Over 100 yrs Ago- motorcycling in VA

[72r60/7]

A friend found this newspaper
article recently from 1914.

From the Lynchburg, Va Newspaper
November 8, 1914
__________

* * * * * 13 Riders Arrive

* * *Motorcycles on Endurance Run*
* * * * * Pass Lynchburg
___________________________________
Thirteen Motorcyclist Left Richmond
But They Dropped Out on Wayside
* * * And Two Stopped Here
* Will Make Return Trip Today
______________________________

* *Thirteen motorcycle riders in the*
News-Leader Endurance Run from*
Richmond to Lexington, via
Lynchburg, reached here yesterday*
afternoon and checked in at the*
Williams Supply Company on*
Main Street. The last two arrivals
spent the night in Lynchburg and
will start early this morning for*
Lexington. They will complete the*
run, but they are ruled out of the*
contest by stopping in Lynchburg.
* *The first arrival was , T.C.Fuken
riding an Indian motorcycle, who
reached here at 3:29 o'clock. He*
was followed one minute later by
B.B. Bivens, on a Harley machine.
The third arrival was Charley Scott,
riding a Pope, who got here at*
3:40 o'clock. J. Van Donn, riding*
the only single cylinder machine
that reached here, arrived fourth,
reaching Lynchburg at 3:44 1/2.
Other arrivals were as follows:
Roswell Meredith 3:48 1/2, Harley;
G.H. Tompkins, 3:59, Indian; Dave*
Kennedy, 3:59, Harley; E.F. Stark,
4:24 1/2, Indian; C.J.. Bauman,*
4:24 1/2 Harley; W.C. Gray, 4.27
Indian; S.W. Hague,4:37, Indian;
L.W. Hines, 5:10 1/2 Harley; P.G.*
Fletcher, 5:54, Dayton.

* * * *Turns Back at Elon
L. W. Hines , who reached*here at
5:10 1/2 o'clock left the city after
checking in, but at Elon, he turned*
back, darkness having overtaken*
him, and since he had no light,*
and knew little of the route, he
concluded to spend the night in
Lynchburg. P. G. Fletcher did not*
get here until dark, and he put his*
machine up at the garage and was
Later joined by Hines.
* *The riders reported very bad*
roads between here and Richmond.
Most of them got lost and were*
fagged out when they reached*
Lynchburg. They left Richmond at*
8 o'clock and there were 24 entries.
They left Richmond together but*
some of them dropped out on the
wayside.
* *The winner of the contest gets
$25; second $15; and third $10,*
with other smaller prizes. The run
was backed by the sporting*
department of the News Leader.
Those who reached Lexington*
last night will start on the return
to Richmond today and those who
finish the run will reach Richmond
this afternoon. They will return by*
a different route.
* *Riders checked in Petersburg,*
Blackstone, Farmville, Lynchburg*
and Lexington. On the return they
will check in at Staunton,*
Charlottesville and Richmond. The
route covers a distance of 350*
miles, 180 miles on the first day*
and 170 miles on the second day.
* *The first day's run was from*
Richmond to Petersburg, and on*
through Church Road, Ford's depot*
Hebron, Wellville, Blackstone,*
Nottoway, Burkeville, Rice's depot
and Farmville, where stop was*
made for dinner. From Farmville*
the route led through Action,
Prospect, Pamplin City, Evergreen,
Appomattox, Spout Spring,
Concord, Lynchburg, Elon, Naola,
Snowmen, Balcony Falls, Natural
Bridge, Longwood to Lexington,
where the night was spent.
* *The return trip will be via Midway,
Greenville, Folly Mills, Staunton,
Waynesboro, Afton, Brownsville,*
Charlottesville, Shadwell, Cobham,*
Trevillians, Louisa, Cuckoo, Jackson,
Montpelier, Taylor's to Richmond.


Found by Doug MacLeod
Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg
*

 

[72r60/7]

Some Things Never Change

June 23, 1914

The Lynchburg News

JOY RIDE

ON

MOTORCYCLE

Stranger Abandons Machine Ten Miles from Town after Accident

On securing permission to ride a short distance to “try out” a motorcycle before purchasing, a young man yesterday morning went on a mad Joy Ride which ended up about 10 miles out in the country with a broken sprocket wheel, and now the police are looking the country over with the determination to investigate the incident.

The cycle was the property of Mr. Winston Bass, and it was stated that yesterday morning the man, who was a stranger to the owner of the machine, walked into the Bass Cigar Store and stated that he wished to ride the cycle a short distance to try it out before closing the deal, as he contemplated purchasing it. The stranger talked most fluently, saying that at one time he had been the owner of a motorcycle and, on leaving the store on Main Street with the machine, the stranger left a small water spaniel dog with Mr. Bass until he returned. Time passed and after the lapse of two hours the owner of the machine inquired at the police station, in regard to the machine and its rider.

It was learned from Policeman Grow that the man had been seen riding the motorcycle through Fairview Heights, and as Mr. Bass had given him permission to ride but a short distance on Main Street, it dawned on him that the man was over-running agreements considerably. Jack Sublett and Harry Bury immediately set out on another motorcycle in an effort to learn the whereabouts of the stranger, and at Bocock, a small place several miles from Lynchburg, it was learned that the man had passed that place during the r???-------------Altavista???---------------.The gasoline??----of the searching machine???-------------started out to investigate. Detective Irvin and Jackson accompanied the party and the machine was found riderless about ten miles from the corporation limits. On examining the motorcycle, it was found that the stranger had filled both the oil and the gasoline tanks and was evidently in for one long glorious joyride. The machine evidently met with an accident and caused the man to abandon it on the roadside, as the sprocket gearing was badly smashed. The machine was not entirely disabled and Harry Bury mounted it and rode it back to the city.

Mr. Bass states that he has a good description of the man and that every effort will be made to have him apprehended for a thorough investigation of the affair. It was reported in the city yesterday afternoon that the man had received serious injury in the fall with the machine, but nothing definite could be learned in regard to this. The car which carried the searchers to the location of the machine proceeded to Lawyers in an effort to learn something of the stranger, but it seems that the man did not pass this place after leaving the motorcycle beside the road. The dog, which the stranger left as “security” is still in the possession of Mr. Bass.



Found by Doug MacLeod

In Jones Memorial Library

Lynchburg, VA