New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-25
On One Wheel.

to obtain permission to pitch their tent on
an empty lot somewhere in the city, this
strange family excited no little interest.
The leader Of the little troop stalked
through the middle of the street, wheeling
an old broken .wheelbarrow, which con-
tanned all of his worldly goods and his
youngest child, while close behind him
walked his wife aad two children. After
interview ing the authorities at the City
Hall and Four Courts. they pitched their
tent on a vacant lot near the latter insti.u-
ton. Sitting there on log, in front Of
their tent, they held grand reception all
the afternoon yesterday.
Last night reporter for the Times was
detailed to interview these eccentric trav.
elers. Having arrived at the lot where &c
had been told they could be found. he IN.
dertook 30 find them. After stun bling
over two OF three piles Of rubbish. and fall.
ing into as many bitches. he came upon a
crowd Of boys barely Gis:lnguishable in tie
darkness. in the centre Of which So.
grouped together ''the happy family" Tie
news gatherer inquired for Mr.. Weston, ard
the prime Of life. but apparently still .vigor'
GUS, attired in a worn straw hat. brown
WOODEN jacket. dark coicred pants and
heavy carpet slippers. As soon as Mr..
Weston knew the character Of HE visitor
and the nature Of his visit, he extended his
hand, saying: ''How dye 90. stranger.
I'm right glad to see you. You newspaper
started on this little jaunt. ] tied I'm
known now wherever go. Take a seat:
/ was just having little talk with my
wife before turnin' in" Motioning the re.
porter to seat on the log. he sat down.
Sitting ranged along on the same impro-
vised settee, were the members OF his tam.
lily. His wife Is tall woman. rather spare
49, 81
appearance. She was more neatly dressed
than one would expect woman IN her cir.
cums.ances to be, and held in her arms 'he
youngest child, aged about two years. Near
her sat little girl scarcely four years oic.
nodding. almost asleep: and in front Of ner
stood a little boy. apparently abou. eigE:
years of age. The little girl was dressed in
u cheap calico dress. and the boy wore
blue check sh;-1 and pants made of crdi.
nary bagg'ng, which had once been white.
The children were ali bare-hesded ard
Dare.iooted. These observations were made
BY the light of q candle which Mr.. Weston
had lighted. A few feet in front OF the
group stood the famous wheelbarrOw. ard
to the right, pitched ready tor occupancy.
stood the tent.
How long is IL, Mr.. Weston. since you
lett New Orieans!" Gueried the reporter.
IL left New Orleans" said Weston. lin
the latter part Of February. and have been
travelling most Of the time s;nce."
What induced you to start On such a
tramp
"Well, I'll tell ycr. Tor see. came
down here from Nebraska about two years
age. spent the winter Of - and 70 down
here at the mouth Of the Meramec. took
q notion tha, wanted to go TO Texas. In
the spring rugged up little boat. stored
it with such provisions and utensils as !.
would carry, and taking my family on
board started down the river to Texas. ex.
pecring to 90 by way Of the Red ,iver.
When we got pretty we'll down, became
alarmed at what heard Of the ravages Of
the yellow fever, and sold NY boat. We at
last wandered down as far as New Orleans.
could get nothing 70 do, and We came
very near starving 10 Death. We got down
as low as ten cents worth Of meal once. !
had almost despaired. and We might have
died there il i. had not been for my wife.
She said We mus. come back North. Ac.
corGiDgly we loaded what little stuff we
had on board two whee!barrows and start
ed ny boy here wheeling one and the
other. Maybe you think l tell you biz
story, stranger, buc that little chap wheeled
a barrow lis miles,
Can you give rae the principal point, on
your route = interposed the reporter.
"Yes; l took some notes on ny journey"
He here produced a little note book, BY the
aid of which he continued as follows: CATER
leaving New Orleans the first place OF any
Importance through which We passed was
Donaldson, Louisiana, sixty.fve miles north
of New Orleans. From there We came on
to Baton Rouge; from Baton Rouge TO Fay.
cite: from Fayette to Woodville. We then
crossed over into Mississippi and went to
jackson, and from Jackson to Yazoo City.
We stopped near Yazoo City for three
weeks. just before we got to that place We
had to pass through regular wilderness.
Ny wife became very sick. and thought
we would all perish there. She begged me
to leave her to die and to go on with the
children and try to get to the North il pos.
sible. finally got her up near Iazoo C.ry.
whele he rested for three weeks. Size had
then so far recovered as to be able to travel
again. We started again. came through
Lexington, Carleton, Charlestown, Bates.
vile, Como, Caratoba, Coldwater. Her.
nando, and thence to Memphis, Tennessee.
We arrived az Memphis on the tirs: OF
August, and met with hearty reception.
The people had heard Of US there through
the newspapers, and were very hosp;table.
Indeed, We have been treated very kindly
all along the route. From Memphis we
went to Covington. Kentucky, and from
that point came through Ripley. D-yhill.
Dyersburg. Palestine. Troy and Moscow. in
the same State. and then crossed over 70
Cairo. From Cairo our route has been
through Jonesboro. Murphysboro. Pinck.
NEVILLE. Coulterville. Tilden, New Athens,
Belleyiile to East st. Louis:
"And now that you have come thus far.
will you 90 farther OK make your home
here!'
II think will stay here mill after the
fair. The fact is, that l have taken notes
OF my trip, first, for my own satisfaction.
but afterward with view to publishing an
6 ,Ix ;l1c
suggested to me in Memphis, and think il
would no: be uninte7esting. / mean 10
consult proper persons tomorrow in refer.
ence 20 il, and if am advised to do SO. viii
sc. about the preparation Of the pamphle,
at once. have 10 money to publish il my
self, bu. hope to find some one who WHY
be willing to invest; have quite number
of friends south Of here who, think, viii
aid ,ne. As for going further north, think
..ls it fact that you have supported
yourself and family on this trip simply By
making and selling ak handles.'
ut is; / have made and disposed OF abou:
seventy dozen since the first of January
What do you get for them -
"Well, / suppose the average price is
about twenty-five cents
What is your full name, Mr.. Weston"
&c. w. West M"
'UeOTgo WdsnluRtou.
"Yes, sir. Twas born az Erie, Pennsyi-
wanna, in 1925. lived number Of years
in Illinois. but had been living in Nebraska
before came down here two years ago. ]
am brickmaker by trade"
The reporter having expressed wish to
examine his "Ir;shman's buggy" be es.
planned that only few pieces OF the original
were left. Resting on the handles is box
about six inches deep, three feet long. and
about two wide: on this he carries their