The sun., 1882-08-27
SCHOOL GIRLS ON A TRAMP.
SPENDING THEIR VACATION IN 4 WALK
OF 400 MILES.
Sleeping In the Open Air-One Night Seeking
Refuge from n storm In n Grnvey~rd-As-
cent and Exploration OF Bnld Mountain.

LAuRrSBURG, n. c., Aug. 26.-This morn
ing the people OF this place we're astonished at
seeing a party of six young and pretty girls
arrive with stout stats and carrying substan-
tal knapsacks upon their shoulders.
The party proved to be the fair tramps who
started on Aug. 2 to walk over the State and
see its wild and rugged scenery and whose
journey has already been referred tn in these
dispatches. They determined to end their
jaunt at this point as three OF them
are school girls. who have taken this
mode OF spending their vacation and at
the same time gaining health and
strength. Since they started they have walked.
they say. about 400 miles. and during the long
march have crossed mountains and rivers. and
have penetrated some OF the widest portions OF
the State. Much Of the time they have slept in
the open air in hammocks swung from the
trees. the hammocks having canvas spreads
over them. in order to protect the fair occu-
pants from dews and rain. One night. about
ten days ago. seeing a heavy storm coming up.
the party had to stop in graveyard. and there
they spent the night. sleeping among the head,
more fears that night than on any other occa-
sion. although they afterward slept in the
mountain Businesses, and were startled by the
appearance OF bear lurking about their camp.
From the beginning TO the end of their long
walk they kept what they called their " log
h.
ing in it the record OF the days happenings,
Impressions Of scenery and descriptions OF
the country through which they passed. Two
interest along the route. From first to last.
they say. they have received nothing but kind
yom 2m hSa:es the qs Of
open to, them by the hospitable own
s5s .a and pT6Oess q yehicss
the pedestrians decided before starting that
they would walk every step Of the way unless
condition, and the only Inconvenience they
have ever suffered was from blistered feet. but
as they moved on their feet became hardened.
Although they wore broad brimmed hats. they
are much Drowned by exposure to the sun, but
harder or more cheerful and modest set of
young ladies have never been seen on Il tramp.
The most difficult part of their tramp was
the ascent and exploration OF the famous Bald
Mountain. whose mysterious rumblings caused
so much excitement some years ago. They
not only went to the ton Of the mountain. but
penetrated some of its wild assures with a view
OF satisfying their minds whether or not the
rumbings were owing to volcanic action. In
going over the mountains they were in great
apprehension OF rattlesnakeS. but their fears
were ground!ess. not one OF the dreaded rep
tiles being seen.
only annoyance they had during their
journey was from certain oflicious par
ties, OF their own sex. who undertook
to dissuade them from their project, and called
ii an immodest proceeding. One old lady be-
came SO much worked UP about il that she in
party. and announced her purpose Of making
her coachman hitch up buggy and drive her
along with them. but when they said that they
proposed walking where no buggy could be
driven. and that they had no objection to her
company on foot. she abandoned the project. In
order to avoid the appearance of immodesty and
to shun publicity. the girls frequently made long
detours, so as not to enter the villages and
towns along their route, and as they kept their
proposed line of march a secret. their where
abouts were never known. and 50 crowds were
avoided. Doubtless had they gone through the
streets OF the towns they might have been sub
Jected to jests. but they say at no time their
journey have thor been sroken To rudely or
roughly. save by one or two women. who char
acterized their wandering about the country
alone as immodest and unmaideny
The girls are young. the oldest being % and
the youngest II. Miss Modoc. the youngest
suffered at first 30 much from chilblans and
exhaustion that it was feared she would have
to abandon the undertaking. She is Of very
slight build and weighed. at starting. only 80
pounds. She however. pluckily kept on. and
after the first week improved. She is now one
OF the merriest and most robust Of the party.
and her weight has gone up to l0l
pounds. All OF the party save two fattened
after the first week. and one Of them who was
l45 to 1873 pounds, They are all enthusiastic at
the success Of their undertaking, and announce
their determination TO spend their next vaca-
tion in the same way. The novel journey has
attracted much talk. some favorable and some
unfayorabe to the fair pedestriennes They
leave tomorrow by railroad for their homes.