The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-07
TRAPPING TOURS.
An old Man who walked
from Colorado.
he was caught by the present winter
and laid by.

This morning among the many foot
passengers who made their way from the
Davenport side to this city by means oil
the bridge. there was rather old. ye,
martial appearing man. who. if his account
of himself can be relied upon. certainly
has had his share of walking during the
time which he has been allowed TO rem ain
upon the mundane sphere known as the
earth.
The appearance of the old man un-
doubtedly attracted the attention OF the
ARGUS representative, who subjected the
itinerant to a series of questions. securing
the following information:
HENRY SWAN
was the name under which he had sailed
for the past sixty years. andif he had good
luck, that name would appear over his
crave when his earthly tramping was O er
and he was taking the long sleep that
knows no waking. AS might be inferred
from the above. the old man was over six
ty and was skeptic on religious matters.
He had always enjoyed very good health.
and from early days in boyhood was fond
of strayiog off and remaining days in the
woods. He never experienced fear about
his personal safety, although he had some
times known that he was surrounded by
danger. His
PRESENT TRIP
was a return from Trinidad, Col, to which
point he had travelled on foot some, when
q team going iu bis direction would give
him ride. He had never asked such
lifts" but if tired when such offers were
made he generally accepted and would ride
until rested aud then get out and make his
way along on foot. His Announcements
of small tin cup, a rusty old
gun with flint lock. a stew pan and bag
containing a few provisions. besides the
clothing which he carried on his back. His
mode of travelling was to move on during
the day and rest at night. unless the moon
was very bright. when be would tramp
along and rest during the morning.
LAO SOORNE1
had been commenced on the 18th cf
juno 1880. at which time he left Trinidad
for his home in Rising Sun. Indiana,
where bis only eep and family are nov
living 10 fair circumstances, The traveller
got north of the Kansas Pacific 10 coming
east and found himself last September
little south of Omaha. He thereupon
gave mp the idea of reaching home before
winter set IL, and SO pat up at the Douglas
county peer house until the opening OF
spring, Just month ago be left Nebras-
"a and wendell his way toward this city.
arriving this morning. as noted above, He
to reach Indiana IN time to cele-
brste the 4th Of July and that, in case he
did reach there safely, be would never
make any more extensive trampipg tours,
but would content himself with walking
within the state of Indiana.
OTHER TEATs.
Swan stated that bis first extensive
walk was when quite a young man. He
had enlisted in the Mexican war and when
bis regiment was N ustered out of service,
be walked from New Orleans to
Rising Sun. in three months. He had
always bad great desire to visit
the west and two years ago had made up
bis mind that be would take tramp in
hat DIRECTION. His son raised objections
urging his advanced age, bat old syaa
had made up his mind to go. and 10 he
did He left Rising Sun March l2, 1879
md struck Las Amewas, Col. the follow
ing September. He remained in Colorado
until the June of the folloBing year and
then started homewsrd The severe
weather of the past winter had not repu-
verated the old not, but be considered bis
lDdurance and strength better than many
a younger man who had never been ex.
posed. During his selfmposed tasks of
walking he had meyer been attacked
except once and than by wolves and be
had managed to fight them off until morn
ing when they disappeared. He also
related with much pride bis exploits as o
bear hunter and told how 10 Colorado he
had alone killed bruin. the claws of which
he bad about bis neck.
After making rest in this city sufficient
to impart the above Information, thesold
man made his way towards Moline and
was soon ost of sight on bis way home.
j. 0. A, Haddaway, Esq. of ''Episeo.