On June 20, 1897, The Salt Lake Tribune opined: “Not many years ago the bicycle was looked upon as a mere toy, a kind of dandy-horse, and the riders were regarded as fit subjects for pity. That time, however, is a thing of the past.” The paper was not just talking about the growing trend of bicycle clubs forming throughout the nation, but about a specific, and rather extraordinary, bicycle trip.
On November 13, 1833 the night became as bright as daylight, the heavens fell, and people feared that it was the end of times. The event was so dramatic that it sparked both a new religion and a new science.