Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-30
CYCLING THE WORLD.
The Interesting Performance of Two
American Wheelmer Who
HAVE REACHED SAN FRANCISCO.
They Astonish Natives by sealing Mount
Ararat, and Also by
TRAVERSING ALL CHINA UNFRAMED

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 29.-W. L
Sachtleben, of Alton, ILL.,, and Thomas G.
Allen, of Ferguson, No., have arrived here
from Vancouver, B. G., after making tour
of the world on bicycles. On June 80, 1890,
they finished their course of study at Wash
ington University, St. Louis, and then
started out to make the trip. They visited
Washington, and OIL June % sailed from
New York, landing in Liverpool July 4.
There bicycles were purchased, and tour
made of the British Isles, thence to
France.
Their route took them through Rouen,
Paris, CHARTERS, Peritoirs, Bordeaux and
Marseilles. The Riviera route along the
shores of the Mediterranean was followed,
and Genoa, Rome and Milan, in Italy, were
visited. At Athens the first long halt was
made. To Constantinople was the next
jaunt, and there preparations for the in
vasion of Asia were begun.
They Scaled Mount Ararat
'Our first exploit, of which we are lit
tie proud" said Sachtleben to-day. twas
the scaling of Mount Ararat We are the
first Americans that reached the top, and
the natives could hardly believe we had
succeeded. We started July and reached
the summit July 4. There we celebrated
the American holiday by waving the
American flag and firing shots from our re-
volvers On our return the Governor of
Bayazid gave a dinner in our honor.
Through Turkey in Asia we rode, and then
through Persia, visiting Teheran on our
way. Our journeying was along camel
paths, there being no other roads
he oP
we remained from November, 1891, to May
Z, 1892, and spent good deal of the time
studying the Russian language We often
had occasion to notice the eager attitude of
Russian sentiment regarding the advance
upon British Afghanistan. The Russians
are very friendly to Americans, and ON this
account we received many courtesies. Our
last stopping place in Russian territory
was at Vernoe, and here the people tried to
dissuade US from making the attempt to go
to China; but, relying on a special pass
port which had been given us by the
Chinese Minister in London, we determined
on trying to get through. After leaving
Kuldjs the route taken was by way of
Urmpse to the border of the Cobb desert at
Hami, and we were agreeably surprised at
the character of the roads. In some places
the desert has hard bed, and this enabled
the machines to make moderately good
progress during the IL days it took US to
cross.
Through China Unmolested.
Pushing on to Suchchau, the western end
OF the great wall was reached, leading on to
Lanchow. Then we proceeded to Singan,
Pingyan, Tayuan and Poting- Flu, arriving
at the latter place on October 20, whence
we rode to Peking. The fact that we had
actually traversed China without personal
astonished all the diplomatic
there. After resting there
we went to Shanghai, where the machines
were repaired. Afterward we intended to
20 to Japan, but received letters asking us
TO return home. 30 we left at once, touching
At Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama, whence
we sailed December last.
Sachtleben stated that while the trip in
many respects had been hard one, they
enjoyed it greatly. They met with no an
1oyances from the natives in any of the
passed through, excepting China.
When asked if they would proceed to ST.
Louis direct, he responded. THAT depends
IN circumstances. We are awaiting letters,
md if there is no immediate hurry we
would like to complete our circuit BY
home through Southern California,
Arizona, New Mexico and the Southern
cute generally"