The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-11-26
TRAMP ACROSS TnE UoNrI-
NINT.

r. Lyman Potter, OF Albany, y. Y,
may Justly be styled the champion
tramp Of America. He has just arrived
IN San Francisco. after walking 1895
miles from the Hudson river. He
started from Swan aud Warren streets,
Albany, on the afternoon OF April 10,
and has walked 3, ,995 miles, aud as, un-
der the conditions OF his tramp, be was
not permitted TO walk on Sundays. he
has walked III days, and averaged %.
03 miles n day. Moreover, he has lost
upward Of twenty working days from
various cruises, which, however, he is
not allowed 10 deduct, but which really
Increases his average 10 about twenty
five miles a day. This he has done
through rain and shine in heat and
cold, over mountains covered with
snow aud across the burning alkali
plains. trundling all the way a wheel.
barrow containing a load that varied
from forty TO sixty pounds.
Potter IS a native of Ohio, 3s years
of age He has dwelt in Albany for
many years, and is an upholsterer, u
widover, with two young children.
Potter says this walk was the out
come Of a conversation among q group
Of Albany mechanics IA 10 the relative
powers Of endurance OF a man and a
horse. Potter insisted that in the long
run a man would wear a horse out, and
that a man could walk as far ia day
as n horse could, and keep il up
longer. A man offered to give him one
thousand dollars IL he would walk
across the continent within 2l5 days,
and trundle a wheelbarrow all the way.
tie took subscriptions and contribu.
tions from everybody and anybody,
many throwing in what loose change
they had Just 20 help Potter along, and
the purse OF 81 900 was made up. A
representative OF the contributors TO
the purse was 10 accompany him.
Potter had a wheelbarrow made eX-
pressly for him. IL is surmounted by
a chest, painted blue, and emblazoned
on top with the legend, across tho
Continent: 4,0S5 miles in 2l5 DAYS. -
TN the end toward the wheel is adjust
ed a diminutive flagstaff carrying n
small United States flag. The outside
was well covered with business cards
and advertisements displayed for a
money consideration. Potter having
resolved to pay his way along by this
advertising and 10y carrying letters and
messages from point TO point. The
vehicle when completed and loaded
for the journey weighed about seventy
two pounds.
Thus equipped, Potter started on his
tramp at 3 o'clock on the afternoon Of
the 10th day Of May last, in a drench.
iDg rain, which continued all the way
TO Schenectdy, Is miles, which place he
reached at T:30 u. m, footsore,
wet, aud tired. aud somewhat
dispirited. The next day, however.
despite the rain, kept on, following the
turnpike toward Utica; and when he
reached Utica on the morning OF the
18th, having made i25 miles in little
over four days, he was tempted TO
abandon the undertaking. and be
might have done 80 but for the tone Of
the newspapers. They ridiculed him,
called him an idiot, tramp, brain
less fool. ana predicted his failure:
aud after reading these disagreeable
things he resolved 90 persevere. lie
kept on following the highway through
Syracuse, the canal from Syracuse TO
Rochester. and the highway again
thence 20 Buffalo. which city he reach.
ed on the 18th OF May, having made a
daily average Of 3O miles.
When Potter started from Alhauv he
had crlv $3.50 in he pocket. It was
not h.a intention 10 beg his way alo' <,
but honestly earn hrs LIVING. He
sought shelter at night in the hotels,