Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-09
WHEELED AROUND THE WORLD.
Two Warrington Cyclists Who Have
Girdled the Globe.
THE RETURN OF MIssRs. STEVENS AND MITCHELL
TO THIS coUNrRY-ADvKNrUREs IN STRANGE
LASDs-NEARLr A YEAR SINCE THEY LEFT
WASHINGTON.

LANps-NEARLr A YEAR SINCE THEr LEFT
WASHINGTON.
Mcssrs Eugene F. Stevens and George ID.
Mitchell who left this city last May. sailing
May from New York, TO make a tour OF the
world on bicycles, or at least to make as much
Of the tour on bicycles Was practicable ar
rived in San Francisco March II and will soon
come home, their intention being. after a few
days spent in sight seeing in California. to come
to Washington and complete the circuit OF the
globe by rail. During their progress around
the world Mr.. Stevens wrote a number OF in
teresting descriptive letters, which were
printed in THE STAR. They did not go to boat
any records of travel. but to journey for pleas
ure. stopping whenever they found something
to interest them. The San Francisco Examiner
Of March "a says:
Their faces are brown from exposure to the
hot suns OF many chimes. Their hands cal
loused from the handles of their wheels, and
the labor of pushing over forty miles of rough
roads day, up hill and down, has made their
muscles like bands of steel
They left the big Atlantic liner at Queens
town, where they found two wheels of English
make of the safety pattern had been sent by
the manufacturer. They then packed up all of
their ordinary clothes and sent them back TO
America When they wheeled out of Queens
town each man carried two flannel shirts, two
undershirts, two pair of stockings, one pair OF
shoes. q few handkerchiefs and corduroy suit
with knee breeches. Besides they carried
few maps and guide books The weight Of
each mans luggage, which was strapped to the
machine, was about twenty-five pounds at the
beginning, but after few days ii was reduced
to fifteen pounds.
About ten days were spent trundling about
Ireland. The Lakes of Killarney, Glengariff
Dublin and Belfast were visited. and the beau
ttul scenery much enjoyed. notwithstanding
that 1t rained greater portion Of the time.
From Belfast a steamer was taken to Glasgow
and there the two wheelmen travelled about
among the Scottish lakes, paying q visit to
marlborough and Sterling. after which they
made their way over the Cheviot hills to Eng
land. The English roads permitted Of some
very good runs The best time the cyclists
made during the tour WAS in England. where
they accomplished fifty-three miles in five
hours. The greatest distance ridden in any
one day was seventy five miles in France
Leaving England by way of Portsmouth. a
stop was made at the Island of Jersey, with it's
picturesque mixture of French and English
people and surroundings. There many OF the
narrow roads and lanes are completely arched
by the shrubbery. Riding through these bowers
over splendid roads was delightful.
On the way to st. Malo in France they met
two young English girls who were going to
spend two weeks awhcel in Normandy.
Through France was delightful riding. A day
or two was spent in Paris They started away
from the attn actions of that great city July 8
and spent the great American holiday at
fontainbleau. Geneva was reached via Dion
and there they fell in with the Eiwell party of
continental tourists who had left Paris a week
before. The vale of Chamouni was explored
and the river Rhone WAS followed to its lev
source. the great Rhone glacier. While going
over the high Furka pass the altitude was SO
high that the clouds and mist often concealed
them from each other. Beautiful Lake Con-
stance was visited.
The wheelmen reached Beyreuth in Bavaria
while the great Wagner festival was in progress
and listened to grand opera in flannel shirts
and knee breeches. Or course they were viewed
with considerable curiosity by the men and
women about them in the great theater.
vienna was reached after journey through
the Bohemian forest Then by easy stages they
wheeled to Budwolss. and then through Styris
70 Gratz, and from there to Croatia
EScoUNTERrSa HARpsHIps
In Herzegovina their first really hard times
were encountered Water was very scarce, it
was frightfully not and most of the time they
were starving. In Dalmatia almost a similar
experience was met with. One day they
climbed up tine mountain side for six hours
pushing their wheels ahead. the city in sight
all the time. At the top of the pass they
stopped at little wine shop kept by man
who had been sailor. He had spent some
time in San Francisco and Philadelphia and
was able to say few words of English. 1t was
the first opportunity he had ever had to dis
play his great knowledge to his wife and family
and he WAS delighted with the awe with which
he succeeded IN inspiring them when he carried
on a conversation with the travellers.
Their entry into Centinge, q city up among
the Eilltops. caused them considerable nery-
BUSINESS. Every one Of the swarthy noun
taineer inhabitants of the town carried in his
belt great long tormidable-looking revolver,
besides a motley assortment of knives ard dag
gers. 1t was worse than Leadville or Tomb
stone in the flush Of the mining excitement
But they learned that it was merely a custom
in the land, and as they saw no blood split
their fears grew less.
At Corfu u sail boat was chartered to ferry
them to the little Turkish port of Santa Sua-
ranto.
Mr.. Stevens does not speak with much pleas
ant "reminiscences of his journey through Tur-
key. There is no government on the face of
the earth worse than the Turkish" he insisted.
The customs officials were overcome by
surprise at the idea of anybody coming TO
Turkey for mere pleasure that they forgot to
charge us any duty for our bicycles. They in
sisted, however, that we should be accompanied
by a military guard and detailed foot soldier
to escort us. At the next town we were met
by cavalryman, whom we Immediately dubbed
Uncle. on account OF his venerable appear
ance. He conducted us to a sort of a hotel,
where We were given room, and in few mo-
ments every lnhabitant Of the town was try
ing to get into our room to stare at u.s. We
LETT the foot soldier behind on The second day
and the horseman Lad harc work to keep up
with us.
I'VE were obliged to walk the great part of
three days on account of the washed out and
muddy condition Of the roads. About every
i've miles thsre is a gendarme stationed. whose
business 1t Is to stop every traveller and inquire
his business. This gendarIne shouted to us 10
halt but we paid no attention and rode by.
much to his indignation and greater surprise
at our audacity.
Uncle gave us considerable trouble. We
were obliged to pay for his food and he told
everybody what a finc time he was having liy-
ing on the best of everything ut our EXPENSE.
He represented that he was the boss If tbe
party and was very much sweled up with his |
own importance. One night he took us to a |
very dirty place that we didn't like. spoke |
to man near by and asked him how far the |
next khan was He said about an hour ahead, |
and we decided to travel on. At first Uncle |
and refused to 20, bnt we insisted |
and the people all laughed at his disc omiiture.
He had just been telling them whata great man 1
he was. We met lots OF tough looking psople /
whom l would have hated 70 encounter alone /
after dark, but We were not molested.
THE FIRST wHEELMEx THERE
81 think We were the first men who ever |
rode through that part of Turkey on bicy-
cles and the people we're very curious We |
we're obliged 70 deep out in the open OCCASION
Il l.~A u