Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1896 — An Ostrich Races a Bicycle. [ARTICLE]

An Ostrich Races a Bicycle.

The Cape Times, says that a peculiar experience befell a local cyclist, Donald Menzies, recently. He was riding along the main road from Cape Town to Somerset West Strand, when an ostrich, attracted apparently by what was in its eyes a novel vehicle, commenced to waltz around the bicycle. After a few preliminary antics the bird took it into its head to pace Mr. Menzies, and so long as it abstained from using its wings, the cyclist and the ostrich managed a dead heat. However, after covering about half a mile in this way the ostrich utilized its stumpy wings as sails, and spurted away at record-breaking pace, leaving tho fcyclist far behind. After that the bird troubled Mr. Menzies no more.