The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-02-15
ACROSS ASIA ON WHEELS.
The Perilous Journey of Two AdveI
urOuS ST. Iouis BicycIiStS

The Perilous Journey of Two Advent
urous st. Louis Bicyclists.
Two adventurous Americans hailing
from st. Louis, Messrs. Allen and Sacht-
leDen, have just accomplished what is
probably the most remarkable bicycle
journey on record. According to cor
respondent of the North China Herald,
they reached Faoting Flu, about 800 miles
southwest of Pekin, on October 18th, hav-
ing travelled the whole of the way from
Constantinople with the exception OF the
stage across the Transcaspian desert) on
safety bicycles. Leaving Constautinople
last autumn, they proceeded by way of
Ieheran and Askabad to Merv, Box hara
and Tashkend, where by kindness of the
Russian authorities they were allowed
TO winter. Leaving Tashkend in May
they crossed to Kuldja, or Iii, where they
were delayed seven weeks, waiting for
supplies by Russian post from Siberia.
Here they were strongly dissuaded from
attempting the journey across China, and
were assured that the enterprise would
cost them their lives. Nevertheless, they
started in midsummer, knowing no Chi
nese, and carrying only such supplies of
money and clothes as could be strapped
TO the handle bars of their machines.
They were twelve days in crossing the
desert of Cobb, the sand being firm
enough for them to ride the greater part
OF the way. After crossing the desert
they followed the course of the great wall
for nearly 400 miles to the south, after
which they turned southeast to Paotlng
Flu. Continuing to Pekin and Tientsin,
their journey across Asia would be COM
pleted. They were next to take steamer
by way of Shanghai and Japan to Au.cr-
lea.
The journey was remarkably free from
accidents. Their bicycles, which were
pneumatic-tired, would have held out al
most without breakage had not the hind
wheel of one of them been kicked by q
mule shortly before reaching Paoting Flu.
They were followed by mobs, chiefly
good-humored, on many occasions, but
only once or twice suffered actual mo-
lestation. At these times the. flooring of
their chief opponent and once or twice the
display OF the revolvers which they car
ried, but never used, proved sufficient to
bring them out safely. The officials
thanks to credentials furnished by the
Chinese Minister TO Englandl showed
them the greatest Kindness and, in
the Eastern provinces, often gave
them an escort of cavalry, ap-
parently more as an honor than
for protection. One magistrate gave
them officially sampled squares of cloth
to hang on the machine handles bearing
the characters yu Ii wen jen-traveling
scholars-and telling to all and sundry
their nationality and destination, some
what as one fastens tag upon child
consigned to distant friends. In no cases
did the literati or officials show them
selves unfriendly, and on one occasion,
when no barricading of the inn doors
sufficed to keep out the inquisitive mob.
the bicycles were sent under guard to the
Governors official residence, where they
remained in safety until their owners
were ready to proceed. 1t is needless to
say that the travellers carried the inev-
liable kodak, with which thoy took
great number of photographs, to be used
in illustrating the book which they will
publish.