Press enter after choosing selection

One On Gompers

One On Gompers image
Parent Issue
Day
29
Month
August
Year
1895
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A year ago those three practical jokers, Dick Powers, J. J. Ryan, and Jim Linehan, attempted to bump the life out of Samuel Gompers, ex-president of the American Federation of Labor, by givlng him a front seat in the boat which shoots the chutes. Sam was in town last week to show his love for the stars and stripes, saya the Chicago Mail. After he had had his say at Sharpshooters' park he was taksn in hand by James J. Linehan, G. W. Perkins, and several other good citizens. Friday Linehsn proposed a rld through the city on bicycles. Gomperi holds the record for SDeed on hattan island, aad he wanted to exl.ibit his proficiency on the wheel. The wheels secured, the party started over n the west slde. After rldlng over the eorduroy roadway under the Laks street elevated railroad, the conspirators branched off into worse conditloned streets. Wherever the roadway ■was exceedingly rocky Perkins and Llnehan would say: "Nov, Sam, let uj take advantage of this plendid track and speed onr wheela." The victim would pull his hat down over his face to conceal hls determlned feelings and eay: "I have heard of your streeta before, but never thought they were as bad as this." Why, this is a boulevard," said Linehan, "and you have nothing to equal it In New York." Gompers kept manfully on. In this way about ten miles had been covered, but Gompers thought he had riddea 100. Not a sandy road nor a rocky street was omltted by the conspirators. It was about 8 p. m. when the party, all fagged oui by their extraordinary ieat, stoppel at a north cide summer garden. Then Gompers conflded to hi frlends that he would never take another blcycle ride in Chicago until the streets had been paved. He never suspected that he had been the victim of his friends. and there is no telling what he may do when he flnds out he had simply fallen into a trap laii? for him by his Chicago friends.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register