The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-05-06
THE GREAT PEDESTRIAN.
II, 219 MILES on FOOT.

VI "Dose hTrlNhi III inc clty appeared
in our last issue, honored us with a
call yesterday afternoon, and from
him we obtained brief account of his
wonderful and strange adventures.
So remarkable are his experiences,
and 80 novel and varied have been the
incidents of the past few years Of his
life, that we present briefly the story
which has brought him into promi-
nence. He is native of Loudon
county, Virginia, and n defendant of
an illustrious Huguenot family, who
came to this country near two centu-
ries ago. He received finished classi-
cal education ut the first universities
of Euorpe, and devoted several years
to travel and study III the Old World.
He returned to Virginia, just prior to
the rebellion, and upon the secession
OF Virginia, rendered his services TO
the south and fought with Lee, long
and well, and was promoted to col
onelcy for bravery and gallantry He
received several serious wounds III bat
tie, and mt length was compelled to
retire from the service. In 1865, pri-
or to the close of the war, he was in
Selma when the Federals made an at
tack, and assumed command of
regiment III defence of the city. III
the engagement which followed, he
received two dangerous wounds, which
finally resulted III paralysis. Obtain
ing no relief IN this country, he visited
Paris. after thc war, for treatment,
but the most distinguished and learned
physicians Of Europe failed 10 give
! him any relief.
In November, 1865, upon the advice
of distinguished member of the fac
ulty Of the University of France, he
ATTEMPTED walking, IN order to obtain
relief Al that time he suffered Sc
verely. and his effort resulted in three
quarters of mile. In four days and
half lac had passed the suburbs OF
the city, distance fisk miles. Con-
/ tiuuing the novel experiment he pro-
ceeded south from Paris aud making
his way slowly and with much difliclty
entered Spain, through which he pass
ed into Italy, thence into Austria. of
which he made an entire circuit pass
ing through NIL the principal cities
/ Through Poland, along the frontier of
Prussia and into Hanover and in the
country OF the Rhine he confined to
walk with the most beneficial and sat
I Iisfactorv results. His next course
was into Switzerland. thence To Yer
onn, ending IL circuit of the continent,
save Russia and Austria. He then
made his travels aud inner circuit
I through the German country, and
still more contracted circle in spiral
form, ending at Frankfort. Finding
great relief from his travel and the
fatigue rendered in his walking, and
having visited the most attractive
countries III Continental Europe, he
concluded to return to his native land.
He proceeded from Frankfort through
Paris to Hayre, always on foot, when
he sailed for America and landed in
Mexico i'll February, 1867. He once
more commenced his long journey,
which has been continued on foot ever
since. Leaving Mexico he passed in
to Texas, thence through the Indian
Territory and Arkansas to st. Louis,
he proceeded sothh through Mississi;,
pi, past Mobile, along the coast to
Charleston and through the principal
GltlES vi lllt aNAJChto ~
Maine From there he went west fol-
lowing the lakes into Minnesota
Here he diyerged making circuit of
the central Western Sta es, passed
through Colorado, back again to Texas,
making an entire circuit of that State,
and proceeding along the gulf to New
Orleans. Here he started up the Mis-
sissippi, often diyerging to visit an i'm
portant city or an attractive point, ar
irving at st. Louis about two weeks
since. From that city he came
through Illinois to Jacksonville, and
thence to this city, where he arrived
Friday night, making the entire dis
tance walked, from the time he left
Paris to his arrival here, II ,2l9 miles;
an undertaking the vastness of which
seems at first almostimpossible. Over
four years on foot, through all eli
mates and every variety of country,
travelling over IL 900 miles, appears
almost incredible. The difficulties
encountered and the dangers which
he met in his travels, the obstacles
that he had to overcome, would fill n
volume, and would have crushed al
most any other man.
His object has been solely to restore
his health and recover his former mus
cular and physical powers. He now
considers himself almost fully restored,
and is on his way to Virginia, and
fearing the consequences of a sudden
cessation of walking, proposes to
gradually decrease the distance trav-
ersed each day, until he can safely
abondon his long-continued exercises.
During the whole time, he has not
rode quarter of mile excepting in
crossing streams or places impractical
bic for foot travel. His average days
walk is twenty-five miles, the general
average, since leaving Paris, being q
little over nineteen miles.
During his extended tour, he has
made extensive and careful notes,
gathered vast amount of data and
iotted down observations sufficient, if
written, to fill library. He has over
8, 900 sketches of attractive scenery
Quincy Herald.