The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-15
THE wHEELBARROw MAN.
What They Think of the Peripatetic Potter Ina
San Francisco.
from the San Francisco chronicle.l


from the San Francisco Chronicle.1
The long-protracted agony is over,
and the genuine wheelbarrow circus has
arrived The celebrated pedestrian was
met in the suburbs yesterday about
noon by band of music and escorted
down Mission street to Woodward's
Gardens, where an eager crowd of from
$4,000 to $4,000 people were gathered,
all on the qui vive to catch glimpse of
the famous tramp. A ChrOnNle re-
porter sought an interview with the peri
satetic traveller Immediately after his
arrival and was introduced to a mild
appearing, blue-eyed, tired-looking in
dividual dressed in gray-worsted
Jacket, dark pants, rusty army shoes and
a travel-stained helmet. His beard is
sandy and voluminous, his hair long
and curly. His name is II. Lyman Pot
ter, and he resides in Albany, N. Y,
where he has carried on the upholster-
ing business Mt 103 Dove street for
many years. He is a widower, with two
children, and dependent on his trade
for livelihood. The idea of this novel
journey was first preached in store in
Albany, where were congregated several
persons, among them Mr.. Potter. The
topic of conversation was the recent pc
destrian feats of O'Leary. Mr.. Potter
hazarded the remark that he could equal
OLeary in endurance. Some one face
tiously suggested that he walk from Al
bany to San Francisco as test. Mr.
Potter Immediately offered to under
take the task, and, furthermore, agreed
to wheel barrow the entire distance.
What started in a joke began to be seri-
ously considered, and, before the party
separated, purse of $1,000 had been
a contract was drawn up,
and all prehminaries arranged. He left
Albany on the 10th of last April and
commenced his weary journey. He met
with courteous treatment until he reached
Omaha, of which he entertains most
opinion. At Big Springs,
Neb., desperate called "Ashhollow
Bill put pistol-ball through the bar
row in lieu of his card. Mr.. Potter was
also shot at in Sacramento, and did not
tarry long in that city. He also relates
that somewhere along the road he was
presented with q bottle of beer, and
that after drinking it he became alarm
ingly i'll, and did not recover for several
days. He ascribes these prosecutions
to the agency of individuals who have
bets pending and desired his failure.
He has averaged twenty-six miles per
day since he started, and is far ahead
of the schedule time. According to his
contract, which calls for 4,0S5 miles, he
is obliged to walk an additional ninety
six miles. The wheelbarrow, which APP
pears to be of light construction for so
rough a journey, is rather small af-
fair, weighing about seventy-fve
pounds, is box-shaped, and covered
with business cards and tags collected
at different places along his route.
These cards have been considerable
source of revenue to Mr.. Potter, as he
charged certain amount for every one
tackled On his barrow. He has also
cents for every letter delivered. He
has about thirty letters for residents of
this city Mr.. Potter has paid his own
expenses, which amount is about S400,
and will receive the check for 81 900 as
soon as he completes his journey. He
is in good health at present, having
gained twelve pounds since his depart
ure from Acknowledging at present
146 pounds. He was sunstruck twice
on the plains, and obliged to rest few
days. He complains of the bitter and
sarcastic comments of the Eastern
press, but says he is becoming accus-
toned to hear himself called fool and
a lunatic. There is some method in his
for he will probably realize n
snug sum before he is relegated back to
the privacy of life in Albany.