 2611 14th street extended, Columbia Heights. The building will be three stories high, with basement and subcellar, 25x70 feet. Steam heat throughout and a mansard roof are among the features of this building. J. G. Myers is the architect and builder. The erection of a frame dwelling on Mor- ris avenue, Anacostia, has been commenced by George T. Whitmore. It ts to be two stories high, 20x32 feet. J. C. Yost is the builder. F. H. Smith is erecting two three-story pressed-brick dwellings at 1515 and 1517 M street northwest, 15x40 fect. A. P. Clark, ir., is the architect, and W. L. Turner the builder, George E. Hamilton will shortly build 2 residence at 1762 S street northwest. The building 1s to be 36x43 feet, three stories high, with cellar, and built of pressed brick. Leon E. Dessez is the architect, and Richardson & Burgess builders. The build- ing will be heated throughout by steam. Eleven two-story red-brick dwellings are being built at Nos. 200 to 204 15th street and 1506 to 1520 Massachusetts avenue southeast by Andrew McGarraghy. They will be 18x35 feet and 12x30 feet, respect- ively. Wm. Yost & Bro. are the builders. M. Murphy is building a two-story red- brick dwelling at 1517 11th street north- west. It will be 20x33 feet. M. F. Howser is the architect, and Hum Pinkney builder. ‘An attractive frame residence is being constructed by John Dolan on McClellan avenue. It will be 16 by 28 feet. S. M. Byrnes js the builder. 'N. A.Poole is building a residence on Sher- man avenue. It is to be three stories high and basement, 25 by 38, and built of red brick. C. L. Harding is the architect, and George W. Henderson builder. ‘A permit has been issued to Mrs. Richard Curtain for the erection of a three-story and cellar pressed brick dwelling at 642 Massa- chusetts avenue northeast. The building ts to be 24 by 27 feet, and heated throughout by hot water, O. G. Simonson ts the archi- tect, and W. S. Jones builder. Henrietta Hofhering will shortly build two brick dwellings on Sherman avenue, Mount Pleasant. They will be built of red brick, 16 by 32 feet. ‘Three pressed brick dwellings at Nos. 232, 234 and 236 11th street northeast are in course of construction by Mrs. M. A. Dar- nall. The buildings will be three stories high, with cellar, 18 1-2 by 42 feet. S. Cann is_the builder. Michael Burk is erecting two pressed brick dwellings at 2521 and 2323 H street north- west. They will be two stories high, with cellar, D. C. Reeves will shortly build a three- story red brick dwelling at 1953 4th street extended, Le Droit Park. . Reeves will do the building. Five three-story and basement pressed brick dwellings are in course of erection by Jacob H. Kengla, at Nos. 22 to 28 2d street, d at 155 A street northeast. They will be 17 by 32 feet. W. W. Winfree is the builder, Alfred Holmes is_ building a two-story frame dwelling on Tahoe street, Takoma Park. The building will be 18 by 42 feet, and will be built by W. L. Turner. A. P. Clark, jr., is the architect, GOOD WORK BY SIMS The Riding of the Washington Wheelmen at Baltimore. PREPARING FOR ENTERTAINMENTS Rides Through the Country by Local Clubs. CURRENT CYCLING TES The fast riders among the local wheelmen went to Baltimore this week, and took part in the Maryland Club races on Tuesday and Wednesday, and, as reported at the time in The Star, succeeded in repeating their victories on former occasions. Among the Washington riders who figured in the events were William T. Robertson, W. F. Sims, C, E, Gause and A. C. Moran. The first day of th: meet the weather was fine, and the track was in splendid condi- tion. There were erough events and good riders to make the n.eet attractive, and while the wheel enthusiasts could not out- number the base ball cranks, the attend- ance was large, and much enthusiasm was manifested, In the mile open Sims, Moran and Robert- son q\alified, as did a Philadelphia, a Read- ing ard a Baltimore rider. In the final Robertson fouled Moran and fell, which ruined the chances of both wheelmen. Robertson, however, got up and again mourted his wheel, but he had lost too much time, and was unable to gain on those who were making fast time around the track. When the tape was reached Sims crossed a length or more ahead of C. B. Jack of Readirg; R. P. McCurdy of Philadelphia third. Time, 2.25. Then came the two-mile handicap, class B, in which Baltimore, Philadelphia and Wastirgton were represented, Sims being the cnly Washington rider to enter. It was urn for Washington to enter another rider, for Sims, scratch, was first to cross the tape; C. B. Jacks, Reading, twenty-five yards, second; W. L. Eckhart, Baltimore, 120 yards, third. Time, 5.163-5. In the two-mile handicap C. E. Gause w: the only one to represent Washington, am although he qualitied in the heat, he failed to materialize in the final, and allowed a Newark man to capture the prize. The second day of the meet the weather was cold and raw and the wheelmen had to ride in tights and sweaters. At this day's meet the attendance was small, but this did not cause an abatement of enthusiasm, and the wheelmen made the same efforts to make good time that they would have made before a large audience and with better weather conditions, This day W. F. Sims made for himself and Washington a world’s record for one mile on a quarter-mile track, going over the course four times and finishing in 2.12, and he came near making a record in the three- mile handicap, being one second more than the present record. Sims also won the one- mile handicap. C. E. Gause of the Wash- ington Road Club qualified in the three-mile handicap and crossed the tape first ahead of such men as Milliken and White of Baltimore. Time, 7.16. Indoor Entertainments. Fall road riding ts always enjoyable, and although the club members will spend their Sundays and many afternoons on the road the evenings will soon be rather cool for this sport, and indoor entertainments will take the place of melon runs, smokers and oyster roasts. Some of the entertainment committees are already at work arranging programs for the entertainment of thelr members and friends. The most extensive winter program will probably be that of the Capi- tal Bi. Club, for they seldom miss an op- portunity during the winter months to entertain their friends. While their pro- gram has not yet becn arranged it will no doubt inctude “at homes,” musical and Uterary entertainments, whist tournaments and dances. This club has the advantage of a com- fortable home and a large parlor in which to hold its entertainments, an advantage that is not enjoyed by the other clubs, al- though the Georgetown Club and Potomac Wheelmen have homes, one in the eastern and the other in the western part of the city. Arlington Wheelmen’s Dinners, The Ariington Wheelmen will give thelr regular monthly dinners during the winter and this feature of the club has always been popular with its members. It has the effect of bringing the members together once a month in a social way and makes them better acquainted with each other. Just what kind of a program the other clubs will arrange has not been settled upon, A Ride to Mariboro’. Thé successful effort of J. J. Fister of th Georg2town Cycle Club to break the 2i- hour road record last Sunday attracted many whe2lmen to the Conduit road, and | the result was that runs of the clubs were not very numerous. In the Capital Bi. Club racers are things of the past, and as no interest was mani- fested 'n the 24-hour record breaking ride the road riders had the pleasure of a trip to Marlboro’, althovgh the dinner, as one of the wheelmen stated it, was “rank.” “But what could we expect?” one of them asked. There was a country circus in town, and like the county fair season, the hotels were crowded, The result was that the wheel- men felt iike making & great big complaint, but they paid their 50 cents and congratu- lated themselves upon the fact that they had fared no worse. On the trip to the county seat of Prince George the wheel- men selected a route not often selected by, either wheelmen or horsemen, but although the distance is several miles greater the wheelmen found the road so much better and such a change in the scenery that they, felt fully repaid for the change. The rain last week had put the sandy road in condition, and the ride over Central avenue from Benning was a pleasant one, although in dry weather wheelmen find it nec 4 to push their wheeis and walk through sey. erel sandy stretches. Down through the “forest” the wheelmen rode and entered Marlboro’ near the railroad, instead of at the other end of the town, getting the benefit of the long coast leading tc the bridge, on which the barn-burners were lynched several years ago. In the Old Dominion, * While the Capital Bi. Club riders ene joying the sandy road of Prince ame | which was really in good condition, Potomac wheelmen were “roughing it” of joyable one to wheelmen, the road ing to the quaint old Virginia town being far from one of George W: ton’s many churches. Besides the ment of ride the Creek is beautiful, and then, too. there is good bass fishing there, and some of the wheelmen are good enough rs to ene joy a day's sport with rod line. Fister’s Successfal Effort. Fister’s successful attempt to lower thy twenty@our road record delighted the mem« bers of the Georgetown Cycle Club, of which he is a member, and about the club rcoms this has been the topic of conversa= tion all the week. As heretofore printed in The Star, Yeatman of the Wash! Road Club was to have made the ai in Norfolk yesterday, but could not do on account of the weather. He may conclude to make the attempt on the Con» duit course. - Local wheelmen who went to Norfolle this week to participate in the race events were sadly inted, for the hurricane m the coast visited the town Thi d in time to prevent fast riding, and a Pponement of the race meet was found neceg¢ sary, The Twenty-Mile Road Race. Almost every cyclist who has ever figure in any kind of a race, as well as admirers of the sport, is deeply int in the great twenty-mile road race which to take place over the ten-mile course on the 16th of next month. As thé dl I event is increasing and the entries are alsa coming in at a rate sufficient to ji Harry Higham, the promoter of the in the assertion that the affair will be great success. Donations are being recel from merchants and persons interested cycling, and many of them are now on hibition in Higham’s window on Pen: vania avenue. It was expected that the officers of the race would be chosen at a meeting of Associated Cycling Clubs, but only the dicapper, S. W. Merrihew of Wilmt e was determined upon. The other will be chosen the week before the races Reviving a Primitive Bicycle. * > From the London Telegraph, A suggestion has been made in all sq riousness that the long-forgotten “dandy, charger” should be restored to our The rider of this primeval bicycle, as ah picted by Gilliray, touched the ground either side with his feet, and propelled hinge self along by a kind of giant stride, th machine carrying the weight of his body, It is needless to observe that there no lady cyclists in those days. The giant stride did not suit itself to our great mothers’ draperies, and the rational kn erbocker was a revelation undreamt The sport was confined to young and at | letic bucks, whose nerves defied alike | Pavages of deep potations and the w: assaults of this terrific pastime. Ni however, it is proposed that it should revived in the interests of the heavy, aged and the feeble, who have no power to waste on the highly red ern machines. The old use of the charger is found to be attended physiological dangers, which need not n adays be run, simply to high searing, when tricycles of it and s' construction are turned out with driv arrangements capa die of being modified suit any degree of weakness short of Paralysis. ————-e+. Origin of the Chicage Fire. ~{ From the Chicago Herald. bd The Chicago Tribune lately contained ai” article entitled “Mrs. O'Leary's Cow,” which the following is an extract: ‘The family cow was being milked, and, DU} coming restless, kicked over the lamp whi was furnishing light for the operation. In moment the flames wrapped the building and everybody in Chicago knows the rest. The above rtatement Is true In every pas ticular except the following: The family cow was not belng milked on the night of October 9, 1871, when the fire was started, | that destroyed Chicago, therefore the cow did not become restless, in fact was lyti down when the as on fire. Thi s no lighted Ia in the stable on that , therefore no lamp was kicked over by while furnishing light ~ nil ing : ory is @ theory whicly | was advanced at the time, but its falsity, was shown by the investigation subsequente ly made. When the tire broke out the stable was locked, and Mrs. O'Leary was asleep ia her own house. The O'Leary house, Da Koven street, was occupied by two fami jst the time of the fire; and the family in tl ry's & rear gave an entertainment that night { funds to start a new the purpose of ratsi arrival in business. attending the party had occasion to stand bey side the barn, and when the necessity of hig so standing no longer existed he filled his pipe, lighted a match, used it to “light pipe,” and dropped the lighted match w the ground, setting fire to the shavings neath the stable and thus starting the which destroyed Chicago. The true of the fire was established by sworn mony. 3