Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-07
COWBOY AND cYctfyr.
thomas sssvsns's Wheeling Tour Around "a.
Word.
fDoston Gloha,


Boston Giobai
ago you feel confident Of making a CIR.
Gle Of the world on your bicycle, DO you.
Mr.. Stevens
"Yes. indeed do. have already
wheeled from San Francisco to Bosom, and
/ know OF nothing that will Keep me
from carrying out my undertaking.,
As almost every enc hiss heard, Thomxs
stevens started from san Francisco, Cal.
last spring, With the ayowed intention OF
yelling around the world. He met with
little encouragement. Many looked upon
Il a. nothing more than the freak
of crazy man. Now tina, tho plucky
wheelman has accomplished this much
OF his journey the dou5ters will
begin TO think that The capabilities OF the
bicycle are greater than they ever thought.
Mr.. Stevens reached Boston At 2 o'clock
Yesterday afternoon. and was shortly after
wards called upon by a representative OF
the Globe. He is Of medium height and
well-buili, and has very pleasing manner.
He IL naturally the fairest OF blondes. but
so thoroughly have the sun and wind done
their work that were itnotfor hi, light nous
taehe his face would be taken for anything
rstler than a white mans. lie Is an Elg-
lishman by birth, and is about twenty-nine
wears 81 age. His attire consisted OF blue
flannel SHIRT, brown knickcrhockers, blue
stockings, canvas shoes. and n once white
military helnet-hat. note book was
strapped 10 the lead Of his machine. His
clothing showed unmistakable signs OF hard
usage. His knIckerbockers have been re-
need four times. The machine ne has used
is fifty-inch Standard Columbia bicycle.
lie has seldom had occasion to repair 1t and
thinks II may
CARRY HIM THROUGH THE WHOLE TRIP.
Mr. stevens talked freely bat very mod
estly, seeming TO be unaware that what he
bad accomplished was At I'll extraordinary.
81 am making the journey" said he,
.sparly for pleasure and partly for other
reasons. have no schedule time in which
to reach the different places, and am cOnse-
quently indifferent as to time. but whom on
tbe wheel | push along A. fast a. possible
without fatigue"
started from San Francisco April 23i.
The weather WAS warm and pleasant. |
followed The old California trsil-the one
Pursued by the gold hunters OF 40. When
reached the Sierras the weather was ex-
sedingly cold. and there were ten feet OF
snow on the level. Had It not been for the
snow-sbeds. through which travelled for
forty miles. II would have been imposSibs
for me TO progress NJ all. followed tn.
Union Pacific railroad n closely IS possible,
30 as 10 avail myself OF the hospitality OF
the section houses, which. in the "bid
lands" and deserts. were my only re-
sources 70 obtain either food or water. In
crossing tho forty-mile desert, on which
there is no. a drop OF water or blade OF
grass, | passed numberes5 skeletons OF
mules and ail kinds Of animals. left by the
immigrants, who used TO find the crossing
Of this desert the most difficult portion Of
their journey 10 tho golden lands.
Riding through Uhh | skrted the
northern borders OF the great American
desert. and then followed the river to Og-
Gen. From there | wheeled TO Om,ha and
then to Chicago. where | arrived July fth.
stopped there eight days, during the
Democratic Convention. The worst part
Of my ride was now over. and | had bat
Iittlo difficulty IL psdalling rapidly on AID
EBACHING HERB N TuBRs WEEKS TINE"
allow did YOU manage TO get your bicy-
Gle across tie riyers?" asked the reporter.
IL presume you found but few bridges"
.'Thcre were very few bridges" Mr..
stevens replied, 4" but could usually ind
fcrd and carry my machine across. Sew
cral times. however, the water was so decp
| had to swim across and float my wheel on
fence posts"
"Did you have any trouble with tho In
dsns ?"
None whatever. | met many o. them,
and they were all OF course greatly aston
isbed At my wheel, but mono Attempted TO
mOlest me. A number were anxious to Try
and ride the machine, but one trial Wa
usually enough"
.'IIow about the cowbOyst"
''Oh, they treated me all right" replied
the cyclis,. lsughingly sin fact, am
cowboy myself, and you know We don't 70
tack on one another"
did you have much difficulty In obtain-
ing food on your lourneyf
"NoDe, except when crossing tho deS-
erts, and even then could usually get what
wanted ut the section-houses along the
railroads. never went more than twenty
four hours without eating. The inhabi-
tanis all through the far west are the most
bospisabs OF people, and they always did
everything they could ior me-"
"Are you TO remain long in Bostony"
questioned the reporter.
% shall probably stay here two or three
weeks, and then 90 to New York, from
where shall sail for England. aud in the
fall continue my wheel around the globe,
crossin. Europe and Asia. Since startling
from san Francisco have. when on land,
been carried by nothing but my bicycle,
and intend completing my Journey the
same way"
This afternoon Mr. Stevens will he at tSe
Union Athlete grounds, on Dartm )uth
street, at , O'Clock, when no will be pleased
to meet wheelmen and all interested in
wheeling TO whom he will relate brief &C
count OF his event'u journey. II is very
probable shat before lie leaves the city race
will be arranged between him and some
Mell-knoMn local rider.